Cibona secures victory over Dubrovnik in Sutinska vrela

The starting lineup for Cibona was: Čakarun, Skorić, Hepa, Šiško, and Palokaj. Dubrovnik started with: Dubelj, Gulin, Loncović, Vodopija, and Wheeler Jamari.

Cibona opened the game with a basket by Žan Mark Šiško, but Dubrovnik responded immediately in the next possession with a three-pointer, making it clear they wouldn’t be an easy opponent. Shooters were in form on both sides, as shown first by Skorić hitting a three, followed by the visitors answering with another three-pointer. The first tie came at 7:7. Šiško added another three, and the rest of the quarter featured lead changes, a back-and-forth rhythm, and multiple ties. Serdarušić hit an important three-pointer that pushed the home team into a higher gear. Shortly after, Lončar energized the crowd with a fast-break dunk, while Serdarušić extended the lead to +7.

The second period saw a 7:0 run by the home team and a more physical style of play. Cibona pulled away to +12, while Dubrovnik continued to capitalize on opportunities and kept shooting from long range. The first half ended with a three-pointer by Dubelj, making it 43:33. Despite occasional flashes from the visitors, Cibona remained firmly in control.

After halftime, Radovčić opened the second half with a three-pointer. The “Wolves” built a +19 lead, but the visitors kept fighting for every ball, showing relentless energy. The lead grew to +21, before Jamari reduced the score to 63:50.

In the final stretch, Cibona comfortably and routinely closed out the game, which ended with a score of 79:62.

Among the top scorers, Radovčić recorded 17 points, while Čakarun added 12 points and 11 rebounds, achieving a double-double. For Dubrovnik, Wheeler Jamari stood out with 13 points, and Gulin also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“It was an important win for us, even though we had a few sloppy possessions in the third quarter. I think we controlled the game well, especially through defense. They managed to slow down our transition game because they’re a smart team that knows how to position themselves and control space. I would like to praise not only my players but also Dubrovnik and their coaching staff for the way they work and play. They also gave young Gašparac an opportunity, which is a positive step forward for such a young player and for our basketball in general. I’m also pleased with my young players, especially Katanović. After the damage to our arena, we’re facing a bit of a nomadic period, and I believe we will show mental toughness and that the City will help us maintain stability in our training process in the coming period”, said Cibona head coach Ivan Rudež.

Match statistics are available at this link.