Crvena zvezda Meridianbet survive late drama to beat FMP Soccerbet on the road

2024/25 AdmiralBet ABA League Round 30, Sunday, 4 May 2025:

FMP Soccerbet - CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET 93:94 (24:25, 25:27, 24:20, 20:22)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet seized a narrow 94:93 win over FMP Soccerbet in the final round of the regular season, surviving a tense finish in which the home team had a chance to snatch the victory with the final possession. Despite being the clear favorites, the red-and-whites struggled to impose control throughout the game and will likely want to move past this performance quickly as they shift focus to the Playoffs.

It was a high-scoring and open affair from the start, with both teams trading blows and neither side managing to build a substantial lead. At the end, it was the visitors who managed to maintain composure just enough to escape with the win and preserve their long-standing dominance over FMP Soccerbet in the AdmiralBet ABA League ABA League matchups.

Key moments: The decisive moment came in the dying seconds of the game. With just a few ticks left on the clock and FMP Soccerbet trailing by a point, the ball was in the hands of their point guard Josh Scott. However, Crvena zvezda Meridianbet made a smart defensive adjustment, sending a double-team to pressure Scott and force the ball out of his hands. He managed to find Jacob Stephens on the perimeter, who had a clean look at a potential game-winning three-pointer. Stephens pulled up—but his shot bounced off the rim, and Zvezda escaped with a dramatic win.

Man of the match: Nikola Kalinić stepped up when it mattered most. The experienced forward delivered his best individual performance of the season, finishing with 19 points and 6 rebounds, and posting a season-high index rating of 30. In a game where Zvezda needed leadership and poise, Kalinić was the most reliable figure on the court, playing a crucial role in keeping the visitors afloat and ultimately guiding them to a hard-fought win.

Can’t trick the stats: At the end, the only stats that mattered was that last 3-point shot that FMP Soccerbet missed and due to which the win ended up in the hands of Crvena zvezda Meridianbet crew.