Serbia – KLS Round 4: Vrsac keeps a leadership position

Milos Dimic It’s still too early stage of the Regular Season in KLS, but even now we can clearly see the differece between stronger teams and outsiders. There were many interesting games last round. The round ended with derby games, favorites losing the games and games ending by tiny margin.The game had a very big importance for sixth-ranked Vrsac as it allowed them to take a leadership position. Vrsac defeated 5th ranked Borac at home 92-88. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Borac was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Vrsac made 30-of-37 free shots (81.1 percent) during the game, while Borac only scored ten points from the stripe. 28 personal fouls committed by Borac helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Guard Milos Dimic (195-89) fired 28 points and 4 steals for the winners. Power forward Aleksandar Marelja (207-92, agency: BeoBasket) chipped in 18 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Guard Djordje Micic (196-83) produced 18 points for lost side. Borac’s coach Rasko Bojic rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Vrsac have a solid three-game winning streak. As mentioned above they are at the top of the standings, which they share with 3 other teams. Borac at the other side keeps the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with 6 other teams. Borac will play next round against Tamis trying to get back on the winning streak. Vrsac will try to continue on its current victory against third ranked Spartak in Subotica. Another exciting game was played in Stari Banovci between second ranked Dynamic BG and 5th ranked Dunav SB where Dynamic BG (3-1) beat Dunav SB (2-2) on the road with 15-point difference 78-63. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Worth to mention a great performance of guard Aleksandar Radulovic (190-88, agency: BeoBasket) who helped to win the game recording 12 points and 6 rebounds. Strahinja Gavrilovic contributed with 16 points for the winners. Guard Nemanja Nenadic (185-94) replied with a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds for Dunav SB. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Dynamic BG keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 3 other teams. Dunav SB at the other side, also newcomer in the league, keeps the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with 6 other teams. Dynamic BG will play against league’s second-placed Mladost ZE in Zemun in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Dunav SB will play on the road against Konstantin in Nis and hopes to get back on the winning track. An interesting game was played in Valjevo where Spartak (#6) beat host Metalac (#7) 85-80 on Saturday evening. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Metalac. It was a key game for the top position in the league. Worth to mention a great performance of Hrvoje Puljko who helped to win the game recording 34 points (!!!). At the losing side Milos Jankovic responded with 16 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Spartak (3-1) keeps a position of league leader, which they share with 3 other teams. Loser Metalac dropped to the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with 6 other teams. Spartak will meet at home league’s leader Vrsac in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Metalac will play against OKK Beograd (#5) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Very important is a home loss of third ranked Beovuk 72 (2-2) against ninth ranked OKK Beograd (2-2) on Saturday night. Host Beovuk 72 was edged by OKK Beograd in a tough game in Beograd 93-96. The winners were led by Kimani Ffriend who scored that evening 22 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. Beovuk 72’s coach Rajko Mirkovic tried various players’ combinations and tested in total twelve players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. OKK Beograd moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 6 other teams including defeated Beovuk 72. OKK Beograd’s next round opponent will be Metalac (#7) in Valjevo. Beovuk 72 will play on the road against Napredak Rubin in Krusevac and hope to win that game. Bottom-ranked Konstantin (0-4) tried to put together a comeback for its first victory of the season, but they fell short in the 97-81 loss to eleventh ranked Tamis (2-2) in Pancevo on Saturday evening. Dusan Milosevic fired 19 points for the winners. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Tamis moved-up to fifth place, which they share with 6 other teams. Loser Konstantin still closes the standings with four games lost. Tamis will face Borac (#8) in Cacak in the next round. Konstantin will play at home against Dunav SB (#6) and hopes to get finally their first victory.In the last two games of round 4 Sloga was defeated by Mladost ZE in Zemun 80-76. Smederevo was beaten by Napredak K. at home 88-98. The best stats of 4th round was 17 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks by Lazar Zorcic of Dunav SB.Mladost ZE – Sloga 80-76There was no surprise in Zemun where 12th ranked Sloga (1-3) was defeated by fourth ranked Mladost ZE (3-1) 80-76 on Sunday. However just four-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. The hosts trailed by 9 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 9-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 80-76. Mladost ZE made 19-of-25 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game. Sloga was plagued by 27 personal fouls down the stretch. Andrija Bojic …

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