By Еurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
FMP produced a big upset at the start of the historic Serbian League Final Four in Niš, eliminating EuroLeague side and defending Serbian champion Partizan in the semifinal.
The Panthers controlled the game for long stretches and eventually secured a convincing 92-79 victory, sending Partizan out of the competition and booking a place in the title game.
Filip Barna led the winners with 26 points, while Lazar Stefanović added 17. Dušan Radosavljević finished with 14 points and Aleksa Stanojević scored 12 for FMP.
Carlik Jones paced Partizan with 17 points, Arijan Lakić scored 15, while Nick Calathes added 12. Young talent Nikola Đurović also made his debut for the Belgrade club and finished with six points.
FMP built a double-digit lead already in the first half and maintained the advantage throughout the game, entering the fourth quarter up by 16. Partizan managed to cut the deficit in the final period, but the team from Železnik responded on time and comfortably closed out the semifinal to reach Sunday’s final.
The fourth quarter also featured tense moments on the sidelines, as both Partizan coach Joan Peñarroya and FMP head coach Saša Nikitović were ejected after protesting a refereeing decision during Partizan’s comeback attempt.
Belgrade giants fall: Crvena zvezda also knocked out in semifinals
After defending champion Partizan fell to FMP, Crvena zvezda also suffered a shocking defeat, losing to Spartak Subotica 90-89. It marks the first time since 2001 that neither of the Belgrade powerhouses will win the domestic championship.
Zvezda’s loss came in dramatic fashion. Jared Butler gave the Belgrade side the lead with a three-pointer nine seconds before the end, but Olivier Hanlan answered on the other end in the closing moments to send Spartak into the final against FMP.
Igor Drobnjak led Spartak with 21 points, Danilo Nikolić added 18, while Hanlan finished with 12, including the game-winner.
For Crvena zvezda, Jordan Nwora scored 25 points, Ognjen Dobrić had 19, and Butler added 16.
With the defeat, Crvena zvezda ends the season having won only the Serbian Cup, while Partizan will have a chance to win the ABA League, meeting Dubai in the Finals.
Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
Partizan Mozzart Bet – Sloboda 2-0 (103-77, 63-55)
Mega Superbet – FMP 0-2 (77-80, 95-99)
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet – Zlatibor Mozzart 2-1 (112-73, 89-94, 116-62)
Spartak Office Shoes – Borac Mozzart 2-0 (83-66, 75-68)
Semifinals (single elimination)
Partizan Mozzart Bet – FMP 79-92
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet – Spartak Office Shoes 89-90
Final (single elimination)
FMP – Spartak Office Shoes
Make 
Your Preferred Basketball Source.
Add Eurohoops to Google