Defeat in Ljubljana to say goodbye for the ABA League

Cibona’s head coach Josip Sesar opted for the starting five of Radovčić, Perasović, Skorić, Majcunić, and Rikić. Ilirija’s coach Stipe Modrić opened the game with Golson, Tomažič, Mikuš, Jockuch, and Kureš.

Cibona started the game better than in the first matchup in Zagreb, showing greater energy and focus. However, the first quarter was marked by a high level of nervousness on both sides, resulting in numerous turnovers and a technical foul for Cibona’s bench. Despite this, Ilirija capitalized on Cibona’s mistakes late in the quarter and, led by Golson, went on a scoring run to build a significant 23:11 lead by the end of the opening period.

In the second quarter, Cibona had a brief surge with a 5–0 run, but the rest of the period was again defined by nervous play, poor shooting, and too many turnovers. Although they occasionally responded well on defense and grabbed a few offensive rebounds, they struggled offensively. Ilirija maintained control and composure, preserving the advantage gained in the first quarter. At halftime, the score stood at 35:26 in favor of the home team.

In the third quarter, Ilirija further strengthened its control of the game, extending the lead thanks to better organization and greater aggression. Cibona attempted to respond, but numerous turnovers and technical mistakes prevented any serious comeback. Ilirija continued to score, and Jockuch energized the home crowd with an emphatic dunk. Cibona had a few bright moments, such as baskets by Smajlagić and Radovčić, but it was not enough to disrupt the home team’s rhythm. At the end of the third quarter, Ilirija led 62:47.

In the final quarter, Ilirija comfortably closed out the game, securing a well-deserved victory and advancing to the next stage. Cibona tried to respond through Aranitović, Rikić, and Majcunić, but lacked consistency and defensive solidity to seriously threaten the home side’s lead. Ilirija took advantage of Cibona’s mistakes and, with reliable scoring from Tomažič, Škorjanec, and Kureš, proved very effective in transition. The final score was 83:66 in favor of Ilirija.

The standout player for Cibona was Majcunić, who scored 22 points (6/9 from three-point range), adding 3 assists and a performance index rating of 22, keeping Cibona in the game for most of the contest. Perasović delivered an excellent all-around performance with 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists. Rikić also played a solid role, contributing 8 points and 4 rebounds in just under 12 minutes, with a performance rating of 17. For Ilirija, Golson led the way with 22 points, 5 assists, 3 steals, and perfect free-throw shooting. Kureš added 20 points along with 6 rebounds and several key three-pointers. Mikuš also had an outstanding game, recording 14 points and 9 rebounds, making him one of the key players for the home side.