SuperSport Premier League: Cibona beats Samobor for the third time this season

The opening two minutes were played basket for basket (5–5), with Babić (Samobor) and Šiško (Cibona) the only scorers. Cinac hit a three-pointer on the next possession, followed by some clumsy play under the baskets, and Burns, after a steal, went all the way for 10–5 and the first timeout of the game, called by the visiting coach. Palokaj reacted awkwardly on offense, Samobor stole the ball, but Babić and Mandalinić mirrored their opponent, so the five-point gap remained. Both offenses started clicking, especially Šiško, who with his 11th point brought Cibona to 15–13, and former Ris player Čakarun scored to tie the game midway through the quarter. Cibona took the lead for the first time four minutes before the end, and who else but Šiško, who answered Coles’ equalizer with a three-pointer and his 16th point. However, Samobor, through Burns’ points and a three by Mirčeta, turned it around to 24–20. The Ris team failed to hold the lead until the end of the quarter, and the period ended tied at 26–26.

The first two and a half minutes of the second quarter brought tough and inefficient play. Only four points were scored, all by Cibona and all from the free-throw line. Samobor again failed to score, and after Babić’s timeout, the Wolves were once again sent to the free-throw line. With Radovčić making one of two, Cibona led 26–31 after three minutes of play. The home team finally got their first basket of the quarter, with Burns hitting back-to-back three-pointers, but Radovčić responded with a three of his own for 32–36. Mandalinić missed two open three-point attempts in the same possession for the hosts, Cibona ran out of time on offense, and Babić scored on the next possession to make it 34–36. Rudež called another timeout. Cibona again failed to get a shot off before the shot clock expired, which Mandalinić punished with a three-pointer for a 37–36 Samobor lead three minutes before halftime. The next minute belonged to Cibona, as Katanović and Skorić scored for a new lead, but Babić quickly tied the game with a three (40–40). With the score at 41–42 and 10 seconds left in the quarter, Petar Babić called a timeout. Glen Burns hit a three at the buzzer, sending the home team into halftime with a 44–42 lead.

Samobor had the first possession of the second half and converted it, and in the first four minutes, it was again a basket-for-basket game (53–50). Cinac’s missed three was punished by Čakarun, who cut the deficit to one possession. The home team again failed to score, while Šiško made two free throws on the other end to give the Wolves the lead (53–54). Two and a half minutes before the end of the quarter, Samobor led 61–59, prompting the Wolves’ coach to call his first timeout of the second half. The quarter was on the line, captain Radovčić took responsibility and hit a three-pointer for a Cibona lead, which Coles immediately canceled out for the Ris team (63–62). Radovčić again—three seconds before the end—scored from the field and added the free throw for 63–65 after 30 minutes of play.

Radovčić picked up where he left off, and with his 16th point gave Cibona a four-point lead at the start of the final quarter. Burns was the first to surpass 20 points, cutting the deficit. The visitors responded, then Burns lost the ball in his own half, and Radovčić extended Cibona’s lead to what was a game-high six points (65–71). Petar Babić was forced to call a timeout. After three minutes, the visitors stretched the lead to seven, with Palokaj hitting a three. Babić answered on the other end with the same measure (70–74). Nothing was left to chance as we saw another three by Palokaj for the Wolves and Cinac for the Ris team. The run of three-pointers was stopped by Čakarun, who scored to make it 73–79 exactly five minutes before the end. Cibona had a chance to secure a calmer finish, but after a missed possession, Burns punished them with a three and his 24th point (76–79). After a scramble under the basket, Marat Kos spectacularly scored behind his back to cut the deficit to one, sending the crowd into euphoria, further fueled by another missed Cibona possession. Then came empty possessions on both sides (80–82). With 1:50 left, the home team called a timeout. Čakarun scored to make it a four-point lead, and Palokaj hit a three for a seven-point Cibona advantage with 40 seconds remaining. Burns kept his team alive with a basket and a made free throw. Both coaches used timeouts. Mandalinić took responsibility like a captain but missed a three-pointer, sealing Cibona’s 83–89 victory.

Burns was the game’s top scorer with 27 points, while Babić added 21 for the Ris team. For the visitors, Šiško scored 20, while Radovčić and Palokaj each had 18 points.

“I think Samobor deserves congratulations for a great game, physicality, and good play. In the first half we were searching and couldn’t find good spacing, but we had an in-form Šiško. In the third and fourth quarters we responded defensively as we needed to and forced some turnovers from Samobor”, said Cibona head coach Ivan Rudež.

“A good and tough game. Samobor was really good and played very relaxed. Because of that, their shooting hand loosened up and they made some difficult shots, but that’s their quality. We were searching for ourselves throughout the game, and in the end, with Katanović’s defense and the offensive inspiration of Čakarun and myself, we managed to break the game open”, said Cibona player Jan Palokaj.

The statistics can be found at THIS LINK.