Zadar entered the game as the favored team finishing the league at the pole position and swept Šibenik in the quarter-finals. Gorica came in 4th position at the end of the regular season and managed to pull off two tight wins against KK Sonik Puntamika.
After winning the first game at home 89:73, Zadar showed weakness on Thursday and surprisingly lost at Gorica with 76:79. Today’s game at Krešimir Ćosić Sports Center had to bring the decision on who would face KK Split in the championship finals. Split won in two straight games against Cibona Zagreb.
Burak Canboy
Gorica was still weakened and coach Josip Sesar arrived with only 10 players despite the return of Bakur, their inside players were mostly missing due to the continued absences of Ljubičić and Batur. Their main target before the game was to keep Zadar’s big man Onuaku out of the game and to see if Karlo Uljarević could repeat his 22 point game from Thursday in which he scored 3 successful three-point shots.
Burak Canboy
The Dalmatians started well into the game and decided the first quarter 18:14. The second quarter turned out to be quite ugly with plenty of fouls and few baskets out of set play situation. A buzzer-beater from Vuković sealed the hosts 42:30 halftime score.
Burak Canboy
Burak Canboy
Plenty of fouls seemed to be the only hope for the underdogs from Gorica and the game continued how the first half had ended. Zadar was able to pull away to its largest lead of 64:39 but the guests did no give up. The men of coach Veljko Mršić managed to start the final quarter with a 10:0 run to achieve a 72:60 but could keep up the intensity until the end. Zadar managed the lead and sealed the 17 point victory to qualify for the finals in which they will have a home-court advantage against KK Split who make their first finals appearance after 13 years.
Burak Canboy
The top scorer of the night was Zadar’s captain Dominik Mavra with 19 points, Karlo Uljarević scored 14 for the guests.
The finals will be played in a 2-2-1 mode with the first two games in Zadar on Wednesday and Friday. The first team to win 3 games will win the title.
Referees: Jovovich, Jurčević, Mustapić
23rd May 2021 18:00 Krešimir Ćosić Sports Center
Box score: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/HKS/1883960/
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