Two old rivals face each other in the final match of Round 26
As the 2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League regular season enters its final stretch, Cibona host Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in a clash of regional giants with contrasting objectives.
Borna Katanovic (Photo: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet/Djordje Kostic)
2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League Round 26, Monday, 7 April 2025:
CIBONA - CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET
Where? Dražen Petrović Sports Hall, Zagreb
When? 19:00
Story of the game: As the 2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League regular season enters its final stretch, Cibona host Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in a clash of regional giants with contrasting objectives.
Cibona (4-21) sit near the bottom of the standings, out of Playoffs contention, but still fighting for pride and a strong finish to the season. Playing at home in the legendary Dražen Petrović Basketball Center, they’ll look to recapture the energy of past upsets.
Crvena zvezda (19-6), currently 4th on the table, is in the thick of a heated Playoffs race, aiming to secure the best possible position for the postseason. Every game counts, and any slip-up could cost them crucial positioning. Despite not being in their usual dominant form this season, Zvezda remains a dangerous, deep, and experienced squad.
Match-up in focus: Sven Smailagić (Cibona) vs. Isaiah Canaan (Crvena zvezda Meridianbet).
These two sharpshooters will score plenty of points, if you leave them too much space. Last week, Smailagić scored his season-high 23 points in the AdmiralBet ABA League match vs. Budućnost VOLI, while Canaan made 21 points couple of days ago in Zvezda’s match against Anadolu Efes in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
Head-to-head score in the regional league: In total 12:35; In Zagreb 10:12.
