Cibona Cruise Past Dinamo for Seventh Straight Domestic Win

Cibona beat Dinamo Zagreb 88:75 in front of around 400 fans at Dražen’s Home on Friday in Round 7 of the SuperSport Premijer League, collecting their seventh win in as many domestic games. The Wolves kept their perfect record and extended their streak to 14 points.

Cibona started with McGill, Sikirić, Mazalin, Badžim and Mitchell. Dinamo opened with Donald, Rudan, Matić, Bjelanović and Avdalović.

The first quarter was evenly matched, and Cibona took it 19:16. Badžim had six points and Donald seven, making them the top scorers on their respective teams.

In the second quarter, Dinamo called a timeout after a McGill basket made it 27:22, but Cibona, led by Sikirić and Hepa, pushed the lead to nine (31:22). The visitors answered with a 10:4 run and cut it to 35:32 with three minutes left in the half, prompting a Cibona timeout. The Wolves still won the quarter 24:18 and went into the break leading 43:34. Badžim, with 11 points, and Bjelanović, with 12, were the standouts by then.

The third quarter proved decisive. Cibona won it 28:21, opened up a double-digit lead and entered the final period ahead 71:55. Sikirić had 14 points at that stage and Bjelanović 15.

Cibona stayed in control over the last ten minutes and closed it out at 88:75. Sikirić (14) and Badžim (11) led Cibona in scoring, while Bjelanović (19) and Donald (16) topped Dinamo.

Cibona head coach Ivan Tomas said after the game:

“I’d like to congratulate the guys on the win. I think it’s an important win for us, and we managed to spread the minutes a bit. There were no injuries, and certainly some things have to get better, but we’re taking it day by day, practice by practice, hoping it will improve.”

Cibona’s Antonio Sikirić added:

“Congratulations to Dinamo on a good game. We knew it wouldn’t be easy, but we started well, especially in the third quarter, and made the difference that let us control the game. I think we deserved the win.”

Dinamo head coach Jakša Vulić said:

“Congratulations to Cibona on the win, especially given the heavy schedule they’re playing. They controlled the flow of the game and dominated in the paint and on the offensive glass. That’s where they made the difference.”

Dinamo’s Taye Donald added:

“I think we played a tough game. We knew Cibona was a tough opponent and that they’re very good on the boards. We talked about it at halftime, but in the third quarter we weren’t strong enough. Cibona played at a very high level.”

The Wolves now head to Široki Brijeg, where they face Široki on Monday, 9 November, at 7:00 PM in Round 7 of the AdmiralBet ABA League. Their next home game is on Friday, 13 November, at 6:30 PM, when they host FMP in the ABA League at Dražen’s Home.

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