Cibona host Zadar in Game 3 of the play-off finals

After two demanding games in Zadar, team of Ivan Rudež has had little time to rest and prepare. Cibona now has an opportunity to respond in the right way in front of its home crowd and take the lead in the finals series.

Cibona head coach reflected on the opening two games and previewed Friday matchup at Dražen Petrović Basketball hall.

“If we look at Game 2, we simply failed to establish any momentum. We had several situations in which we could have closed the gap and kept the game competitive for a longer period. That was especially true when we cut the deficit to 22–20 and had an open three-point shot, but failed to capitalize. After that, Zadar managed to open up the game, impose its rhythm, and steer the contest in the direction that suited them. If we look at the numbers, the difference between the first and second game was obvious. In Game 1, we shot 48 percent on two-point attempts, while in Game 2 that number dropped to 28 percent. That allowed Zadar to control the rebounding battle and keep the game at a pace that suited them. But this is a finals series. It’s not a regular-season game where we need to dwell on whether the margin was five points or 25. Once we saw that the game was slipping away, we managed to reduce the workload of our key players late on, and now our focus is fully on preparing for Game 3. As for the bigger picture, I think we are exactly where we wanted to be. Since the start of the season, we all hoped that Cibona would finally return to the finals after four years. We are here, and that is a reward for all the work put in by everyone at the club, as well as for our fans, who have not had the opportunity to experience a finals atmosphere for a long time. We want them to come to Dražen’s Home Arena, feel that energy, and provide us with great support. We face a major challenge, but also a great opportunity. As I said before the series began, I would have gladly signed for a 1–1 split after the first two games. Now the series moves to our court, and we will do everything we can to deliver a strong performance in front of our supporters”, said Rudež.

Team captain Krešimir Radovčić emphasized the importance of putting the first two games behind them and focusing on what lies ahead.

“We have to leave the first two games behind us and focus on what comes next. We know that a completely different atmosphere and a completely different game await us compared to the ones we played in Zadar. We did a good job there and earned an important victory, and the only disappointment from Game 2 is that the final margin ended up being larger than we wanted. But this is a finals series. When you lose, it does not matter whether it is by one point or thirty. What matters is how you respond afterward. We have to keep looking forward, focus on the next game, the next practice, and all the challenges ahead. That is the only right approach. The series is now moving to our arena, and in front of our fans we want to approach the game the right way and finish it the way we all hope”, Radovčić said.

Game 3 of the finals series will be played on Friday at 8:00 P.M. Tickets are available through the CoreEvent platform and at the hall box office on game day from 7:00 P.M. The game will be broadcast live on MAXSport television.