SuperSport Premier League: Cibona secures a spot in the final against Zadar

Cibona started the game with the lineup of Jan Palokaj, Markus Lončar, Katanović, Žan Mark Šiško and Kamaka Hepa. On the other side, Split opened with Sikirić, Wiggins, Jordano, Drežnjak and Cosey.

Hepa and Cosey opened the scoring as the teams traded baskets up to 8:6 for Split. Hepa then tied the game with a layup, but Drežnjak hit a three-pointer to restore the visitors’ lead (8:11). Sikirić and Jordano extended Split’s advantage to +9, before Šiško cut the deficit to five points (12:17). The opening quarter ended with Split leading 14:21.

In the second quarter, Cibona came alive at 18:25 and, through points from Skorić and Šiško, tied the game at 25:25 before Roberson gave the hosts the lead at 30:28. Jordano responded to make it 30:30, while Roberson and Sikirić exchanged three-pointers for 33:33. Šiško and Serdarušić pushed Cibona to +4, but Sikirić and Wiggins tied the game again at 37:37. The first half ended with Split holding a narrow 39:42 advantage. The leading scorers were Roberson with 16 points and Drežnjak with 14.

The second half opened with baskets from Skorić and Drežnjak (41:45). Once again, the teams went basket for basket until 50:52. Lončar made a free throw for 51:52, but Cosey gave Split a little breathing room at 51:54. Šiško and Roberson then pushed Cibona into the lead, although Sikirić quickly restored Split’s advantage (55:56). Skorić produced a powerful dunk for 57:56, but Drežnjak and Marinelli answered immediately (57:60). Palokaj and Marinelli traded three-pointers, and Split entered the final quarter ahead 60:65.

In the last quarter, Wiggins and Roberson opened the scoring, but Cibona’s heroes proved to be Skorić, Lončar and Palokaj, whose crucial points sent the club into the league final after four years of waiting. Drežnjak, Cosey and Jordano only managed to reduce Split’s deficit. Roberson and Drežnjak remained the game’s top scorers.

Ivan Rudež, Cibona head coach: “Congratulations to everyone — the players, the club, and my coaching staff. This is another beautiful moment for our club this season. Reaching the final after several years means Cibona is back where it belongs. Now we await Zadar. This semifinal series was extremely close. We played against a truly serious team and the best offensive side in the league. It was not easy to defend them, but we managed to reach the final and now we are preparing for what comes next”.

Markus Lončar, Cibona player: “It was tough. We didn’t manage to finish the series in two games, but obviously the harder road suited us better. This was a true team victory, and without the fans we could not have done it. The atmosphere was beautiful. Now we have a few days to prepare for Zadar”.

In the final, Cibona will face with Zadar, and the first game to be played on Sunday at 8 P.M. in Krešimir Ćosić hall.

Statistics can be viewed HERE.