Crvena zvezda Meridianbet Take the Lead in the Quarter-Finals Series vs. Cedevita Olimpija
A thrilling night in Belgrade ends with Crvena zvezda Meridianbet's victory.
Jordan Nwora (Photo: ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic)
2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Payoffs, Quarter-Finals, Game 1, Thursdau, 7 May 2026:
CRVENA ZVEZDA MERIDIANBET - Cedevita Olimpija 101:92 (25:24, 25:23, 31:27, 20:18)
Game Recap: Crvena zvezda Meridianbet have taken the lead in the 2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Quarter-Finals series after defeating Cedevita Olimpija at home by 101:92 in a spectacular Game 1 clash.
In the game preview we wrote that everyone expects another thriller between these two regional powerhouses - and that is exactly what the crowd in Belgrade got this evening. The two teams delivered a fantastic basketball show, especially offensively. Just look at the numbers from beyond the arc - Zvezda knocked down 14 three-pointers, while Cedevita Olimpija responded with 12 triples of their own.
Neither side managed to create any major gap throughout the game. Every time it looked like one team might break away, the other immediately answered back. Eventually, it was the home side that delivered the decisive punch in the middle of the fourth quarter.
Key moments: Cedevita Olimpija managed to tie the score at 83:83 just 3 minutes into the fourth quarter and it looked like we were heading toward a dramatic finish. Yet, that was when Crvena zvezda Meridianbet produced the crucial 8:0 run that decided the game.
Ebuka Izundu, Semi Ojeleye, Tyson Carter and Joel Bolomboy each scored 2 points during that stretch to put the red-and-whites up by 91:83. In the remaining minutes, the Belgrade side stayed calm, controlled the tempo and successfully closed out the game to secure the opening win in the series.
Game 2 will be played in Ljubljana on Tuesday evening. Zvezda now need one more win to advance to the semi-finals, while Cedevita Olimpija must defend home court in order to stay alive in the title race.
Man of the match: Jordan Nwora delivered his best performance of the season in the AdmiralBet ABA League. The Zvezda star scored a season-high 25 points, while also adding 7 rebounds and 5 assists. His overall index rating of 36 was also his best mark of the season.
Can’t trick the stats: Rebounding played a major role in this victory for Crvena zvezda Meridianbet, as the home side grabbed 9 rebounds more than the visitors.
Stats
Players on court
| CZV | Min | PtsP | RebsR | AssA | StS | FoulF | ValV | |
| 6 | Butler J. | 14:36 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| 11 | Carter T. | 25:52 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| 12 | Kalinić N. | 27:23 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 11 |
| 33 | Nwora J. | 31:04 | 25 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 36 |
| 37 | Ojeleye S. | 22:55 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| COL | Min | PtsP | RebsR | AssA | StS | FoulF | ValV | |
| 0 | Stewart JR D. | 32:16 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 20 |
| 1 | Gibson U. | 28:31 | 19 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 4 | 26 |
| 5 | Nikolić A. | 18:04 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| 24 | Škara D. | 22:06 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 |
| 25 | Jaramaz O. | 13:11 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
Last 5 actions
| Min | Score | Action |
| game finished | ||
| end of 4. quarter | ||
| 00:01 (Q4) | 101 : 92 | 0 STEWART JR D. made 2 points (tip inlayup) |
| 00:01 (Q4) | 0 STEWART JR D. rebound (offensive) | |
| 00:03 (Q4) | 24 ŠKARA D. missed 3 points (jump shot) | |
| 00:20 (Q4) | 101 : 90 | 33 NWORA J. made free throw (2 of 2) |
Top players
| VALUE (INDEX) | ||||
| Nwora J. | 36 | - | 26 | Gibson U. |
| POINTS | ||||
| Nwora J. | 25 | - | 19 | Gibson U. |
| REBOUNDS | ||||
| Bolomboy J. | 7 | - | 5 | Stewart JR D. |
| ASSISTS | ||||
| Butler J. | 5 | - | 9 | Gibson U. |
