Croatia – A1 Round 3: KK Zagreb loses their first game against KK Zadar

IvanMarinkovic A1 Regular Season is still in too early stage and there may be still significant changes in the standings. There was no lack of interesting games this round. The round ended with loss of the undefeated team and favorites losing the games.The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of KK Zagreb (2-1) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by KK Zadar (3-0) 93-86. The guests trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 24-11 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to win the game. KK Zadar shot 61.3 percent from the field. KK Zadar looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for Serbian-Slovenia power forward Ivan Marinkovic (209-93) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points and 5 rebounds. Lovro Mazalin (204-97, agency: BeoBasket) helped adding 21 points and 6 rebounds. The best for the losing side was point guard Luka Bozic (199-96, agency: Octagon Europe) with 27 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). KK Zadar is looking forward to face KK Split (#8) at home in the next round and are hoping to win another game. KK Zagreb will play against Jolly (#1) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Very important is a road loss of KK Split (2-1) against GKK Sibenik (2-1) on Sunday night. Visiting KK Split was crushed by GKK Sibenik in Sibenik 92-73. It was an exceptional evening for guard Domagoj Basic (193-86) who led the winners and scored 20 points and 4 assists (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field). Miralem Halilovic accounted for 14 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-8 shooting from the field). GKK Sibenik’s coach Vladimir Anzulovic allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. point guard Goran Filipovic (180-96) came up with 19 points and 6 assists for KK Split in the defeat. GKK Sibenik will play against H.Analitica (#12) in Zagreb in the next round and are hoping to win another game. KK Split will play on the road against KK Zadar (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Jolly (3-0) added another victory to their record on Saturday. This time they beat Kvarner (0-3) in Sibenik 87-81. The best player for the winners was Josip Bilinovac who scored 21 points and 4 assists. Jolly’s coach Ivan Velic used a ten-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. At the other side the best for losing team was Mauro Veljacic who recorded 19 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Jolly will meet KK Zagreb (#5) on the road in the next round. Kvarner will play against KK Zabok (#9) and hopes to get finally their first victory.The game in Zagreb was also worth to mention about. KK Vrijednosnice Osijek (2-1) played at the court of Cedevita (2-1). Cedevita defeated KK Vrijednosnice Osijek 75-65. It was a good game for Filip Bundovic who led his team to a victory with 17 points and 8 rebounds. Cedevita’s coach Veljko Mrsic allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Cedevita’s next round opponent will be Gorica (#11) in Velika Gorica and are hoping to win another game. KK Vrijednosnice Osijek will play at home against Alkar Sinj (#10) and hope to win that game. Alkar Sinj (1-2) crushed at home H.Analitica (0-3) by 25 points 89-64, which is the biggest margin this round on Saturday night. Worth to mention a quality performance of Brandon Johnson who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 11 points, 7 rebounds and 13 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Alkar Sinj will face KK Vrijednosnice Osijek (#6) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. H.Analitica will play against GKK Sibenik (#3) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.In the last game of round 3 winless Skrljevo lost to Zabok on the opponent’s court 80-88. KK Zagreb – Zadar 86-93The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of KK Zagreb (2-1) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by KK Zadar (3-0) 93-86. The guests trailed by 2 points at the halftime before their 24-11 charge in the third quarter, which allowed them to win the game. KK Zadar shot 61.3 percent from the field. KK Zadar looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. It was a great evening for Serbian-Slovenia power forward Ivan Marinkovic (209-93) who led his team to a victory scoring 24 points and 5 rebounds. Lovro Mazalin (204-97, agency: BeoBasket) helped adding 21 …

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