By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Tuesday night was a big night for Argentineans all over the world. The vast majority of them were glued to their televisions to watch their national team’s World Cup semifinal against Croatia. Luca Vildoza, however, did not have that luxury. He had to work. And what a job he did!
Vildoza starred for Crvena Zvezda mts in a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Zalgiris Kaunas at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in front of 7,488 fans.
Zalgiris led 68-69 with 4 minutes remaining when Kevarrius Hayes blocked Nemanja Nedovic’s shot. Stefan Lazarevic grabbed the offensive board and handed the ball to Luca Vildoza, who took three dribbles to get away from everyone and sink a jumper on the shot clock buzzer. Three seconds later, he stole the inbounds pass and scored again. Those five consecutive points were all Zvezda fans needed to push their team to a higher level.
Ok, Lionel Messi is good, but Luca Vildoza at Belgrade making things happen as Crvena Zvezda has a 6-0 winning streak 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/OA4BUsIcW3
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 13, 2022
Vildoza’s confidence was off the charts after that. Edgaras Ulanovas tied the game with a three-pointer but Vildoza answered from downtown to put Zvezda ahead for good, 74-71. He went on to make free throws to put a 77-73 victory on ice with 4.3 seconds left.
When the dust settled, Vildoza had finished the game with a career-high 27 points on 6-for-8 two-point, 4-of-10 on three-point, and 3-of-3 free-throw shooting. He scored 9 of his team’s last 10 points to lead Zvezda to its sixth consecutive victory.
When the final buzzer sounded, Argentina led Croatia 2-0 at halftime on goals from Leo Messi and Julian Alvarez and there were a few Argentinean flags flying at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall.
“That’s amazing,” Vildoza said of the flag-waving fans. “To feel that love from the fans, that’s awesome, so I tried to give them that love from our side, so I am happy to share it with them.”
Vildoza’s team is 6-0 since head coach Dusko Ivanovic joined the team. It is no coincidence that Vildoza has played some of his best basketball under Coach Ivanovic, who previously coached him at Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz.
“Luca [Vildoza] hit some big, big shots, stole the ball in a very, very important moment, and I am very proud,” Nemanja Nedovic said of his backcourt mate after the game. “Six [wins in a row] is an amazing number, but we will not stop now.”
It was surely a night to remember. A career-best in scoring, authoring big plays down the stretch, feeling the adulation of the passionate Belgrade fans, and leaving the court to the news that Argentina was on its way to the World Cup Final. Could it get any better?
“It was incredible! Wherever I looked, everyone was telling me how the game was coming ha ha ha. And in the end, they ended up shouting Argentina, Argentina”, Luca told Diario Registro. And he finished: “They are sick like us (the Serbs), they live it with the same passion.”
After Thursday night’s home game against EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, Zvezda will not play again until Monday in the Adriatic League when it faces MEGA MIS Belgrade. That means that he will be free on Sunday evening when Argentina faces either France or Morocco in the World Cup final and Vildoza will be able to join the fun with his countrymen and watch the big game in comfort.