Just like last season, Real Madrid was too much of a rival for Buducnost, and beat the team from Podgorica by 72-82 on the road. The Spaniards didn't expect such an easy game and got the first two points, mainly thanks to its Jugoslavian players who were totally merciless with their Jugoslavian mates on the other side. In the last minutes of the third quarter, Real was leading the score 51-61 and its three top scorers were Dragan Tarlac (14), Sasha Djordjevic (13) and Dusan Vukcevic (12). Despite starting the game on the lead (8-4), Buducnost always had a deficit to overcome on the scoreboard. The Real Madrid five, Djordjevic, A. Angulo, Vukcevic, Struelens and Tabak worked alright, but the Spanish team played even better with the Raul Lopez - Tarclac connection. Buducnost centers had nothing to do against the ex-player of Olympiakos and Chicago Bulls. The background shooting became a lethal weapon on the hands of Real Madrid's shooters, and right before the half time, the 3-point attempts box showed an almost perfect 6 of 8, a figure just slightly better than the field goals.
With an 8-point lead at the half time (31-39), Real Madrid had the tranquility it had been searching for all along the first two quarters. It seemed that Buducnost reacted somehow in the second half of the game (47-53), but then again, Djordjevic appeared with his third three-pointer to sink Buducnost's hopes down again (47-56) to which Tarlac added two free throws and Vukcevic another three, which built the ten-point lead that was going to be the tendency during the rest of the game (51-61). The gap even topped the 15-point difference (63-78, min. 63). Buducnost's last try with a 7-0 run only worked to make the deficit shorter.
The Spanish team played a whole lot better tonight, overcoming Buducnost in every aspect of the game. The only positive thing that Buducnost got out of this game is the good impression that its two youngsters, Zarko Cabarkapa and Balsa Radunovic caused tonight; two tall men with good abilities with the ball and a good perspective ahead.
Thursday, October 11, 2001
M.K., Podgorica
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