Bačvić is Krka’s Hero After a win in a Thrilling Finish Against Perspektiva Ilirija in Novo mesto

AdmiralBet ABA League Play-out Round 2, Saturday, 7 March 2026:

KRKA – Perspektiva Ilirija 72:71 (16:20, 19:11, 19:20, 18:20)

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POST-GAME COMMENTS

Game recap: On Saturday night, Krka have prevailed over Perpsektiva Ilirija in a Hitchcock-like ending in Leon Štukelj Sports Hall in Novo mesto, as Niko Bačvić stepped up when it mattered the most and handed the win to the home side. It’s an important win for Krka, which this way moved up to a 6:12 record, tied themselves in the standings with Perspektiva Ilirija and is now 2 wins above the line, separating the rest of the teams from those two placed in the danger zone at the very bottom of the Play-out table.

Key moments: It’s been a game of ups and downs, where Perspektiva Ilirija were ahead by 4 points (16:20) after the first quarter, but Krka fought back in the second quarter, leading by 4 points (35:31) at the big break. Krka pulled away to 9 points of advantage (47:38) with 3 minutes to go in the third, but the visiting side managed to return in the battle for the win and even took the lead in the final quarter. As Wendell Green Jr. converted one of two of his free throws with 23 seconds to go in the game, it seemed like the Ljubljana side would get away with a win this time. However, Krka squad had other plans. First Leon Šantelj cut the gap on the other end with 18 seconds to go to 2 points, and afterwards Jan Rebec stole the ball under Ilirija’s rim from Mark Padjen, after which Niko Bačvić made a game-winning three-pointer, which, as it turned out later, set the final score at 72:71. Robert Jurković tried to win the game for Perspektiva Ilirija on the other side of the court with a three-point shot attempt, but was inaccurate.

Man of the match: Niko Bačvić has been the key to Krka’s win this time around, not only because of the game-winner, but also since he had the game-high valuation of 18, thanks to his all-around and rational performance of 9 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal. He is our man of the match!

Can’t trick the stats: Krka had only 5 turnovers and Perspektiva Ilirija had 11. That’s what might have turned the flow of the game home side’s way.