Cedevita Olimpija Pull Off Stunning Comeback to Beat Crvena zvezda Meridianbet in Game 2
Cedevita Olimpija have tied the score in the quarter-finals series vs. Crvena zvezda Meridianbet
(Photo: Cedevita Olimpija/Ales Fevzer)
2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Quarterfinals Round 2, Tuesday, 12 May 2026:
CEDEVITA OLIMPIJA - Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 92:86 (18:29, 22:22, 21:16, 31:19)
Game Recap: Cedevita Olimpija are still alive in the 2025/26 AdmiralBet ABA League Playoffs! In front of 6,500 fans in Stožice Arena, the Dragons pulled off a spectacular comeback to defeat Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 92:86 and tie the quarter-finals series at 1-1, forcing a decisive Game 3 in Belgrade.
At one point, it looked like the home side were heading toward elimination. Midway through the 2nd quarter, Cedevita Olimpija found themselves trailing by 21 points - 18:39 - against a confident Zvezda squad. Yet, backed by a roaring Stožice Arena crowd, the Dragons refused to surrender.
Bit by bit, possession by possession, the Ljubljana side started erasing the deficit. Their defense became tougher, their offense more fluid, while the home crowd kept pushing them forward. By the 4th quarter, the comeback was complete as Cedevita Olimpija grabbed the lead and turned the game into a thrilling battle until the final buzzer, in which they eventually prevailed.
Game 3 of this exciting quarter-finals series will be played on Friday, May 15, in Belgrade, where the winner will advance to the semi-finals.
Key moments: In crunch time, the hosts came up with several enormous plays. With just one minute remaining, Umoja Gibson buried a huge 3-pointer to give Cedevita Olimpija an 85:81 advantage and send the arena into eruption. Moments later, Thomas Kennedy delivered a powerful dunk for 87:81, effectively sealing the victory for the Dragons. The home side also made several key defensive stops in the final minute to preserve the lead and complete the comeback.
Man of the Match: The man of the match was undoubtedly Umoja Gibson. The Cedevita Olimpija point guard delivered a masterclass performance, finishing the game with 26 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and an overall index rating of 30.
Can’t trick the stats: One of the key reasons behind Cedevita Olimpija’s comeback was their dominance on the offensive glass. The Dragons grabbed 16 offensive rebounds, creating numerous second-chance opportunities that proved crucial in overcoming the huge early deficit.
Stats
Players on court
| COL | Min | PtsP | RebsR | AssA | StS | FoulF | ValV | |
| 0 | Stewart JR D. | 29:19 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 19 |
| 1 | Gibson U. | 32:37 | 26 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| 3 | Radović R. | 12:33 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 5 | Nikolić A. | 19:55 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 24 | Škara D. | 16:11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| CZV | Min | PtsP | RebsR | AssA | StS | FoulF | ValV | |
| 6 | Butler J. | 22:58 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
| 11 | Carter T. | 24:03 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| 21 | Bolomboy J. | 25:04 | 11 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
| 33 | Nwora J. | 32:43 | 22 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 26 |
| 37 | Ojeleye S. | 28:59 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
