A season-high 13 steals was among the main keys to the victory over ALBA
Zvezda relied on its defensive chops for another road win
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 26 of 34
Group Regular Season
l
l
w
l
l
w
w
w
l
w
Some might have called Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade’s trip to face ALBA Berlin on Thursday a "trap game". As in, a game that should be easy on paper, so you overlook it in preparations and mentally. And in the end, you suffer a costly loss.
After all, Zvezda was playing its fourth game in seven days, coming off a home win over LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne and ranked 13 spots ahead of last-placed ALBA. The team's center Joel Bolomboy alluded to how important it was to lock up this game in his post-game comments.
"Weeks like this, games like this, it's nice to have under our belt because when it gets closer to the end of the season, had you lost these games, you're going to be looking back like, 'Man I wish you would have won this game,'" Bolomboy said.
And in the end, Zvezda left Uber Arena with a 71-77 victory that may not have been as easy as some would have predicted, but thanks to some strong defense, the only number that mattered is the 16th win of the season for Coach Ioannis Sfairopoulos's charges.
"Our defense was great. Most part of the game, we played solid defense. We allowed only 71 points to ALBA and it's not only that. We forced them into 21 turnovers and I think we have our record in steals this year with 13 steals," Sfairopoulos said. "So you understand how aggressive the defense we had and we controlled the game from this part with our good defense."
Sfairopoulos is right that the 13 steals were a season-high for the club. In fact, they were just 2 off the club record. Moreover, the 21 turnovers ALBA committed were a season-high. Zvezda committed only 11 turnovers. But the number that sheds the most light on the importance of those turnovers is that Zvezda outscored ALBA on points off turnovers 2-24.
Game Videos
- 02:05
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/06/F8bKwIezvJbQDaXTwJZAcq0UgJXNFWTG-1738875332164.jpg]()
Joel Bolomboy: 'It took a team effort'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e3a8e3cb-053b-44de-9a2d-39c692a5bb69.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 26 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/62617d3a-46a8-44b4-a0f8-3b753d99da91.jpg?crop=1261%3A710%3Anowe%3A38%3A138]()
McCormack smashes home an alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:10
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/02/04/rR19hOVS3TKSNWvpxzNKQOZj6EjAS8Q1-1738704589127.jpg]()
Isaiah Canaan: 'Tonight was a team victory'
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/7e66cafc-6ccd-4ddb-8e11-9ab9c8fcdb8d.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/37195cde-0beb-4439-a38c-3b16904a0455.jpg]()
Zalgiris Kaunas-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 25 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3e4793d7-c4cc-415b-b160-5105d8b1f633.jpg?crop=1225%3A689%3Anowe%3A34%3A59]()
Bolomboy’s hustle pays dividends! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/31/qwj65skfaSDUQDCSPrjGSI2sPwd7ujKt-1738365193075.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'We came for the win, we came to look good, and that's what we did'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/nry4nCjMskQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:19
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/4c9fb3e6-76fd-41c0-8a90-cc1e41d547e9.jpg?crop=1200%3A674%3Anowe%3A62%3A29]()
Bolomboy with the big rejection! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:11
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/15a9e44c-9bae-495b-9b0a-a05940940ca3.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A0%3A122]()
Brown’s behind-the-back pass! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:02
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/30/lFWjbfUtRQAsEuq4y36WtbIld1SRkhP7-1738273877030.jpg]()
Martin Hermannsson: 'The more wins, the better'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/x443ArNnXyg/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 24 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:14
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/6871c08e-9862-414f-b219-a02ad1026c57.jpg?crop=1187%3A668%3Anowe%3A0%3A38]()
Wetzell dunks after nice dish! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3f736973-4994-47c0-9797-858f6e0a2b0c.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A38%3A9]()
Round 24 video preview: Everything you need to know about this week's key games
- 01:10
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/24/3fYIkQ8WTn6u47vReEDd2zodg2BXKe6Z-1737756476606.jpg]()
Carsen Edwards: 'It was a 15-point win? Playing against ALBA, it never feels like that'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZyEQjuSU8UQ/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-FC Bayern Munich | RS Round 23 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb78f5ec-1b8e-40eb-aae7-927d71f649ce.jpg?crop=881%3A495%3Anowe%3A448%3A18]()
Olinde swats Yebo! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/qKOvmrck498/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 23 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/d28c508d-7f42-41a0-a087-df55f513154d.jpg?crop=1230%3A692%3Anowe%3A0%3A62]()
Petrusev turns around and dunks! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:00
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/18/YQUYkkL9PWHp3VIgMH4nPY9rfMHHZDbV-1737163097090.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'I didn't know I liked playing against Monaco this much'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/8MpYDwK8stA/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-AS Monaco | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b86db48f-7b61-4201-a524-32d9b1cda12b.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A0%3A28]()
