Budućnost VOLI grab two points in Skopje after a thrilling ending

Saturday, 21. January 2023 at 17:00

In the only game on schedule for Saturday night in the AdmiralBet ABA League, Budućnost VOLI have prevailed over MZT Skopje Aerodrom on the road in Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje.

Alpha Kaba (Photo: MZT Skopje Aerodrom/Danail Petrovic)

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 16, Saturday, 21 January 2023:

MZT Skopje Aerodrom - BUDUĆNOST VOLI 86:90 (10:20, 22:22, 16:23, 38:25)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: In the only game on schedule for Saturday night in the AdmiralBet ABA League, Budućnost VOLI have prevailed over MZT Skopje Aerodrom on the road in Jane Sandanski Arena in Skopje. This way, Budućnost VOLI have come to the 10:6 record after 16 rounds and they keep chasing one of the spots in the Top Four of the Regular Season, which would give them home court advantage in the Quarterfinals. On the other side, MZT Skopje Aerodrom remain at the very bottom of the standings alone, with the 2:14 record after 16 rounds and in the remaining 10 rounds they will need to come up with a solid number of victories in case they wish to escape the danger zone near the bottom to be sure to avoid relegation to the NLB ABA League 2.

Key moments: Budućnost VOLI went off to a flying start and they have opened the game with a 9:0 run in the first 6 minutes of the playing time. MZT got back into the game midway through the second quarter and after a three-pointer by Bojan Krstevski, the margin was only two points (26:28). However, Budućnost VOLI replied quickly with a 4:12 run over the next 4 minutes, which put them up 40:30 with a minute remaining in the first half. The lead of the visiting side even reached 19 points in the third quarter, but the hosts bounced back again! When Damjan Stojanovski scored for 3 points with 2 and a half minutes remaining, the score was tied at 76:76 and we headed into the dramatic ending. The teams entered the final 2 minutes tied at 78:78, but then Budućnost VOLI made a 7:2 run over the following minute and a half, for which Trae-Bell Haynes scored 4 points (6 in the final 2 minutes altogether), which put them up 80:85 with half a minute to go. MZT Skopje Aerodrom never recovered after that again.

Man of the match: Alpha Kaba has been the dominant driving force of Budućnost VOLI in the victory over MZT Skopje Aerodrom, as he finished the clash with 14 points, no less than 17 rebounds, and a valuation of 30. He is our man of the match!

Can’t trick the stats: Since the game finished with a 4-point margin, there is no wonder that the teams have been similar in almost every statistical category. However, MZT Skopje Aerodrom did finish the game with 2 turnovers more and perhaps this was what handed them the loss in the end.
 

Stats

MZT Skopje Aerodrom
00:00 Q4
86 : 90
Budućnost VOLI

Players on court

MZT Min P R A S F V
0 Krstevski B. 27:27 10 1 3 1 4 11
8 Robev D. 00:14 0 0 0 0 1 -1
13 Abu A. 30:20 19 11 2 0 4 27
19 Stojanovski D. 25:41 13 4 0 1 4 14
20 Stojanovski V. 31:13 20 2 2 1 3 19
BUD Min P R A S F V
2 Bell Haynes T. 30:40 22 2 6 0 4 28
13 Lazić A. 14:06 5 1 0 0 1 3
17 O'Brien J. 25:58 15 1 1 1 3 5
30 Popović P. 16:43 0 0 1 1 3 -4
32 Green II E. 23:31 18 1 1 1 2 16

Last 5 actions

Min Score Action
game finished
end of 4. quarter
00:04 (Q4) LAZIĆ A. substitution (in)
00:04 (Q4) 7 KABA A. substitution (out)
00:04 (Q4)86 : 90 32 GREEN II E. made free throw (2 of 2)
00:04 (Q4)86 : 89 32 GREEN II E. made free throw (1 of 2)

Top players

VALUE (INDEX)
Abu A. 27 - 30 Kaba A.
POINTS
Stojanovski V. 20 - 22 Bell Haynes T.
REBOUNDS
Abu A. 11 - 17 Kaba A.
ASSISTS
Ware D. 7 - 6 Bell Haynes T.
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