Zvezda start Top 8 campaign with victory against Igokea

2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Top 8 Round 1, Sunday, 15 February 2026:

CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET – Igokea m:tel 94:84 (27:21, 20:27, 26:22, 21:14)

PHOTO GALLERY

POST-GAME COMENTS

Game Recap: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet successfully started their Top 8 campaign with a 94:84 home win against Igokea m:tel in Belgrade. Despite the final double-digit margin, this was far from a comfortable night for the red-and-whites. Igokea arrived well-prepared, confident and competitive, matching the hosts’ intensity for three quarters and keeping the outcome wide open heading into the final 10 minutes. Zvezda had to dig deep before finally breaking the resistance of the visitors and securing a valuable victory in Round 1 of the Top 8.

Key moments: The decisive stretch came at the start of the fourth quarter. Igokea were the first to strike in the final period, cutting the deficit to just one point (73:72) and threatening to turn the game completely around. However, Zvezda responded in emphatic fashion. Powered by Jared Butler and Semi Ojeleye, the hosts launched a crucial 14:0 run to transform a tense one-possession game into a commanding 87:72 lead. That surge proved to be the turning point, as the red-and-whites controlled the tempo down the stretch and had no problems maintaining their advantage until the final buzzer.

Man of the match: Jared Butler was the driving force behind Zvezda’s victory. The guard finished as the team’s top scorer with 18 points, delivering several key baskets in the fourth quarter precisely when his team needed stability and scoring punch.

Can’t trick the stats: Rebounding dominance made a major difference. Zvezda outrebounded Igokea 40 to 21, controlling the glass on both ends of the floor and creating extra possessions that ultimately helped them pull away in the decisive moments.