Cibona pulls off thrilling comeback against Dubrovnik in round 17

After three consecutive away matches, KK Cibona returned to their home court for the 17th round of the SuperSport Premijer liga. Facing KK Dubrovnik, a team that had defeated them earlier in the season, the "Wolves" looked to maintain their positive momentum and secure their fourth straight victory. In a match defined by dramatic shifts, Cibona emerged victorious with an 82:77 win.

The home side started with a lineup featuring Palokaj, Čakarun, Katanović, Šiško, and Hepa. The opening quarter was closely contested until a 7:0 run by Čakarun, Bart, and Hepa pushed Cibona to a 21:12 lead. However, Dubrovnik responded quickly, trailing by just five points at the end of the first period (25:20).

The second quarter saw a surge from the visitors. Frančešević caught fire from beyond the arc, leading a 13:0 run that gave Dubrovnik a 28:33 lead. Despite Radovčić's efforts to keep Cibona close, the halftime score favored the visitors at 44:45.

Dubrovnik dominated the third quarter, executing a 12:0 run that extended their lead to double digits. At one point, the visitors held a commanding 17-point advantage (48:65), entering the final period with a 55:68 cushion. It seemed a home loss was imminent, but Cibona had other plans.

The final ten minutes showcased Cibona's defensive resilience. Led by Radovčić and Hepa, the home team orchestrated a massive 18:0 scoring run, reclaiming the lead at 70:68. Although the game was tied at 75:75 in the closing minutes, Cibona's execution in the clutch secured the hard-fought win.

Krešimir Radovčić was the top scorer for Cibona with 22 points, followed by Kamaka Hepa with 17 and Vigo Bart with 14. For the visitors, Batinić led the way with 20 points.

Ivan Rudež, Cibona Head Coach: "It was a tough game emotionally after the Split road trip, but we managed to respond to Dubrovnik's smart play and find a way to win".

Kamaka Hepa, Cibona Player: "We finally have a winning streak. It was a game of many turns, but we are showing improvement in key areas of our play".

The statistics can be found HERE.