Cibona takes the lead against Zadar in the Croatian championship play-off final

More than five minutes into the game, Zadar had scored only through two baskets by Mazalin, one of which came after he missed both free throws and then converted the rebound. On the other end, Šiško knocked down a three-pointer, while Palokaj scored a three-point play, giving Cibona a 4–9 lead. Mihailović hit his first three-pointer of the game, but Šiško responded with two of his own, prompting Jusup to call a timeout with the score at 8–15. Both teams then found their rhythm offensively, with Mihailović, Radovčić, and Klarica all connecting from beyond the arc. After a layup by Ramljak made it 16–18, it was time for the first timeout on the other side as well.

Rudež then brought in Roberson, who had picked up two quick personal fouls before making way again for Šiško, while Jusup introduced Tišma and Kapusta. However, neither team managed to create any significant separation, and the first quarter ended with Cibona leading 20–22.

Several poor decisions and a slump in Zadar’s play were covered up by three-pointers from Mihailović and Žganec. Jusup struggled to find solutions from the bench, while Rudež relied on the inspired performances of Šiško and Radovčić. Zadar finally erased its deficit in the last possession of the first half, leveling the score at 42–42. Cibona’s more aggressive defense disrupted Zadar’s offensive rhythm, but the visitors paid the price with 16 fouls called against them compared to Zadar’s nine.

Everything Zadar had accomplished was quickly undone at the start of the second half when Roberson scored 10 consecutive points to give Cibona a 44–52 lead. Without another player stepping up alongside Mihailović, the home team managed only 10 points in the third quarter.

Zadar’s long pursuit of its first lead finally ended in the 32nd minute when Mihailović and Kapusta hit three-pointers to make it 61–60. The lead did not last long, however, as Hepa and Palokaj answered in kind. For much of the remainder, the teams were separated by around five points. After Zadar nearly lost possession three times during a single offensive sequence, Mihailović drilled a three-pointer to tie the game at 71–71 and set up a dramatic finish. Zadar failed to capitalize on a possession that could have given them the lead, while at the other end Lončar made one free throw. Mihailović then launched a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer, but after dancing on the rim for what seemed like an eternity, the ball rolled out. Cibona secured the victory and took a 1–0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Mihailović was Zadar’s standout performer with 30 points, while Šiško and Roberson led Cibona with 12 points each.

Game 2 is will be played on Tuesday and once again at the Krešimir Ćosić hall, with tip-off scheduled for 8:15 P.M.

Ivan Rudež, Cibona head coach: "Congratulations to my players on the win and to Zadar for their tough performance. I think this was a real treat for basketball fans across Croatia and beyond. I always tell my players that it’s not only about the people in the stands; nowadays tens of thousands of people will watch a game like this. We play for our fans back home in Zagreb, for our supporters everywhere, and for basketball professionals as well. I think we started the game well, although we struggled to defend Kapusta in the pick-and-roll, as he caused us a lot of problems. Still, the biggest job belonged to the players assigned to guard Mihailović. He is simply unstoppable at times and capable of creating his own shot from any situation. His ability to create separation in one-on-one situations is incredible, and he is not an easy player to defend. Even though he scored 30 points, I don’t think anyone did a poor job against him. They also hurt us with offensive rebounds, but we managed to close out the game thanks to a few crucial baskets. We had a little bit of sporting luck as well an offensive rebound and a point by Skorić and now it’s 1–0 for us. Something that doesn’t get written about enough is how much some of our players have grown in their roles over the course of the season. Hepa is not the same player he was when he arrived in August. He is stronger, has added muscle mass, and works hard. The same goes for Skorić and Bart. In our first game against Zadar this season, they physically overpowered us. I told my players that this would be the benchmark of our development throughout the season. Lončar is a player who needs trust. He moved around and changed environments, but we recognized his character. He simply needed to be placed in a supportive setting. He has improved in terms of strength, basketball IQ, and decision-making, and that has been evident over the last month”.

Vigo Bart, Cibona player: "A huge win for us. We knew who we were up against and how strong Zadar is, so we prepared as thoroughly as possible. I think we came into the game with the right level of toughness from the very beginning, and the score reflected that. I would like to congratulate Zadar on a fair game and my teammates on a truly fantastic performance. This is a big victory for us, and now we will get some rest and prepare for the next game”.

Statistics are available HERE.