Croatian League playoffs, Semifinals, Game 3: May 24, 2008
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Home-court advantage proved to be the difference maker in the Croatian League semifinals as both Zadar and Split won the deciding Game 3s of the best-of-three series to set up a finals clash between them. Split ousted defending champion Cibona 83-74, while Zadar topped Zagreb 74-61. The respective home teams won every game of both series. Zadar limited Zagreb to just 19 second half points to record its win, overcoming an impressive 20-point and 12-rebound effort from rising star Ante Tomic. Shammel Stallworth led Zadar with 18 points and Rok Stipcevic added 15 for the winners. Meanwhile Split dominated the final 10 minutes 28-11 to cancel out an 8-point deficit and book a spot in the final. After a tough first half ended with the score tied at 40-40, Cibona jumped ahead with a strong third period only to see Split take control in the final 10 minutes and return to the finals for the first time since winning the title in 2003. Marlon Garnett and Dejan Ivanov scored 19 points apiece to lead Split while Danjan Rudez added 17. Damir Mulaomerovic paced Cibona in defeat with 23 points, Marin Rozic posted 15 and Vedran Vukusic 11. For Cibona, the loss marks the first time in over a decade that the club will not play in the Croatian League finals.
| Semifinal Playoffs, best of 3 games |
| Record | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | | 2 | Zadar (1) | 74 | 92 | 74 | | 1 | Zagreb Crobenz (4) | 66 | 96 | 61 | | 2 | Split CO (2) | 95 | 87 | 83 | | 1 | Cibona (3) | 86 | 96 | 74 |
| Semifinal games | | Game 1 | Zadar vs. Zagreb Crobenz | 74-66 | May 17 | | Game 1 | Split CO vs. Cibona | 95-86 | May 17 | | Game 2 | Zagreb Crobenz vs. Zadar | 96-92 OT | May 20 | | Game 2 | Cibona vs. Split CO | 96-87 | May 20 | | Game 3 | Zadar vs. Zagreb Crobenz | 74-61 | May 24 | | Game 3 | Split CO vs. Cibona | 83-74 | May 24 |
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