Canaan does it all himself! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/c48ecb90-5d5c-415d-a457-533e250e5d3c.jpg]()
LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 22 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:09
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/b1ff453d-506d-4320-8129-36cdb11eb575.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A170%3A27]()
McCormack with the nasty alley-oop! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/0HL4o4KSspo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/86d824b2-4f6b-4621-b409-0d862a09ce1d.jpg]()
EA7 Emporio Armani Milan-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 21 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 01:04
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/10/JC34xLT7Kf7PSHayqXO3hc5euw6aVEiz-1736546557952.jpg]()
Joel Bolomboy: 'This win took everybody'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/slHz0j0Lueo/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Paris Basketball | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/10/1S79MK4nFo4tP3eMbFCljRugzWPgfTzu-1736546752368.jpg]()
Big dunk from Davidovac! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/G0I6TLBWYbM/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 20 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:10
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/23bff996-5b5a-4431-a27d-e15260f1aaa3.jpg?crop=1191%3A670%3Anowe%3A103%3A32]()
Wetzell dunks off a smooth ALBA play! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:49
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/02/GNPycHSn2Q85cQKqn01URAKcycGqI0vj-1735855834064.jpg]()
Isaiah Canaan: 'We can play with the best of them'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/p9dJG5CrrMw/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:28
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2025/01/02/AROcrASF3nSzLzMLiqkiyyF3Hm6uDRXQ-1735856110820.jpg]()
Canaan wins it! Motorola Magic Moment of the Night
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/Aui6YSq54ro/maxresdefault.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-AS Monaco | RS Round 19 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/bb530453-48a4-45b3-935d-cf4daef35da7.jpg?crop=3969%3A2233%3Anowe%3A186%3A100]()
Bolomboy and Miller-McIntyre at it again! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:16
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e0fea6a0-2b54-4226-9927-ad3d3223eecd.jpg?crop=1219%3A686%3Anowe%3A80%3A36]()
One-man show from Giedraitis! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3fb608de-847e-4bad-b3cb-5c77e2a7a0c4.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A85%3A38]()
Bolomboy with on the alley oop! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:29
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/3796cab4-2da2-4d4c-a079-9c0e964195a3.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A158%3A39]()
Showtime from Yago and Mitrovic! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:12
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/8af87333-cb84-4dbf-a4fb-a8e1bc54aa18.jpg?crop=1183%3A665%3Anowe%3A125%3A83]()
McCormack's put-back slam! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:34
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/27/PXfaAMvtvW76f4jtBS54ChtdVdTpyRds-1735341482021.jpg]()
Filip Petrusev: 'We showed our character and got the win'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/SniFAQLi7BU/maxresdefault.jpg]()
FC Barcelona-Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:17
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/80ef4329-c33e-4be9-8af7-a0f2e209afa7.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A135%3A146]()
Davidovac nails a game-winner! Motorola Magic Moment
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/e11cc9db-d568-435e-880d-af52c26a71c2.jpg]()
ALBA Berlin-Real Madrid | RS Round 18 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
- 00:33
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/0884f5c8-702e-49be-80e4-738cf77b56cf.jpg?crop=1080%3A607%3Anowe%3A106%3A228]()
McCormack's big put-back dunk! Motorola Magic Moment
- 00:20
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/dac23f0a-e5f9-4f6a-bc4d-738f29ea7b4c.jpg?crop=1080%3A608%3Anowe%3A91%3A30]()
Delow dunks by Tavares! Motorola Magic Moment
- 01:30
![https://dve-images.imggaming.com/original/p/2024/12/20/mizKfTso2UX1ISQlyp9BdwXhWwOZsHYz-1734737594132.jpg]()
Joel Bolomboy: 'I missed basketball a lot'
![https://img.youtube.com/vi/V9GboH0vtWk/maxresdefault.jpg]()
Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade-Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
![https://media-cdn.incrowdsports.com/5f67b32e-ec3f-4741-9352-c34ce6ee1c1b.jpg]()
Olympiacos Piraeus-ALBA Berlin | RS Round 17 Highlights | 2024-25 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague
In addition to the lockdown defense that forced all those turnovers and turned them into points, Sfairopoulos mentioned two assists the players got from elsewhere. One was directed at the team president and the other at Zvezda’s travelling fans, who could be heard loudly in Berlin.
"I want to thank our president, Mr. Drcelic, for the charter flight we went to Igokea [for Sunday's Adriatic League game] because that flight saved us the energy that are required to play two EuroLeague games Tuesday and Thursday," Sfairopoulos said.
"Last but very important, I want to thank from my heart all our fans that filled up the gym, almost filled up the gym I think, and we give them a big happiness. They made us proud to play in front of them in an away game and for us was very important their voice, their support all the time during the game to push us to our limits and that's why I want to thank them on behalf of all the team from our hearts."