Mitar Bosnjakovic and Aleksej Pokusevski were two bright spots for the Serbian team
Youngsters give Partizan hope despite fresh loss
Article
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 9 of 34
Group Regular Season
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It may seem hard to believe in the wake of a fifth consecutive victory that leaves the team struggling near the foot of the standings with a 2-7 record, but Wednesday night’s home defeat to FC Barcelona may just have witnessed the birth of a new and improved version of Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade.
It certainly didn’t feel that way midway through the third quarter, when coach Zeljko Obradovic’s pleas for his team to show some energy had fallen on deaf ears. Instead, Barcelona had stretched a 14-point halftime lead into a seemingly impregnable 23-point advantage, 40-63, as Partizan scored precisely zero field goals in the first five minutes of the third period.
The crowd inside Belgrade Arena had fallen unusually silent, with the visitors looking in cruise control and Partizan offering no indication that it was even going to muster much resistance. But then, bit by bit, came the comeback.
It started from the foul line, as Partizan netted 13 free throws without a miss in the third period. Then, with confidence boosted by that steady trickle of points, the Serbian team finally started to find its shooting range.
A three-pointer from Carlik Jones to finish the third period was followed by the same player netting a layup-and-one to start the fourth, followed by a pair of scores from debutant Mitar Bosnjakovic. Then came a trio of triples, supplied by Duane Washington, Frank Ntilikina and Aleksej Pokusevski, all accompanied by swarming defense which restricted Barcelona to 2 points in 6 minutes, and somehow Partizan had turned a 23-point deficit into a single possession game and a chance to snatch an unlikely win.
That did not happen, because Barcelona eventually found enough offense in the final possessions to come away with a 79-87 victory, but the fact that Partizan had at least made it close allowed the loud and loyal home faithful to come away from the game with a degree of optimism.
Tellingly, two players at the center of the comeback were a pair of local youngsters: 18-year-old swingman Bosnjakovic and forward Pokusevski, 22, whose spirited efforts suggested they could become the heart and soul of a team that is understandably still very much in development after a dozen summer signings.
The prominence of Pokusevski is no surprise. This is, after all, the youngest-ever player to represent Olympiacos Piraeus in the EuroLeague, with an NBA triple-double under his belt, who can already be regarded as a veteran even now, a month short of his 23rd birthday. In truth, it’s surprising that his 12 points against Barcelona represented a season high, and Pokusevski should go from strength to strength as the season continues.
Bosnjakovic, however, was a curveball selection in the starting five from the old master Obradovic. The 18-year-old had never previously set foot on a EuroLeague court, but looked totally unfazed as he scored the first basket of the game and continued to impress throughout his debut, which ended with very solid totals of 6 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 19 minutes on the floor.
A two-time winner of the Adidas Next Generation Tournament during his time as a young player with Real Madrid, Bosnjakovic was already a well-known figure to close followers of underage European basketball. Now he is stepping up to senior level, and already looks like he belongs.
If he can continue to progress, and takes Pokusevski along for the ride, Partizan’s new nucleus could very soon take shape.