The Semi-Finals begin in Belgrade – Crvena zvezda Meridianbet vs. Budućnost VOLI
The two old rivals are two wins away from the big Finals. Only one can reach there…
(Photo: Crvena zvezda mts/Djordje Kostic)
AdmiralBet ABA League Semifinals Round 1, Sunday, 14 May 2023:
CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET - BUDUĆNOST VOLI
Where? Aleksandar Nikolić Sports Hall, Belgrade
When? 19:30
Story of the game: The semi-final clash between Crvena zvezda Meridianbet and Budućnost VOLI will begin this Sunday evening in Belgrade where the red-and-whites will host their big rivals in Game 1 of the series.
Crvena zvezda Meridianbet will have home-court advantage in this series and that might be quite important considering that the Belgrade team have scored 7 consecutive home-court wins against Budućnost VOLI in the regional league Playoffs.
The last time the Podgorica troops triumphed in Belgrade in the ABA Playoffs happened in Game 1 of the 2017/18 season Finals when the blue-and-whites then went on to win their first and only ABA League title.
This will be the 5th time in league history that these two big rivals are facing each other in the regional league Playoffs.
Recall that Crvena zvezda Meridianbet and Budućnost VOLI firstly met in the 2016/17 semi-finals when the Belgrade team won the series by 2-1.
One year later, Budućnost VOLI prevailed over Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in the 2017/18 Finals by 3-1, while in the following two ABA League Finals Crvena zvezda Meridianbet defeated Budućnost VOLI by 3-2 to claim the titles in the 2018/19 and 2020/21 seasons.
Now, the two regional powerhouses meet again and only one can fulfill its goal. Let’s see who will take the precious lead on Sunday evening.
Match-up in focus: There are so many interesting duels in this clash, but let’s say that one of the most important ones will be at the point guard position where Facundo Campazzo (Crvena zvezda Meridianbet) and Trae Bell-Haynes (Budućnost VOLI) will try to outplay one another.
Campazzo is the top scorer of Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in the ongoing season with 13.8 points per game, while Bell-Haynes is the 2nd best scorer of Budućnost VOLI with 14 points per game.
Head-to-head score in the regional league: In total 30:25; In Belgrade 24:5.
