MZT beat Partizan NIS in excellent atmosphere in Skopje
MZT Skopje Aerodrom have beaten Partizan NIS in the first round game of the 2017/18 season in excellent atmosphere in Jane Sandanski Arena, created by fans of both teams.
MZT Skopje Aerodrom team (Photo: MZT Skopje Aerodrom/Dragan Mitreski - Dadi)
ABA League Round 1, Friday, 29.9.2017:
MZT SKOPJE AERODROM – Partizan NIS 92:89 (26:25, 16:23, 21:19, 29:22)
Game recap: MZT Skopje Aerodrom have come victorious out of the big game in Skopje against Partizan NIS, one that will be talked over for a long time in the capital of Macedonia. The hosts have earned themselves a victory in fantastic atmosphere with great performance in the final quarter, after they have already been trailing in double digits twice during the game, when they have created a major comeback.
Key moments: With three and half minutes remaining on the clock in third quarter, Partizan NIS were still in front by 10 points (61:51), but within the next eight minutes of the game, MZT Skopje came back with the 24:9 partial score and have turned the game around in their favour fort he 75:70 lead with 5 minutes remaining.
However, Partizan NIS did not give up there and have kept on fighting and they managed to reduce the deficit to only a point (81:80) two minutes before the end. That's when Damjan Stojanovski and Brett Bailey combined 4 crucial points to bring MZT in front by five again and with less than a minute and a half remaining, Partizan NIS did not have the strength to fight back and turn the game around anymore.
Man of the match: Damjan Stojanovski was hot as fire for the home side this time, as he led his team with game high 25 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal. With a valuation of 30 that already makes him the MVP of the round candidate!
Can't trick the stats: MZT Skopje Aerodrom were more accurate than Partizan NIS from the field today and that turned out to be crucial. They hit 50% of their field goal attempts, while Partizan managed to score only 45.3% of them.
