UPDATE: Budućnost Voli dominated Ilirija in a decisive matchup, securing an 86-66 victory in Ljubljana, just days before their crucial EuroCup clash against Trento on December 22, 2023. This win marks Budućnost’s seventh success in the ABA League, showcasing their strong performance with a significant advantage over their opponents.
The game, held at the Tivoli Hall, was a display of Budućnost’s defensive prowess. They limited Ilirija to a mere four points in the first half of the opening quarter, allowing them to build an early lead of 12-4. The team, led by coach Andrej Žakelj, effectively utilized all 12 players on their roster, with only Skaylar Mejs not scoring.
Ilirija, which welcomed back veteran center Boban Marjanović, struggled against Budućnost’s defense. Despite being bolstered by Marjanović, the home team fell behind early, with Budućnost quickly establishing a commanding lead after a 9-0 run, capped by a fast break from Đorđije Jovanović that pushed the score to 21-7.
By the end of the first quarter, Budućnost led 23-15, even though Ilirija managed to close the gap slightly. The Montenegrin champions maintained a double-digit lead throughout the second quarter, peaking at 43-26 just before halftime. A last-second three-pointer from Ilirija narrowed the gap to 43-29 at the break, but Budućnost’s superior shooting accuracy (68.8% from two-point range) proved pivotal.
As the second half unfolded, Budućnost retained control, expanding their lead to 20 points early in the third quarter. Despite a brief surge from Ilirija, the visitors responded with a run of their own, ending the third period with a comfortable 65-47 lead.
In the final moments, Budućnost reached their largest lead of the game at 79-50 but allowed Ilirija to score some consolation points, finishing the game with a final score of 86-66.
Top performers for Budućnost included Oleksandr Kovlijar and Jogi Ferel, who both had double-digit scoring, while Ilirija’s Edo Muric led his team with 19 points.
With this victory, Budućnost Voli is poised for their upcoming EuroCup game against Trento, aiming to build on this momentum. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if they can maintain this level of performance as they head into a critical phase of the season.
