Cibona advances to Cup semifinals: Roberson and Šiško lead victory over Škrljevo

KK Cibona justified their status as favorites against DepoLink Škrljevo in the second quarterfinal of the Krešimir Ćosić Cup, winning with a final score of 100-82. As the hosts of this year's Final Eight, Cibona overcame a slow start to secure their place in the semifinals.

Škrljevo's strong start

The game did not begin ideally for Ivan Rudež's squad. Škrljevo, led by a hot-handed Davor Konjević, held the lead after the first ten minutes (24-26). Although Roberson started the game brilliantly, scoring Cibona's first eight points and totaling 11 in the first three and a half minutes, Konjević forced a second foul from the American guard and finished the first quarter with 14 points.

Turning the tide: Čakarun and Šiško

Coach Rudež opened the game with a mixed lineup, giving minutes to youngsters Borna Katanović and Renato Sedarušić. However, Cibona struggled defensively against Škrljevo's pick-and-roll game. The momentum shifted with the entry of Marjan Čakarun, who delivered one of his best halves in a Cibona jersey. Alongside Žan Mark Šiško, Čakarun demonstrated how vital veteran leadership is for this team.

The breakthrough came mid-way through the first half when Cibona went on an 11-0 run. Aggressive defense and easy transition points paved the way for the hosts. Čakarun dominated the post, while Šiško orchestrated the offense with precision.

Second half dominance

In the third quarter, Škrljevo coach Maleš attempted to slow down the pace with a 2-3 zone defense, but the tactical move was short-lived. Cibona quickly dismantled the zone, with Roberson continuing his scoring spree and captain Krešimir Radovčić providing a spark on both ends of the floor.

Key match statistics:

Roberson: 26 points (Game high)

Krešimir Radovčić: 15 points

Žan Mark Šiško: 7 assists and offensive leadership

Marjan Čakarun: Instrumental in the first-half turnaround

Cibona effectively sealed the game in the third period (30-12), building an insurmountable 23-point lead. One of Šiško's seven assists led to the double-digit gap that Škrljevo could not close. With this victory, the "Wolves" have cleared their first hurdle on the path to the Cup trophy.

Statistics can be found HERE.