The visiting team defied the odds to beat archrival Crvena Zvezda and snap a six-game skid in the EuroLeague
Carlik Jones and Partizan thrived in a rip-roaring Belgrade derby
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Regular Season
Round 11 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade produced its best and most mature Turkish Airlines EuroLeague performance of the season in the face of adversity, snapping a six-game losing streak in the competition with a resounding 77-89 win at bitter city rival Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade in a pulsating Belgrade derby.
The result also ended Partizan’s eight-game skid against Zvezda in all competitions after playmaker Carlik Jones led the visitors with 21 points and 6 boards, personifying a valiant team effort.
Jones, who was a novice to the Belgrade derby, much like the rest of Partizan’s completely overhauled team which finally looked the sum of its parts, was elated after the visitors silenced Zvezda’s boisterous 20,000 fans and gave their own 1,000 supporters lots to cheer about.
“Coming into the game we knew what was at stake and how big this rivalry is,” Jones told reporters after the contest, when asked by Euroleague.net where they found the strength to defy the odds in an intimidating atmosphere.
“I definitely wanted to come here and get a win, especially after we’ve lost the last six games in the EuroLeague. That was the motivation – to get back on track and be ourselves.”
The livewire playmaker, who has been Partizan’s most consistent performer in a difficult start to the season, pointed out that he relished the challenge of being a team leader and also heaped praise on forward Isiaha Mike, who made his first start since he recovered from injury to rack up 13 points and 4 boards.
“Yes, as point guard, they look at you to get them in the right spots and lead them at both ends of the floor,” Jones added. “Coach [Zeljko Obradovic] has talked to me multiple times about being the leader and accepting the role, so that’s what I’m going to do.
"As for Mike, he had one heck of a game. He is back from injury, he had his first start and to perform the way he did was just great. Good things happen to good people and Mike’s been nothing but positive through the injury and the time he didn’t play.”
Jones struck a note of caution to his teammates that they had to keep their feet firmly on the ground if the win over Zvezda is to be a turning point in Partizan’s EuroLeague campaign and not just a flash in the pan. He also joked that Zvezda did itself no favors by allocating some tickets for Partizan’s fans, who were in full swing after seeing their team finally break the derby jinx.
“We have to stay on an even keel and approach every game the same way. We knew the history of the last few games in this fixture and we just wanted to get that done, not just for ourselves but also for the fans and especially the coach, who is a very special guy,” Jones stated.
“As for the fans, they made a mistake letting them in. Just how loud they were! I heard them the whole time and for us it was a good thing. To have somebody to cheer for you like that is extra motivation to get the win,” he added.
Coach Obradovic refused to get carried away as he looked serene and composed at the postgame press conference, having lauded Zvezda for allowing Partizan fans to attend the game. The Belgrade derby was played for a long time with no away fans present over fears of crowd trouble, and Obradovic hoped Zvezda’s gesture would turn the page in the relationship between the two rival sets of supporters.
“We talked to the players before the game as none of them had ever played in the derby before,” said Obradovic, who has won a record nine EuroLeague titles with five different clubs.
“They stayed focused throughout the game, illustrated by the fact that we had no turnovers in the first half. We now need to find some consistency, especially as we face some top teams in the upcoming games and we must keep our feet firmly on the ground. I want to thank our fans for turning up and also a big shout to Zvezda for making it possible, it was a great gesture and we want to return the favor in the reverse fixture.”
Obradovic’s counterpart Ioannis Sfairopoulos lambasted his team for lack of guile and took responsibility for the defeat, with his men looking flat ad bereft of ideas for the lion’s share of the contest.
"We headed into the game as favorites and that worked against us because we weren't mentally tough enough to handle the pressure," the Greek tactician lamented. "We knew Partizan had the athleticism to play strong and aggressive defense and we had no reply for their intensity. Partizan deserved to win and it’s my responsibility to find a way to win this type of game.
“We wanted to win this game so much and it backfired. We were too slow in our decision-making, although we expected an aggressive approach from their athletic outfit.”
Center Filip Petrusev was a solitary beacon of light for Zvezda as he sank a team-high 20 points to go with 8 boards, but he too was kicking himself in the teeth after a lackluster team display left a bitter taste and shifted the derby’s bragging rights to the black-and-white side of town.
“We weren’t combat ready and we just didn’t turn up at either end of the floor,” Petrusev said when asked by Euroleague.net why Zvezda looked so devoid of energy.
“It was as if they were the home team and not us, it was definitely our worst performance of the season. It’s like they wanted it more. They surprised us a few times by switching on defense, but it all came down to our lack of aggressiveness.
“It’s like we took victory in this derby for granted and perhaps we’re going to sober up now and realize that no one is going to roll over for us or give us anything on a silver platter. That’s the only positive we can take from this defeat."
Zvezda will have preciously little time to lament as it faces a tricky home game against FC Bayern Munich in Round 12, while Partizan will be relishing another blockbuster clash, on its home court this time, against the competition’s perennial heavyweights Olympiacos Piraeus.