Crucial game in group E which can easily determine destiny of two clubs ended yesterday in Belgrade. In front of hall full of fans(7.467 which is max capacity) Partizan won Darussafaka 69:57 (16:17, 19:8, 14:18, 20:14).
First quarter started with very hard defenses, with both clubs struggling to score points. Enormous pressure of this important game pressed all of them. Hamilton lead Turk, while skipper Novica Velickovic (aka Novica - ubica (killer)) lead Serbian side. Young player Uros Trifunovic also scored few important points which prevented away side from getting significant lead.
It was American center William Mosley who turned on "Steam roller" in second quarter. His two powerful slam dunks made supporters fall in trance and when situation like that occurs on terraces home side get wings, while away is like with bounded legs. Partizan dominated this quarter. Another American Marcus Paige with Bircevic and Gordic started scoring points and Turk side didn't have good answer for that. Only one who missed a lot in home side was Rade Zagorac. It looked like he didn't forget yet his pathetic miss from Istanbul.
Turks played good 3rd period and came closer to 49:43, but black and white steam roller machine then turned on again in 4th quarter. 14 consecutive points and great defense were enough for 65:43 (+22) lead for Partizan. Until the end Turks reduced this result, but could not do anything to avoid loss which was at comfortable 12 points 69:57 at the end. Even Rade Zagorac scored basket in 33th minute after long row of missing shots. Celebration in hall could start.
This win is probably crucial in progressing in next stage of competition. Only task Partizan players have now is to win Trento at home and avoid catastrophic losing against Bologna in Italy. +18 against Virtus and +12 (-2) against Darussafaka should be enough to put Partizan on one of first two positions of Group E table. Partizan has now 3 wins and 1 loss, while Turk side has 2 wins and 2 losses and might search their chance for going to next stage against Italian side Virtus.
You can see Mosley's powerful slam dunk around 45th second of this video. It was awesome!
Here is part of atmosphere from hall:
Best players in Partizan were: Jaramaz (15 points 4 rebounds), Velickovic (11), Gordic (10), Walden (9) and Mosley (4 points, 8 rebounds)
In Darussafaka the best were: Hamilton (17 points, 9 rebounds), Colson 10, Brown 8 and Ozdemiroglu 7.
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