Sigal Prishtina couldn’t keep up with Mornar and lost 62:77, in the third round of Sigal Uniqa Balkan League (BIBL). The match took place on Thursday, at the Youth and Sports Center in Prishtina, at the same place where Sigal Prishtina has defeated Energia from Romania, in Group K of FIBA Europe Cup. However, the reigning champion of Kosovo and the Balkan League is not used to compete in three different leagues: domestic league, Balkan League and FIBA Europe Cup, and their exhaustion was obvious. Mornar played way better and left the gym with their head held high.
Austin Chatman had a very good game for Mornar and finished with 19 points and 5 assists. Balsa Radunovic and Marko Mijovic also performed good and scored 11 points apiece. For the home team Mohamed Abukar had 22 points while Stanimir Marinov added 9, 9 rebounds and 4 assists.
Marjan Ilievski, Head coach of BC Sigal Prishtina: “There are no excuses. However, we have to accept the fact that our players are exhausted and are not used to such a tempo, to play two very difficult games in two days. Also, our player’s fond doesn’t allow us to ask for more. A week ago we had seven international players in our roster, whereas in the game against Mornar we had only three. We shouldn’t be disappointed by this loss, because we have to redeem ourselves and react very fast, since on Monday we’ll travel to Kazakhstan to play against Astana in FIBA Europe Cup. The game is very important to us and we have to give our best in order to win.”
Balsa Radunoviq, basketbollist i Mornar-it: “We knew that this was going to be a difficult game, but we were also aware that Sigal Prishtina will be tired from their game against Energia. That’s why we played very aggressive, because we knew that they were exhausted and they weren’t able to run like they do when they’re rested. Our tactic was successful and we earned the victory. In paper, Sigal Prishtina is the best team of the Balkan League.”
Group A
S. Prishtina-Mornar 62:72
Board
1. Mornar 3 3 0 6
2. S. Prishtina 3 2 1 5
3. Kozuv 3 1 2 4
4. Beroe 3 0 0 3
Sigal Prishtina-Mornar-i 62:72 (17:19, 25:12, 11:24, 9:17)
Youth and Sports Center, Prishtina.
Spectators: 1500.
Referee's: V. Tsekov, G. Poursanidis, D. Kralj.
Sigal Prishtina: Kaçaniku 5, Azemi, Jakupi, Berisha 8, Sinani 2, Marinov 9, Morina 2, Abukar 22, El-Amin 8, Mazreku 6, Hasani.
Mornar-i: Damjanoviq 5, Chatman 19, Milloviq, B. Radunoviq 11, Vujosheviq 6, Çaliq 6, Mijoviq 11, Peroviq 2, Lopiçiq 2, M. Radunoviç 8, Haxhibegoviq 2, Despotoviq.