 Host club BC FMP continues to dominate the Nike International Junior Classification Tournament in Belgrade by winning the title for the second time in a row with a 77-63 triumph over Hemofarm on Sunday in the Serbian capital's suburb of Zeleznik. While last year FMP could only edge Lietuvos Rytas of Lithuania, this year the final game was a one-sided performance as the hosts dominated practically from the opening tip-off to final buzzer. Hemofarm showed great character, playing tough defense and cutting the margin by half after the break, but never put the prize in real danger. However, by having reached Sunday's final, Hemofarm had already qualified for the Euroleague Nike International Junior Tournament in Berlin during the upcoming 2009 Final Four. Dejan Musli and Branislav Djekic were too much for Hemofarm to handle, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor and making the real difference between the sides. Hemofarm came as close as 11 points shy early in the fourth quarter, but couldn't do more than that. Musli finished with 23 points, 18 rebounds and five blocks to reach an index rating of 39 in the title game. Djekic added 11 points, 4 rebounds and 4 blocks, Strahinja Mladenovic finished with 10 points and Nikola Vukasovic posted 8 points and 6 assists. When the buzzer sounded, Hemofarm had put five scorers in double-digits: Danilo Andusic with 12, Milan Vulic and Stevan Lekic with 11 each, and Nemanja Knezevic and Milos Tripkovic with 10 each.
The great Vlade Divac was honored at the final and bestowed the tournament prizes as follows: FMP's Musli won the MVP award, as expected, and was joined on the all-tournament team by Djekic, Luka Babic of Split, Ivan Batur of Zadar and Mihailo Sekulovic of Buducnost. Darko Crnic of FMP won the three point shoot-out with 18 points in the final round while Nikita Barinov of CSKA Moscow lit up the fans by winning the dunk contest previous to the final game. Crvena Zvezda won third place with a 76-70 victory after a tough match against the team from Split, who showed good mental strength and talent in its first performance in the competition.
 FMP scored its first 11 points from the free throw line or right at the rim to stay tied with Hemofarm after 4 minutes. Djekic and Musli stopped Hemofarm in the paint as FMP then stormed on a 14-0 run in 3 minutes behind 7 points from Musli. When the first-quarter buzzer sounded, FMP held a 32-16 gap as Musli and Djekic had 17 points already, more than Hemofarm. Early in the second quarter, Musli reached a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds and with 6 minutes to play in the half the gap was 40-21. Even when Musli took some rest on the bench FMP kept the pressure on. Andjusic scored a three-pointer for Hemofarm to stop the momentum but still saw his team reach the locker rooms down 49-32. Nenad Miljenovic combined a couple of eye-catching plays early in the second half, but Hemofarm found a way to sting, by calling double-teams on Musli whenever he got the ball. By the time FMP adjusted, Hemofarm had made a 0-9 run and the margin was down to 58-44. FMP moved the ball well to find Vukasovic free on the arc, but Knezevic paid with the same coin and the teams entered the closing quarter with just a 12-point distance, 63-51, between them. Hemofarm's aggressive defense didn't rest and the gap lost another point, falling to 65-54, after Milan Vulic connected from long-distance. But that was as good as it got for the team in orange. Djekic returned from the bench with four fouls, but together with Musli kept FMP's safe difference all the way to the trophy.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Yarone Arbel, Belgrade |
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