SuperSport Premier League: Cibona overcame Samobor with a comeback

The home team was looking to continue its positive run in the league and redeem itself after the loss to Reggiana and elimination from Europe. On the other hand, Samobor had gone more than a month without defeat, having won its last four games and becoming the league’s biggest surprise.

The visitors opened the game excellently and, through Bruno Levanić-Kutni, Marijan Čakarun, and Dino Cinac, took a 9–0 lead. Home captain Krešimir Radovčić scored the first points for his team after three minutes of play, but Cinac and Luka Krajnović extended the Risovi’s advantage to a full ten points (3–13). The game then entered a basket-for-basket period, and with the score at 25–14 for Samobor, the home side responded with a 4–0 run to cut the deficit to seven (18–25). The first quarter ended 26–19 in favor of the visitors.

The second quarter again featured stretches of basket-for-basket play, but Cibona, thanks to Matej Rudan and Radovčić, reduced the gap to just four points (28–32). Krajnović answered with a three-pointer for 28–35, while Kamaka Hepa cut the deficit with free throws. Marat Kos and Levanić-Kutni then gave Samobor an 11-point lead (30–41), but Cibona responded with a 6–0 run to close within five (36–41). Another even stretch followed, and Vigo Bart’s two-pointer brought Cibona within three (43–46). The first half ended 51–45 for Samobor. The top scorers were Hepa for Cibona with 13 points and Cinac for Samobor with 15.

The second half opened with a three-pointer by Krajnović. Samobor controlled the third quarter on the scoreboard, with its largest lead reaching ten points after another Krajnović three, while Cibona came closest at just minus two when Rudan scored for 66–68 with 45 seconds remaining. The final ten minutes began with the score at 70–66.

In the last quarter, Cibona turned the game around with three-pointers from Justin Roberson and Bart, while Luka Skorić effectively sealed the win with a three-pointer three minutes before the end (90–79). Cibona extended its positive streak in the league, while Samobor’s run came to an end. The standout performers were Rudan with 19 points and Krajnović with 23.

Statistics are available HERE.