SuperSport Premier League: Dubrovnik beats Cibona and records big win in Gospino polje

To be fair, KK Cibona also had a game in hand, which would certainly affect their position in the standings. The home side, KK Dubrovnik, entered this matchup following two consecutive away victories against KK Cedevita Junior and KK Alkar. Meanwhile, Cibona were balancing domestic competition with European duties: after victories over JDA Dijon Basket and Pallacanestro Reggiana, they sat at the top of their group in the FIBA Europe Cup.

Dubrovnik opened the game brilliantly. First, Ivan Gulin scored a two-pointer, followed by a three from Petar Dubelj. Borna Katanović answered for Cibona, but Marko Loncović maintained Dubrovnik’s lead with his first points of the game. After a layup by Lukša Andrić, Dubrovnik led by seven, 11–4. Cibona’s Justin Roberson then knocked down a three-pointer. After another basket from Loncović, Luka Frančešević made free throws to extend Dubrovnik’s advantage to eight points, 15–7. Vigo Bart reduced the deficit with another three-pointer, but the final word of the first quarter belonged to Dubrovnik point guard Jamari Wheeler, whose layup for 17–10 showed that Dubrovnik were far from intimidated by their opponents.

The second quarter opened with a three-pointer by Lovre Klarić, giving Dubrovnik a double-digit lead at 20–10. At that stage, Loncović displayed his skills in the paint, using offensive rebounds and layups to push the home side to a 24–12 lead, prompting alarm on the Cibona bench and a timeout called by coach Ivan Rudež. Roberson responded with a floater, but the Wolves from Tuškanac still trailed by double digits. Midway through the quarter, Gulin hit a three-pointer to give Dubrovnik a commanding 29–15 advantage.

Loncović continued his excellent performance, while on the other side Cibona captain Krešimir Radovčić hit a three-pointer that proved to be only a temporary reduction of the deficit, as veteran Andrić again showcased his skills in the paint to restore a 13-point lead at 33–20. The three-point shot became Cibona’s main weapon, with Bart also connecting from long range. Wheeler answered in kind, and after a layup by David Pavin, Dubrovnik reached their largest lead of the game at 38–23. Dubelj then drained another three-pointer to put Dubrovnik up by 16, once again forcing an urgent timeout from the Cibona bench. Before halftime, Frančešević scored from the free-throw line for the hosts while Bart added points for Cibona, sending Dubrovnik into the break with a commanding 43–27 lead.

Dubrovnik carried their outstanding play into the third quarter. Andrić was unstoppable under the basket, and midway through the period the home team led by as many as 17 points, 51–34. Roberson kept Cibona alive offensively, but Dubrovnik completely controlled the rhythm of the game. Wheeler scored following a fantastic assist from Dubelj to make it a 19-point lead. Katanović and Radovčić sparked a mini-run that brought Cibona within 13, but in the final possession of the quarter former Cibona player Frančešević hit a three-pointer to send Dubrovnik into the fourth quarter with a 60–44 lead and a 16-point cushion.

At the start of the final quarter, Klarić and Frančešević produced another mini-run for Dubrovnik, restoring an 18-point advantage at 64–46. After a layup by Luka Skorić and a turnover on the next possession, Dubrovnik coach Goran Gunjević called a timeout. Cibona gradually closed the gap with a three-pointer from Skorić and a basket by Matej Rudan, cutting the deficit to 11 points at 64–53. However, Loncović and Andrić responded for Dubrovnik, while Cibona once again struck from beyond the arc through Bart.

With three minutes remaining, Dubelj knocked down a three-pointer off a Wheeler assist, and moments later Dubrovnik’s American guard scored again for 74–56. Wheeler remained at the center of the action, converting free throws to give Dubrovnik an unreachable 20-point lead with a minute and a half left on the clock. Coach Gunjević then introduced young Marko Gašparac, who immediately hit a three-pointer to earn ovations from the crowd at Gospino polje and seal Dubrovnik’s historic victory over Cibona with a final score of 79–63.