Budućnost VOLI host Zadar in Morača

AdmiralBet ABA League Round 20, Saturday, 4 March 2023:

BUDUĆNOST VOLI - ZADAR

Where? Morača Sports Hall, Podgorica

When? 20:00

Story of the game: In the Round 20, Budućnost VOLI will be hosting Zadar at home in their Morača Sports Hall in Podgorica.

Who does not remember the unbelievable ending of the game in Višnjik in the 7th round of the AdmiralBet ABA League season, when Zadar dominated the court and seemed to be in control of the game, leading by 10 points (102:92), as the two squads entered the final two minutes of the game, but then Budućnost VOLI turned it completely upside-down by the end, grabbing a 103:104 win? This time, Zadar will have a chance of a revenge, on the road in Morača, where they will face Budućnost VOLI again, in a game, that is extremely important for both sides in their battles to accomplish their goals for the season.

While Budućnost VOLI are currently on the third place in the standings with 13:6 record, they need to keep winning in order to stay in front of Cedevita Olimpija, which has won the same number of games so far and FMP Soccerbet, which hold one win less, and thus secure themselves a home-court advantage in the Quarterfinals, in case they qualify for the Playoffs. On the other side, Zadar are on a 9:10 record in the sixth place right now, just where they would like to be when the Regular Season ends, but at the same time, only one win away from the 9th placed Split – a position, which does not give a team a spot in the Playoffs.

Budućnost VOLI are entering the game after a streak of 4 victories, while Zadar have lost 2 games in a row. So the question ahead of the big game in Podgorica is only one – will the streaks continue or end? 

Match-up in focus: Perhaps the crucial match-up of the game can be the one between the two point guards Trae Bell-Haynes, who is the top scorer and passer of Budućnost VOLI, averaging 14.8 points and 4.9 assists per game and Sani Čampara on the other side. Čampara is expected to accept a much bigger role in the remainder of the season, since the departure of Antonio Jordano lately from the club. Can he stop Bell-Haynes and lead Zadar towards another big win?

Head-to-head score in the regional league: In total 24:13; In Podgorica 15:3.