Balkan League – Round 6: Bashkimi edges Kozuv by three points

Eric Palm The most exciting game of round 6 in the Balkan League took place in Prizren. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers FYR Macedonian Kozuv (1-4) to sixth ranked Kosovan Bashkimi (1-4) 69-66 in the game for the fourth place. Kozuv was trailing by 5 points at halftime but managed to get 2-point lead after three quarters before a 17-12 charge of Bashkimi, which allowed them to win the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Kozuv helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American guard Eric Palm (188-87, college: McKendree) who scored 27 points and 5 rebounds. The other American import guard Kejuan Johnson (193-85, college: Long Beach St., agency: Inception Sports) chipped in 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line). At the other side the best for losing team was American point guard Kenyon McNeaill (185-91, college: Louisiana Tech) who recorded 22 points and 7 assists. Bashkimi left bottom position moving up to fourth place in Group A, which they share with defeated Kozuv. It was Kozuv’s fourth loss in a row. Bashkimi is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Sigal Prishtina (#6) at home in the next round. Kozuv will have a break next round. An exciting game was played in Tivat. Top-ranked FYR Macedonian Kumanovo faced second-best Montenegrin Teodo Tivat. Guests from Kumanovo (5-0) defeated host Teodo Tivat (3-2) 73-65. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Teodo Tivat. It was a good game for Serbian swingman Miladin Pekovic (197-83, agency: BeoExcell) who led his team to a victory with 17 points. Stefan Zivanovic contributed with 13 points and 5 rebounds (went 8 for 8 at the free throw line) for the winners. Center Radomir Marojevic (207-81, agency: BeoExcell) replied with 22 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) for Teodo Tivat. Undefeated Kumanovo have an impressive five-game winning streak. They maintain first position in Group A with 5-0 record. Teodo Tivat at the other side keeps the second place with two games lost. They share the position with Beroe. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest. In the last two games of round 6 In Group B SK Tirana defeated Trepca in a road game 74-68. Sutjeska beat Karpos Sokoli at home 85-81. The best stats of 6th round was 17 points and 12 rebounds by Endrit Hysenagolli of SK Tirana.Group ABashkimi – Kozuv 69-66The most exciting game of round 6 in the Balkan League took place in Prizren. This derby game ended with only three-point defeat on the road of one of their biggest challengers FYR Macedonian Kozuv (1-4) to sixth ranked Kosovan Bashkimi (1-4) 69-66 in the game for the fourth place. Kozuv was trailing by 5 points at halftime but managed to get 2-point lead after three quarters before a 17-12 charge of Bashkimi, which allowed them to win the game. 24 personal fouls committed by Kozuv helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was American guard Eric Palm (188-87, …

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