Partizan NIS Belgrade used a monster first half to thrash Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade and force a deciding Game 5 of the Adriatic League finals, while Buducnost VOLI Podgorica took a 2-1 lead in the Montenegrin finals.
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Montenegro: Buducnost a win away from title
Buducnost VOLI Podgorica took a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five Montenegrin finals series after holding off Mornar Bar 88-78 in Game 3 on Friday. Two teams traded blows throughout the game, but Buducnost took the lead for good with an 11-0 run, started with a three-point from Igor Drobnjak and ended with a triple from Suad Sehovic, before another three from Sehovic extended the lead to 64-51. After Mornar rallied with a 0-11 run of its own, Filip Barovic scored 7 points in a 9-0 spurt bridging the third and fourth quarters to make it 75-64. Mornar once again for within 77-74, but Marko Jagodic Kuridza hit a triple before Donatas Tarolis scored 8 consecutive points to finish the job. Justin Cobbs led Buducnost with 17 points. Drobnjak had 13, Taroli and Barovic 12 apiece, and Sehovic scored 10 in a victory.
Adriatic League: Partizan stymies Zvezda to force Game 5
Partizan NIS Belgrade used a monster first half to thrash Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade 112-84 to force a deciding Game 5 of the Adriatic League finals. Zvezda had a better start and Austin Hollins netted 4 triples on as many attempts in less than 5 minutes of the game as Zvezda opened with a 14-22 lead. But after coach Zeljko Obradovic sent Aleksa Avramovic, Mathias Lessort and Yam Madar on the court, things completely changed. Partizan went on a 37-8 spurt during which the trio combined for 29 points, as Lessort scored 15 points and Avramovic had 9 points and 5 assists. Partizan led by as many as 27 points in the second quarter, held 68-43 at halftime, then broke a 30-point barrier in the third quarter as Partizan eased to win. Avramovic finished with 24 points, Lessort had 1, Madar scored 12, while Alen Smailagic and Dallas Moored scored 11 apiece in a victory. Hollins finished with 19 points, Ognjen Dobric scored 16 and Stefan Markovic had 11 in a loss.
Spain: Barcelona downs Joventut in semis opener
FC Barcelona had a perfect start to the best-of-five Spanish League semifinals with 89-72 win over Joventut Badalona on Friday. Barcelona took control of the game in the second quarter with Sertac Sanli knocking down a pair of triples, and Alex Abrines also knocked down a pair as Barcelona built a 40-31 lead. Joventut did not manage to keep up in the third quarter, despite Joel Parra hitting two triples, but Brandon Davies and Nikola Mirotic helped the hosts to a 69-48 lead after 30 minutes, as Barcelona cruised the rest of the way. Sanli finished with 16 points and 8 rebounds in 18 minutes, and Davies scored 13 points. Mirotic scored 11 in a victory. Pau Ribas and Derek Willis scored 11 apiece for Joventut, and Ante Tomic had 10 points plus 7 rebounds in a loss.