#ABAFutureStars: U19 Partizan Defeats U19 Ilirija

2025/26 U19 ABA League Championship, Classification for 5-8, Wednesday, April 22, 2026:

U19 Ilirija - U19 PARTIZAN 80:91 (23:16, 24:25, 11:21, 22:29)

PHOTO GALLERY

U19 Partizan secured a place in the 5th-place game of the U19 ABA League Championship after defeating U19 Ilirija 91:80 in the classification round for positions 5th to 8th.

Following a heavy quarterfinal defeat, U19 Partizan showed a strong response, delivering an improved performance to stay in contention for the highest possible placement outside the semifinals. 

The opening stages of the game were closely contested, with both teams exchanging leads and maintaining a balanced rhythm. U19 Ilirija managed to keep pace through consistent offensive execution, ensuring the gap remained minimal heading into halftime.

However, the turning point came after the break. U19 Partizan raised their level significantly in the second half, improving both defensively and in transition. This shift allowed them to gradually build an advantage and control the tempo of the game, ultimately securing a double-digit win.

A key contributor for U19 Partizan was Luka Miladinović, who led all scorers with 22 points while also adding 6 rebounds, earning the highest performance index rating of the game. 

On the other side, U19 Ilirija was led by Lian Boisa, who finished the game with 17 points.

With this result, U19 Partizan move one step closer to finishing fifth in the competition, while U19 Ilirija will continue their campaign in the classification games for 7th-place.