#ABAMemories: First of the FMP’s two trophies
On this day, exactly 16 years ago, FMP Reflex have written their name into the history books of the ABA League by claiming their first of the two ABA League championship trophies, that are still proudly standing in their club’s trophy cupboard.
On 18 April in 2004, FMP Reflex have achieved first of the two biggest successes in their club’s history. The Panthers of Belgrade have climbed at the top of the ABA League competition for the first time, which makes them one of the nine teams that have lifted the regional competition trophy in the entire history.
The first of the two trophies for FMP Reflex was kind of an upset at the time being, as they have done it at the Final Four Tournament – in Zagreb – after claiming the second place in the regular season and by beating the tournament hosts Cibona in the Final game after a dramatic ending, with the score of 71:70.
Saša Stefanović was the one to score the game-winning points for the Belgrade squad, as he was accurate twice from the free-throw line with seven seconds left. Cibona had the final possession, but Kimani Ffriend was the one to block the last shot attempt by Cibona’s Marko Popović, who became champion a year earlier with Zadar.
In the final game, Reggie Freeman was the top scorer for FMP Reflex with 16 points and he was followed by Ognjen Aškrabić and Branko Jorović, who both had 12 points on their records. Kimani Ffriend had 10 and Bojan Popović 9. For Cibona, Marko Popović scored 13 points, Bariša Krašić 12 and Andrija Žižić and Josip Sesar 11 apiece.
On the way to the final, FMP Reflex have beaten Crvena zvezda after no less than two overtimes with the final score of 113:110 and heroic games by Reggie Freeman who had 29 points and 10 rebounds and Ognjen Aškrabić, who added 26 points.
FMP later won the ABA League trophy again in the 2006, when they have topped Partizan Pivara MB in the Final, with the final score of 73:72.
2002/03 ABA League Final, 18 April 2004:
Cibona - FMP REFLEX 70:71 (20:25, 20:20, 21:11, 9:15)
Cibona scorers: Kus 8, Rimac 2, Krasić 12, Žižić 11, Golemac 8, Sesar 11, Štimac, Mamić, Poljak 5, Popović 13, Vranković, Ugrinoski.
FMP scorers: Freeman 16, Stefanović, Aškrabić 12, Jorović 12, Mandić 3, Krstović 2, Popović 9, Vasić, Majstorović, Ilić, Plisnić 2, Ffriend 10.
