Pyrrhic victory by Krka, Cibona still believe

Cibona and Krka have played their 5th round games in FIBA Europe Cup Round of 32 and while Krka won against Kataja, Cibona suffered an unlucky defeat against Pieno Žvaigždes after overtime. However, Cibona are the ones that can still hope for advancing into the next round.

Krka have beaten Finnish side Kataja at home in Novo mesto with the score of 76:70 thanks to their excellent game opening. Vladimir Anzulović's squad were up by 18 points already by half time and the game just could not go any other way in the remainder of the game. Jure Lalić was the top scorer of the green and white with 18 points, while Ive Ivanov added 16. However, due to Asvel's victory over Maccabi Rishon LeZion, the Novo mesto squad have no remaining chances of advancing into the next stage of FIBA Europe Cup.

The other ABA League representative in the Round of 32 of the competition Cibona lost against Lithuanian competitor Pieno Žvaigždes with the final score of 84:82 after an overtime played in the Dražen Petrović Arena. Cibona opened the game in a fantastic fashion, leading by 9 points after first quarter, but the guests managed to erase the deficit completely by half time. Filip Krušlin and Ante Žižić were the top scorers of the Zagreb side with 19 points. Cibona still have chances of reaching the next stage of the competition in case they beat Le Havre in the last round on the road in France.

FIBA Europe Cup, Round of 32, 5th round, Group O:

Lalić 18, Ivanov 16; Simpson 21, Wilson 14.