KB Sigal Prishtina made a big step towards winning the Balkan League for second season in a row. The champions hosted KK Mornar in the first game of the Finals and won 82-68. Sigal played very good defense in both second and third quarter managing to build a big lead and then hanging on to it until the end. Still of course nothing is yet over as Mornar will have the chance to overcome this deficit in the second game at home. The Montenegrins did the same thing in the semifinals after losing to Kozuv by 15 points in the first game. Then however they managed to erase that deficit so it′s still a wide open battle which will be decided in the second meeting. It will be played next Wednesday, April 20th, at 20.00 hrs local time in Bar. Dardan Berisha was the top scorer for the winners with 20 points as he added also 6 rebounds. Mohamed Abukar had 17 points as Jason Washburn made a double-double with 15 and 10 rebounds. Again it was Lamont Jones who was the top performer for Mornar finishing with 22 points and 7 assists. Balsa Radunovic had 19 points and 6 rebounds but the two received very little help from the others.
Antonis Constantinides, head coach of Sigal Prishtina: “We knew that this was going to be a difficult game and that’s why we were prepared in every possible aspect for the game against Mornar. I think that we deserved the victory, because we were playing better most of time. However, nothing ends with this game, because this was only the first part and now the second one awaits us in Tivar, where we will travel with the goal to bring the trophy to Prishtina. I am very optimistic that we will crown this season of the Balkan League with success. I am saying this because I really believe in my players and the whole team.”
Aleksandar Mitroviq, assistant coach of Mornar: "As expected this was a very difficult game.I would like to congratulate Sigal Prishtina, but nothing has ended yet. We will be waiting for our opponents in a similar atmosphere in Tivar and I hope that together with our fans we can manage to win the title.”
It should be noted that Mohamed Abukar is the MVP of Sigal UNIQA Balkan League for season 2015/2016.
Sigal Prishtina - Mornar 82:68 (23:25, 22:11, 23:12, 14:20)
Youth and Sport Center, Prishtina.
Spectators: 2000.
Referees: A. Zurapoviq, H. Bijediq, M. Horozov.
Sigal Prishtina: Berisha 20, Kemp 13. Abukar 17, Washburn 15. Marinov 3, Warren 14, Azemi, Sinani, Peci, Jakupi.
Mornar: Radunoviq 19, Sampson 8, Qaliq, Vujoseviq 4, Jones 22, Mijoviq 4, Mugosa 3, Damjanoviq 6, Mikoviq, Lopiqiq 2, Haxhibegoviq, Radunoviq.