By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
The ABA League resumed after the national cup competitions and the FIBA window break.
In the second round of the Top 8 phase, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet defeated U-BT Cluj-Napoca 85-97 on the road, bouncing back after a EuroLeague loss to Bayern Munich.
Codi Miller-McIntyre made the difference, scoring 27 points on 7/9 shooting from beyond the arc, along with six assists and five rebounds. Jared Butler followed with 13 points, while Stevan Miljenović, Jordan Nwora and Semi Ojeleye added 11 each.
On the other side, Iverson Molinar led Cluj-Napoca with 25 points, Deron Russell added 14, Trey Woodbury chipped in with 11, and Dušan Miletić scored 10.
Another EuroLeague team was also in action in the ABA League, but with less success than Crvena Zvezda – Dubai lost on the road to Cedevita Olimpija 93-80.
Umoja Gibson shined with 20 points and eight assists for Zvezdan Mitrović’s team, Aleksej Nikolić added 17 points, while talented Frenchman Cameron Houindo scored 16 points with six rebounds. On the other side, Džanan Musa had 15 points, Mfiondu Kabengele added 14, while Klemen Prepelič and Dwayne Bacon scored 11 points each.
Meanwhile, Partizan recorded a dominant 96–56 road win over Bosna in Sarajevo, moving past Dubai to take first place in the ABA standings.
Without top scorer Duane Washington, Joan Peñarroya’s team dominated from the start, eventually hitting 16 three-pointers on 34 attempts. Sterling Brown had 21 points, Dylan Osetkowski added 18 and Shake Milton 17 as Partizan improved to 17–1.
ABA Top 8 results
Cedevita Olimpija – Dubai 93-80
Buducnost – Igokea 99-67
Cluj-Napoca – Crvena zvezda 85-97
Bosna – Partizan 56-96
Standings: Partizan 17-1, Dubai 16-2, Crvena zvezda 14-4, Buducnost 14-4…