The Serbian coach’s Besiktas squad are hoping for another deep postseason run
Dusan Alimpijevic out to haunt Cedevita Olimpija in the playoffs… again
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It’s funny how things work in sports. An endless number of storylines are created each week, but often the best ones are those that include a bit of history, an opportunity for revenge.
For Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana, its last-16 meeting with Besiktas Fibabanka Istanbul in the 2025 BKT EuroCup Playoffs will see an old foe on the opposing sideline at Stozice Arena – Dusan Alimpijevic. For those who don’t know, the Serbian tactician has a bit of history against Cedevita.
Back on April 27, 2022, one of the most memorable EuroCup games in recent times took place between Cedevita and Alimpijevic’s Frutti Extra Bursaspor. Everything looked good for Bursaspor at the half of their quarterfinal clash, leading 36-50, but Cedevita had reduced the gap to three points (64-67) after 30 minutes to set up a thrilling fourth quarter.
An impressive road win for Bursaspor beckoned with 1:17 minutes remaining, up 78-85, though five straight points by Cedevita’s Yogi Ferrell cut the visitors lead to two points (83-85) with 27 seconds left. And then, with the final shot of the game, Jacob Pullen made a contested three-pointer off the glass… but he hadn’t got his shot off on time. There was ecstasy in the stands at Stozice Arena, followed by complete despair.
Meanwhile, Alimpijevic and his Bursaspor players celebrated like crazy. They knew that they’d got lucky. Very lucky. Still, Bursaspor went on to down MoraBanc Andorra in the semifinals – the third straight road game it had won in the playoffs – to seal a place in the final against Virtus Segafredo Bologna. The team’s fairy-tale run came to an end there, but a period of postseason austerity started for Cedevita that fateful night against Alimpijevic and co.
That certainly cannot be said of Alimpijevic, who has become a master at navigating playoff series. Last season, his first in charge of Besiktas, he guided the team to road victories at reigning champ Dreamland Gran Canaria and a strong Hapoel Shlomo Tel Aviv in the last 16 and quarterfinals, respectively, meaning Alimpijevic has been responsible for five of the 12 road wins in 38 single-elimination playoff games over the last three seasons. Impressive stuff.
One player who has been right alongside Alimpijevic for the past four seasons is 34-year-old guard Derek Needham. The veteran American is completely in tune with his passionate, hard-nosed coach, and the results have been clear to see, taking Bursaspor to the 2022 EuroCup Final before Besiktas’s run to the EuroCup Semifinals last season.
Needham is one of six Americans on Besiktas’s roster, with five – including Needham – averaging 10.2 points or more. Jonah Mathews (15.2 PPG) was integral to Besiktas’s semifinal finish last season and he has been just as good, if not better, this season. Slowing him down has to be the priority for Cedevita, but there are several other weapons to be wary of, notably Kelan Martin (11.3 PPG), Kyle Allman (10.5 PPG), Dustin Sleva (10.2 PPG) and Canadian big man Conor Morgan (9.2 PPG). The mid-season addition of Uros Plavsic (7.8 PPG, 3.6 RPG) has made Besiktas stronger, too.
That is not to say that it will be easy. Besiktas has the Alimpijevic factor and a very talented roster, but Cedevita can feel good about its chances. After all, it has a head coach in Zvezdan Mitrovic who lifted the EuroCup trophy with AS Monaco in 2021. On the floor, Cedevita can call upon the high-flying Devin Robinson (14.8 PPG, 5.3 RPG), scoring guard Brynton Lemar (14.7 PPG), ball handlers DeVante' Jones (10.0 PPG, 3.9 APG) and Aleksej Nikolic (9.8 PPG, 3.6 APG), as well as young prospect Joan Beringer (4.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 BPG). In short, there’s a lot of talent there, plus Cedevita will be playing on its home floor.
Playoff games involving Alimpijevic are always worth tuning in for, and this contest is no different. Next Wednesday night (19:30 CET), we will find out if Alimpijevic can work his magic again or if Mitrovic’s experience will make the difference, with a quarterfinal matchup with Bahcesehir College Istanbul the prize for the winner.