It’s not the first time they meet at ABA League knockout stages

The 2019 ABA League Playoffs are just around the corner, with 4 best teams from the 2018/19 regular season making their final preparations for the semi-final games. As you all already know, Crvena zvezda mts will face Partizan NIS in the first semi-final pair, while Cedevita will play against Budućnost VOLI in the other.

And this will not be the first time that these teams face each other in the battle for the regional trophy.

So far in the history of the regional league Crvena zvezda mts and Partizan NIS have met 4 times at the final tournaments, while Cedevita and Budućnost VOLI have faced each other twice.

Let's start with Crvena zvezda mts vs. Partizan NIS rivalrly. The Belgrade giants played against each other in the 2004/05 Semi-Final game in Belgrade, when Dejan Milojević made a double-double performance (26 pts & 10 rebounds) and led the black & whites toward the sweet win – 86:82.

Four years later in the 2008/09 Semi-Final game in Belgrade, Partizan NIS once again defeated Crvena zvezda mts. This time the score was 64:58, while Milenko Tepić was the top scorer in the winning team with 14 points. Later on Partizan NIS have won the trophy.

In the 2012/13 season, Partizan NIS and Crvena zvezda mts met in the league final in Laktaši. It was the first and the only time so far that these two teams have faced each other in the ABA League Final and Partizan NIS once again prevailed – 71:63. Davis Bertans and Leo Westermann made 15 points each and guided the black & white team toward the trophy.

Crvena zvezda mts had to wait until the 2014/15 season for revenge. Back then in the semi-final series, the red & whites recovered from losing the home court advantage in Game 2 and defeated Partizan NIS twice on the away court, winning the series by 3-1 (73:64, 68:70, 95:85, 81:73). This series will stay remembered by an unbelievable performance of Marcus Williams, who scored 17 points in a row in Game 4 and paved the way toward the win for Crvena zvezda mts.

Interesting enough, in the very same season Cedevita and Budućnost VOLI faced each other for the first time at some final tournament. And, it was one of the most thrilling semi-final series ever played in the ABA League. Budućnost VOLI won the opening two games at home court and took the lead in the series by 2-0, however Cedevita bounced back by winning both games in Zagreb so the score was all tied 2-2. In the decisive Game 5, Cedevita defeated Budućnost VOLI in packed Morača Hall and won the series by 3-2 (81:82, 76:81, 85:57, 88:85, 70:66). What is very interesting about this series is that back then Jasmin Repeša was the head coach of Cedevita... The very same Jasmin Repeša who is now the head coach of Budućnost VOLI.

Budućnost VOLI and Cedevita played one more thrilling semi-final series. In the 2017/18 season Budućnost VOLI defeated Cedevita by 2-1 in wins (84:83, 75:82, 72:57), with Game 1 marking the series. Cedevita were so close to take the lead, however Nemanja Gordić scored 5 points in the last minute and single-handedly performed a stunning comeback for the home team. Later that season, Budućnost VOLI have won their first ever ABA championship.

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Crvena zvezda mts vs. Partizan NIS

2004/05 Final-Eight, Semi-Final, 30.4.2005:

PARTIZAN NIS – Crvena zvezda mts 86:82

2008/09 Final-Four, Semi-Final, 16.4.2009:

PARTIZAN NIS – Crvena zvezda mts 64:58

2012/13 Final Four, Final, 27.4.2013:

PARTIZAN NIS – Crvena zvezda mts 71:63

2014/15, ABA Playoffs, Semi-Finals:

CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS – Partizan NIS 73:64

Crvena zvezda mts – PARTIZAN NIS 68:70

Partizan NIS – CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS 85:95

Partizan NIS – CRVENA ZVEZDA MTS 73:81

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Cedevita vs. Budućnost VOLI

2014/15, ABA Playoffs, Semi-Finals:

BUDUĆNOST VOLI – Cedevita 82:81

BUDUĆNOST VOLI – Cedevita 81:76

CEDEVITA – Budućnost VOLI 85:57

CEDEVITA – Budućnost VOLI 88:85

Budućnost VOLI – CEDEVITA 66:70

2017/18, ABA Playoffs, Semi-Finals:

BUDUĆNOST VOLI – Cedevita 84:83

CEDEVITA – Budućnost VOLI 82:75

BUDUĆNOST VOLI – Cedevita 72:57