Crvena zvezda took a big step towards a new trophy. They will play in the semi-finals of the ABA League. It could have been expected even before the start of the playoffs.
As the first in the table, they knew that a much weaker team was waiting for them in the quarterfinals. Split or Derby, it didn’t matter much. They “tested” both of them towards the end of the league, and both teams did not have a good time in the match with the red and whites. When in the last round it was decided that Zvezda would play against Studenat on their way to the semi-finals, no one doubted that they could squeak by somewhere. It was another match in a row and a sure victory.
However, the people of Podgorica did not give up in that first match. They caused a lot of problems for the red and whites, and it seemed that everything they have been fighting for months at Mali Kalemegdan will pay off. It is already known that Zvezda was not without problems in any part of the season. The lack of players, a change of coach, an inconvenient schedule, too many injuries, a loss to Mega, and on top of all that, an ice shower of minus 45 in Istanbul led to the fact that they were eighteen points behind in the theoretically easy match in Belgrade.
However, they did not give up. They showed character. And the Serbian trio Teodosić, Davidovac, Nedović he showed what spite is. They were steady hands when it was most needed and the victory was achieved. Everything before that is deleted.
After the battle with nerves from the first match, the second one was awaited with skepticism. The Students showed that they have heavy artillery at their disposal, which they are not afraid to use. However, now everyone is fighting for the trophy, and a match at home is always a plus. That apprehension lasted maybe a few minutes after the start of the match, but after that everyone could breathe a sigh of relief. The star is back. At the very start, she showed her teeth and let the hosts know that it will be a completely different match than the one played seven days earlier. She took a 6:0 lead, had plus 28 and no load, put an end to the hot-cold quarterfinal episode.
The next opponent is a tough nut to crack. We need to stand in the way of a very high-quality young team that has not known a defeat in the regional competition for more than two months. Nine victories tied Mega, and this season they also defeated Partizan and Zvezda. So, there is no doubt that it will be a bigger bite than Studenat. It’s good that Zvezda will be able to count on in that fight Nikola Topić.
The young playmaker returned to the team with strength and enthusiasm, he already shone in the return match in Podgorica, but he certainly knows the pinks much better. The first part of the season he was their hope, and even though they are doing well without him, he knows the coach, players, habits… Well, who knows, maybe he is Zvezda’s ticket to the finals.
