Radonjic breaks the rules with joy, turns down a question about Partizan / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: ZUMA Press - Scanpix Credit ZUMA Press - Scanpix

Dejan Radonjic broke the rules. Before the final whistle, the ejected coach joined the Crvena Zvezda players with less than a minute to play in the Serbian Cup final.

2-pointers this season

59%21,8Points made:21,8Accuracy:58,7%Place in standings:4Record max:29Record min:17Most made 2FGs:Kevin PunterTeamEuroCupStatisticsSchedule

He just couldn't miss this moment, when his team flooded Čair Sports Center floor to celebrate their 8th Radivoje Korac Cup title.

Crvena Zvezda dominated the big derby in Nis by defeating Partizan Belgrade 85-68.

"I wanted to say that we played consistently well the whole tournament," Radonjic started the press conference.

Crvena Zvezda won all three Radivoje Korac Cup games by 26.6 points on average.

"Tonight, we played well from the beginning. We managed to make a difference that allowed us to bring the game to an end with our control," he added.

Only the beginning of the game was nervous. After Zvezda opened the final 10-0, Partizan came back and tied the game. Radonjic got himself into trouble, getting the first technical foul in the first quarter.

He took the risk to be ejected even before halftime. At the end of the second quarter, Zeljko Obradovic spent the entire time-out in a face-to-face conversation with one of the referees.

He complained about Radonjic, who already had one technical foul, but crossed his boundaries behind the sidelines and blasted referees for one more time.

Radonjic was finally ejected from the game at the end of the third quarter. But it didn't change anything. His players already dominated the final game, being up by 21 before the last quarter.

Zvezda shared the ball better (22 AST), executed better (60% from 2-point, 47% from 3-point range), punished Partizan for every mistake (17 points in fastbreaks) and showed the physical and mental difference between the EuroLeague and the EuroCup.

The top Zvezda's scorer Nikola Kalinic (18 PTS) was surrounded by the MVP Nate Wolters (14 PTS, 4 AST), Austin Hollins (15 PTS), who played one of the best games of the season, and Stefan Markovic (13 PTS, 14 MIN), who gave an incredible spark off the bench.

One Serbian journalist pointed out that despite all the expectations of Partizan's project with Obradovic at the helm, Zvezda won both games very solidly.

But Radonjic focused on his team rather than their biggest rival.

"I would focus on us. We played a very good match," Radonjic said. "We had huge problems due to the Covid, and we struggled with injuries. It took us a while to get back on our feet and get better."

"Going through this difficult schedule in the EuroLeague, ABA League, and traveling, requires great effort. So we should focus on this part, coming up with the right approach and doing what we need to do," Radonjic said. "I wouldn't bother with what you asked. I feel a great pleasure about this achievement."

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