#ABAMemories: The beginning of Partizan dynasty
On this day in 2007, Partizan NIS have prevailed over FMP in the Final series of the regional competition and grabbed their first of six ABA League trophies, won in their club’s history.
Partizan NIS are still the club with the highest number of trophies won in the regional competition’s history and their fairy-tale story has begun on Wednesday, 18th of April 2007 in Belgrade, when they have, led by Duško Vujošević, beaten FMP for the second time in the Finals and lifted their ABA League first championship trophy.
This was of course just a beginning of the great journey with coach Vujošević at their helm, as Partizan NIS have conquered the ABA League trophy six times in the entire history and they have repeated their 2007 success in the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2013, respectively, as well.
However, the 2006/07 trophy might stay the sweetest one for the Black and White World, as they have unsuccessfully hunted the trophies in the seasons 2004/05 and 2005/06 before and they were defeated in the Final both times, by Hemofarm in 2005 and by FMP in 2006.
The 2006/07 season turned out to be the payback season for Partizan, as they have prevailed in the Finals over the team, that has outgunned them a season before – FMP. The black and white have won both games in the best of three Finals and while the first one, at FMP’s home court, was tight, as Partizan celebrated with the score of 85:83, their win in the second game was much more convincing, as they have prevailed with the score of 94:82.
Vonteego Cummings was the crucial player in the ranks of Partizan, as he has scored no less than 37 points combined (26 and 11) in the two games of the Finals. Uroš Tripković was also excellent, as he scored 30 points (11 and 19). Predrag Drobnjak added 21 (11 and 10).
For FMP, on the other side, Zoran Erceg was the most efficient, as he had 39 points combined in two games (20 and 19). Young Miloš Teodosić also shined, as he combined 31 points (18 and 13).
Partizan have actually entered the Finals as the underdogs, with FMP having claimed the first place in the Regular Season with 21 victories out of 21 games, while Cibona and Partizan have shared the second place with 20 victories apiece. And while FMP swept the Semi-final series against Hemofarm 2:0, Partizan have edged out Cibona 2:1 in the other Semi-final pair. In the Finals, FMP had the home court advantage, but failed to capitalize on it.
2006/07 ABA League Finals, Round 1, Saturday, 14.4.2007:
FMP – PARTIZAN 83:85 (12:18, 23:27, 22:17, 26:23)
FMP scorers: Teodosić 18, Cvetković 5, Đerasimović 11, Erceg 20, Labović 10, Popović, Krstović 9, Mičić 2, Protić 2, Todorović, Žigeranović, Samardžiski 6.
Partizan scorers: Tepić 4, Bogdanović 2, Kecman 10, Bakić, Borovnjak, Tripković 11, Veličković, Perović 6, Peković 6, Drobnjak 11, Božić 6, Cummings 26.
Round 2, Wednesday, 18.4.2007:
PARTIZAN – FMP 94:82 (27:17, 16:22, 19:20, 32:23)
Partizan scorers: Tepić 9, Bogdanović 10, Kecman 12, Bakić, Borovnjak, Tripković 19, Veličković 6, Perović 2, Peković 13, Drobnjak 10, Božić 2, Cummings 11.
FMP scorers: Teodosić 13, Cvetković 11, Đerasimović 7, Erceg 19, Labović 10, Popović, Krstović 6, Mičić 2, Protić 5, Todorović, Žigeranović 2, Samardžiski 7.
