By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Seven players scored in double figures for Partizan Belgrade as the team defeated Cibona Zagreb 105 – 81 to begin the new season in ABA League with a notable spark.
Tristan Vukcevic, Kevin Punter, and Uros Trifunovic dropped 14 points apiece while Ioannis Papapetrou had 11 points in his ABA debut. Dante Exum posted 10 points plus five assists, Mathias Lessort scored 10 and Danilo Andjusic pitched in 10 points as well.
Kresimir Lubjisic had a game-high 19 points for Cibona and Borna Kapusta dished out 15 assists to tie the fourth-best single-game assist production in ABA history. The Croatian side led 26 – 25 at the end of the first quarter but fell behind 41 – 58 at halftime and didn’t manage to catch up with a superior Partizan performance.
However, it was Fatts Russell with 41 points who stole the show in the first round.
ABA – Round 1
Zadar – SC Derby 96-97
Igokea m:tel – Mornar-Barsko zlato 83-91
Crvena zvezda mts – MZT Skopje Aerodrom 87-67
Cibona – Partizan Mozzart Bet 81-105
Budućnost VOLI – Split 94-59
Cedevita Olimpija – Borac Mozzart 98-81
FMP Meridian – Mega MIS 90-76