KB Peja had its second straight win in group B of SIGAL-UNIQA Balkan League after downing Levski 2014 75-68 at home. Both teams fought for 40 minutes but in the end it was the home team to prevail as they took control at the end of the third quarter and never gave up the lead after that.
Both teams were shorthanded as Peja played without Nenad Delic who injured his ankle the day before the game while Levski 2014 was without Aleksandar Yanev who left a few days ago. This is why The Blues suited up only nine players and moreover Aleks Simeonov was injured just three minutes in to the game. Kevin Burwell was the top scorer for the home side with 20 points. Alban Veseli and Drilon Hajrizi had 12 points apiece with the second one dishing out 7 assists as well. For the visitors Hristo Nikolov was above all with 24 points and 7 rebounds. Ilija Milutinovic also had a good game with 16 points and 8 rebounds while Tyler Laser came just short of a triple-double with 11 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists.
Branimir Pavic, head coach of KB Peja: "We got some tough matches recently including this one against a strong opponent like Levski. It shows a strong character that we have in our players′′
Nikolay Gospodinov, head coach of BC Levski 2014: ′′I think we had a good game but we were handicapped after a key player was injured at the beginning of the match. We lost too many balls and we allowed our opponents too many offensive rebounds and this was the reason for the loss against Peja.′′
In the beginning of the season, Peja was defeated by Bashkimi in Prizren (82:73), but they have defeated Teodo (83:79) and now Levski 2014.
Levski 2014 was a better team than Lovcen Basket (99:72) and Bashkimi (77:60), but they were not able to defeat Peja.
Peja - Levski 2014 75:68 (22:20, 19:20, 16:10, 18:18)
“Karagaçi” Sports Hall, in Peja
Spectators: 1200
Referees: Z. Ruteshiq, M. Kaluxheroviq, H. Bijediq.
Peja: Kadusha, Mekaj 2, Rugova, 10, Veseli 12, Grapci 2, Hajdari, Hajrizi 12, Muldrow 7, Burwell 20, S. Zekiqi, B. Zekiqi.
Levski 2014: Haxhirusev 2, Simeonov, Laser 11, Ivanov 8, Nikolov 24, Milutinoviq 16, Petkov 2, Ivkov, Minchev 5.
Group B
Lovcen Basket - Bashkimi 66:75
Peja - Levski 2014 75:68
Table
1. Bashkimi 2 2 6
2. Levski 2014 2 1 5
3. Teodo 2 1 5
4. Peja 2 1 5
5. Lovcen Basket 0 3 3