By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Putting a shadow over Partizan Mozzart Bet’s 2-0 lead over Real Madrid in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Playoffs best-of-five series, the Game 2 brawl produced 21 ejections and four players being sanctioned by the Euroleague Basketball Independent Disciplinary Judge.
Hoping for a fresh start, Zeljko Obradovic, called for a friendly atmosphere in Stark Arena tomorrow, Tuesday. “My great desire is for the fans to create the atmosphere they have had all year and for everything to be fair and sporting,” mentioned the Partizan play-caller ahead of Game 3, “I want everything to go as it should and for Real Madrid to feel pleasant here, all the members of the club and some of their fans.”
Seeking a third win in the series to clinch a berth in the Final Four, Partizan’s list of uneligible players stretches from Kevin Punter to Mathias Lessort. Packing a healthy squad, the remaining players, including Dante Exum, are projected to be available for Obradovic.
Real Madrid facing elimination
Similar to Obradovic over the days separating Game 2 from Game 3 and the referees’ decision to suspend the contest in favor of Partizan, Chus Mateo attempted to keep the focus away from the bench-clearing brawl. “Tomorrow, we have to distance ourselves from the precedents and the atmosphere and center ourselves on what happens on the court,” the head coach of the team based in Spain’s capital displayed more willingness to leave behind the Game 2 incidents.
Walter Tavares (left knee) has made progress in recent days and is labeled as questionable to play in Game 3. Besides dealing with the 2-0 deficit and facing elimination, Mateo will miss injured Carlos Alocen (left knee) and suspended Guerschon Yabusele and Gabriel Deck.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net