Serbian Basketball Cup 2022: teams, schedule and test for Zeljko & Partizan / News - Basketnews.com

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All around Europe, it's the time for a little break in the domestic leagues, which will be filled by the local cups, and Radivoj Korac Cup is no exception.

3-pointers this season

32%6,9Points made:6,9Accuracy:32,3%Place in standings:17Record max:13Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Austin HollinsTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

In just a few days, teams will fight for the first domestic title of the season. The tension and the excitement that the domestic cups generate are something that can't usually be found during the regular season of the local leagues.

If you're missing some info or details about these competitions, there's no need to worry because we've got you covered.

In this article, we will focus on the Serbian Cup, where the biggest Belgrade rivals Partizan and Crvena Zvezda are hungry to face each other to fight for the first title of the season.

One of the most exciting cup tournaments in Europe will be hosted in the third-largest Serbian city, Nis, February 17-20.

Format & Teams

Eight teams will participate in this year's Serbian Cup edition, including reigning champions Crvena Zvezda mts.

Teams

Crvena Zvezda Partizan Mega Belgrade FMP Belgrade Borac Cacak Radnicki Kragujevac Zlatibor Cajetina Borac Zemun.

From Thursday to Sunday, eight teams will go through quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final to reach the main goal at Cair Sports Center, which can host up to 5000 fans.

Due to local rules, it's the only stage where both Partizan and Zvezda fans can come to support their teams simultaneously.

Schedule

Quarterfinals

February 17: Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade vs Radnicki Kragujevac (103-59) February 17: KK Mega Basket vs KK Zlatibor (84-57) February 18: FMP Beograd vs Borac Cacak (88-77) February 18: Partizan NIS Belgrade vs Borac Zemun (101-48)

Semifinals

February 19 Crvena Zvezda mts Belgrade vs KK Mega Basket (72-53) February 19: Partizan NIS Belgrade vs FMP Beograd (92-89)

Final

February 20 21:00 CET

Talking points

In the last 15 years, the only team that won the cup except Partizan or Zvezda was Mega Belgrade (2016).

Partizan and Zvezda played in the final six times in the last ten years. However, the other team only once ruined Partizan's and Zvezda's matchup.

In 2014, Partizan suffered an upset in the quarterfinals against FMP. Partizan and Zvezda played in the semifinals in the other three derby-less finals.

Crvena Zvezda and Partizan's matchup is possible this year only in the final game. That's where both current ABA League leaders are expected to advance based on their season achievements.

It shouldn't be an easy ride, though.

If they advance, Zeljko Obradovic players might face FMP in the semifinals. Last weekend, their game was tied with less than 2 minutes to play in a hard-fought Partizan victory over FMP 86-80 in the ABA League.

In Zvezda's case, they might meet Mega in the semifinals. Although they won both ABA League matchups this season, one of three Partizan losses came against Mega, with the most recent one on January 20 (90-93).

In a single derby game this season on November 14, Zvezda grabbed a solid win over Partizan in front of their fans 71-56.

That's when Partizan got a real taste of the EuroLeague level.

Zeljko's players couldn't match the physicality, intensity, and experience of Zvezda, which caused a lot of problems for many EuroLeague powerhouses this year.

But in three months since the last derby game, Partizan got time to improve their game quality, chemistry, and roster, including additions of Mathias Lessort and Tristan Vukcevic.

However, Zeljko will need to make some roster adjustments. According to Serbian Cup rules, teams can register only four import players.

Kevin Punter owns a Serbian passport, but with Lessort, Zach LeDay, Yam Madar, Dallas Moore, Rodions Kurucs, and Gregor Glas on his lineup, Zeljko will have to leave a couple of them outside the rotation.

Zvezda's head coach Dejan Radonjic also has to choose from his five foreigners (Nate Wolters, Aaron White, Austin Hollins, Nikola Ivanovic, Maik Zirbes), with Maik Zirbes expected to be left out of the roster.

Radonjic didn't have White and Stefan Markovic in the first derby game vs. Partizan.

Even Serbians are unsure who they will see celebrating the Radivoj Korac Cup on Sunday. Although Zvezda are considered the favorites to win their eighth title, Partizan should be a solid contender to give an exciting basketball battle.

Since 2002, Partizan won the Radivoj Korac Cup eight times, one more than Zvezda.

The new project of Partizan with Zeljko Obradovic behind its wheel sparked even more enthusiasm over Belgrade's derby in Serbia and all over Europe.

The last three final matchups between Zvezda and Partizan ended by less than 6 points, and you can expect nothing less than big drama. And let's not forget the ones who could ruin this plot.

Throwback to last year

In last year's final, Crvena Zvezda beat Mega 73-60 as Marco Jagodic-Kuridza was named the MVP of the final. Support BasketNews so we could make even better content.