Obradovic unhappy with Papapetrou's last-second foul, full of praise for De Colo / News - Basketnews.com

As Partizan dropped another game, Zeljko Obradovic commented on his team's extended losing streak and the reasons for the loss to ASVEL in Lyon.

Credit: InTime Sports Credit InTime Sports

It's not easy for Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to catch a break. Once again, they had the chance to snap their EuroLeague losing streak, but a series of mistakes led the Serbian squad to another defeat.

Player of the Game EFF 30 Nando De Colo Points 32 Accuracy 11-15 Rebounds 2 Assists 3

This time, it was LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne who took advantage of them, forcing Partizan to their fifth straight loss (87-91).

With nine seconds left on the game clock and the two teams tied at 87 apiece, Ioannis Papapetrou fouled Nando De Colo, despite Zeljko Obradovic's instructions not to make a foul.

The Frenchman made both free throws (89-87), and then James Nunnally wasted Partizan's last chance turning the ball over and giving Alex Tyus a chance for a steal.

"The foul on their best shooter was a very important moment. After that, we tried to react with a time-out, but we didn't even shoot. The same happened against Cedevita; the same problem, we didn't shoot," Obradovic said at the postgame presser, and then added:

"In general, even if we weren't able to win, the team fought and tried hard on the court, but that's obviously not enough. This has been going on for a long time. I don't know exactly how long. It's hard for everyone."

It has long been clear that the Serbian side is in a major crisis, but there is no indication that the situation is changing for the better. On Friday, they got another tough task, as they're hosting reigning champions Anadolu Efes in Belgrade.

"Of course, congratulations to ASVEL. Whether they were smarter than us is not so important. They won, and I congratulate them," Obradovic continued.

The Serbian expert was also asked by reporters to comment on Nando De Colo, who scored 32 points. Obradovic and De Colo worked together for a few months at Fenerbahce during the 2019-20 season, which was cut short due to the COVID outbreak.

Against Partizan, the experienced guard took matters into his own hands when it mattered the most, just a few days after hitting the game-winning shot against FC Barcelona on the road.

Obradovic called De Colo "one of the best players in Europe in the last 10 years."

"I congratulate him on everything; on his career and on this game against us tonight."

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