Zvezda fans mockingly celebrate Zeljko's silver medal, Obradovic asks for time / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: AP - Scanpix Credit AP - Scanpix

That was not the applause Zeljko Obradovic wished to receive after 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

Crvena Zvezda fans celebrated Zeljko's second-place award. When Partizan's head coach received the silver medal on his neck, they loudly roared the moment.

It took a couple of seconds until a 61-year-old took it off.

After 29 years, Obradovic and Partizan had the first opportunity to add one more title to the Hall of Fame of black and whites.

But Crvena Zvezda dominated the Radivoje Korac Cup final 85-68 and extended that wait for a few more months. At least.

The wait was long after the final whistle when fans outstandingly supported their teams and spent almost half an hour giving their best from the stands.

The whole Partizan team appreciated such support from their most loyal supporters. But with heads down, feeling the blame and responsibility of not delivering in front of such a crowd.

"Congratulations to Zvezda with the deserved victory. That was exactly what I said last night: they are an experienced team, and they know how to play in the finals," Obradovic said in the press conference.

"We were not at the level I expected we might be able to be," he added.

Partizan started the game 0-10 and, despite a short comeback, were down by 21 before halftime (28-49).

They got lost in Zvezda's defense (12 AST, 17 TO), gave away too many easy points from transition (Zvezda 17-2), or situations where a simple smart foul could have sorted things out.

Some of that was explainable. Partizan lost Alen Smailagic, one of the most productive local players, to an injury in the semifinals.

Rade Zagorac, Partizan's captain, didn't train for seven days and didn't show up on the court at all. Mathias Lessort, the top scorer of his team (19 PTS, 4 REB, 22 EFF), didn't practice for five days.

Due to the imports rule in Serbian Cup (a maximum of four could be registered), Obradovic had to leave Gregor Glas and Yam Madar out of the lineup.

"When we started training on Monday, the picture was different," Obradovic added.

On top of that, Zeljko couldn't get a lot from his young players yet. Serbian players combined only for 5 points in the final.

"We opened the match poorly, although the defense looked good. But we gave some easy baskets in the transition, and that was a problem," Obradovic analyzed the game. "Zvezda is an extremely experienced team. Congratulations on everything they did."

Zeljko Obradovic stood patiently together with his players.

He left all his knowledge and energy on Cair's Sports Center. But a 61-year-old will need to be patient with this young Partizan project. As well as the whole tremendous Partizan community.

Crvena Zvezda tied Partizan with 8 Radivoje Korac Cups in their account. This year, it was the second consecutive solid Zvezda's victory over Partizan.

"For a team that was newly formed and had just three players from last season, it takes time," Obradovic said. "We are convincingly the youngest team in Europe. But I am extremely pleased with how my players work and behave."

"I hope this experience will help us all prepare for the next games. We have to see why we looked the way we did at all levels. I told the players in the locker room that this is the first final, and I hope that we will fight on other fronts to reach the final," Obradovic concluded.

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