By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Putting on an all-around show on the court in front of a completely packed and passionate crowd in Stark Arena, Crvena Zvezda found revenge over Partizan Belgrade, winning the second Serbian derby of the EuroLeague season with a 16-point comfortable deficit (88-72).
Debuting for the first time in the EuroLeague with the red-and-white Serbian team after already playing for Bayern Munich this season, Freddie Gillespie was effective on P&R situations, ending with a career-high of 14 points with 5 rebounds and 7/8 from the field. “I’ve been trying to find my rhythm, a lot of things have changed. I embraced and played with the energy”, he said.
Most of the American big man’s points came from Milos Teodosic’s magical hands, which dished 7 assists and added 13 points to Crvena Zvezda‘s boxscore. “From the beginning, we showed we wanted this win tonight, we were controlling the game for the whole forty minutes. We’re growing up as a team, we believe more in ourselves: it’s nice when you win”, he commented.
Nemanja Nedovic, Rokas Giedraitis Adam Hanga also contributed to Ioannis Sfairopoulos’ team’s victory, combining for 41 points. The 2005-born and projected NBA pick in the 2024 Draft Nikola Topic scored the first points of the Belgrade derby but headed to the locker room at the end of the third quarter to get treatment on his leg. Ioannis Sfairopoulos couldn’t comment on his condition.
“We know how important is this game for the whole organization and our fans. We started the game really concentrated, we followed the plan. Our first half was one of the best halves we’ve played so far. Partizan has the quality to try coming back, but we controlled the game and we deserved to win 100%”, the Greek head coach added about his team’s performance after Zvezda’s win.
On the losing end, Bruno Caboclo went pretty much close to a double-double for Partizan Belgrade with 10 points and 7 rebounds in what was a Brazilian showdown between him and his former ratiopharm Ulm teammate Yago dos Santos, who had 10 points for Crvena Zvezda.
On Zeljko Obradovic‘s roster, moreover, the American duo composed of Kevin Punter and PJ Dozier – without the injured Zach LeDay – tried to be effective for Partizan Belgrade. The team’s captain had 17 points, while the former Denver Nuggets player had 12 points, 3 assists, and 4 steals.
Zeljko Obradovic kept it clear after the loss for Partizan Belgrade. “They played way better, we tried to react but it wasn’t enough. Crvena Zvezda’s deserved to win the game”, the Serbian head coach commented on the post-game flash interview.
.@freddieg_33 enjoying his first Belgrade Derby 👀 #MagicMoment I @kkcrvenazvezda pic.twitter.com/QXverjCK6l
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) January 4, 2024
Complete dominance by Crvena Zvezda in the derby
The first three points of the Belgrade derby came from the hands of the 18-year-old newest Serbian gem Nikola Topic, who demonstrated to fear nobody. Off to a splendid start on offense in the very first quarter, Crvena Zvezda went rapidly up 20-9 with 1:19 minutes on the clock in the first quarter.
Between the second and the third quarter, Ioannis Sfairopoulos’ team extended the lead even to 23 points (52-29), continuing to control the game just like they did in most of the playing time even during the first of the two EuroLeague Regular Season derbies. Bringing Crvena Zvezda once again up by twenty points (68-48) to start the fourth quarter, Adam Hanga fired up the Stark Arena.
The home side kept composure, staying ahead comfortably for the vast majority of the last ten minutes; however, when Kevin Punter brought his team back within 14 points (77-63) with a 3+1 play at 4:24 left, something changed, giving Partizan new hope. With five straight points from Frank Kaminsky and Joel Bolomboy out with a dislocated finger, Zeljko Obradovic’s team reduced the deficit even more to nine points (77-68) at 3:22 minutes left.
However, the spark came later than ever, as Rokas Giedratis broke Partizan’s 9-0 run with a three-pointer from the left corner, restoring Zvezda’s 12-point lead (80-68). Milos Teodosic wrote the word end to the black-and-white team’s chance to eventually come back into the game, extending the lead to 14 points (84-70).
In the first of two EuroLeague derbies of Belgrade this season, Crvena Zvezda lost the opportunity to escape from the hostile environment of Stark Arena at the end of October, wasting a 13-point lead for the ultimate Partizan Belgrade’s victory against the eternal rivals.
Now, in next week’s double-game action, both Serbian teams will play the EuroLeague Round 20 on the road: Partizan Belgrade will travel to the yellow-and-blue side of Istanbul to meet Fenerbahce, while Crvena Zvezda will be at ASVEL’s home. Later on, Zeljko Obradovic’s team will come back home to host Maccabi Tel Aviv, while the red-and-white side will extend their travel to Milano.
European Basketball is DIFFERENT 🫶@kkcrvenazvezda 📢 pic.twitter.com/7cQeFzOkGT
— Turkish Airlines EuroLeague (@EuroLeague) January 4, 2024
PHOTO CREDIT: Turkish Airlines EuroLeague