Ilirija Make History - First ABA Win Sealed by Edo Murić’s Game-Winner

2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Group B Round 2, Sunday, 12 October 2025:

ILIRIJA - Zadar 85:83 (19:20, 25:27, 20:25, 21:11)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: Ilirija have made history! The Ljubljana side defeated Zadar 85:83 in a thrilling Round 2 clash and scored their first ever AdmiralBet ABA League victory. The home crowd witnessed a dramatic ending as Edo Murić hit the game-winning basket in the final seconds of the match to seal the win for Ilirija.

It was an emotional moment for both the team and their fans, as the club achieved a milestone that will forever remain written in Ilirija’s history books. Even more interestingly, Murić’s decisive basket was actually his first field goal of the game, yet it was the one that mattered the most.

Zadar started the game strong and looked in control for most of the match. The visiting team built their lead through solid defense and efficient shooting, managing to stay in front heading into the final quarter. However, the last 10 minutes turned into a completely different story.

Ilirija refused to give up and they produced an impressive comeback. While Zadar managed to score just 11 points in the fourth quarter, Ilirija kept closing the gap until the final seconds – when the game reached its most dramatic point.

Key moments: With the score tied in the final seconds, Edo Murić received the ball near the corner, went for a baseline drive, and finished an extremely tough layup over Beau Beech, extending his arm under the rim to score on the other side of the basket. That move turned out to be the game-winner.

Zadar still had one last chance to avoid defeat – Marko Ramljak tried a half-court three-pointer at the buzzer, but his shot missed, and the celebration in Ljubljana could begin.

Man of the match: While Murić sealed the win, the best overall performance came from Wendell Jerome Green, Ilirija’s point guard, who was simply outstanding. He finished the match with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 13 assists, posting a total index rating of 29.

Can’t trick the stats: Team play made the difference – Ilirija dished out 21 assists, while Zadar had only 12, which perfectly reflects how well the home team shared the ball, especially in crunch time.