Red Star still Dominant, gets 17th-straight Win!

It seems that with each passing week, as another round of the Adriatic league regular season rolls by, we are greeted with news that Crvena Zvezda “Red Star” Telekom Beograd has added another win to its already impressive winning streak yet again. This week was no different. The league Titan visited fellow Serbian team BC Mega Leks in Round 17 action and came away with a close 75-77 win on the road. Red Star was already impressive when it started the season with its record-breaking 13th-straight victory, but four games later they seem to be still at it. There have been blowouts and close games, yet at the end of the day Red Star has found ways and means to get that next notch in their win column. At this point, most fans and pundits alike need not bother staying in awe of the team’s streak, but instead focus further down the road and on a much larger accomplishment – a perfect season. There are 26 games in total in the ABA’s regular season and we are roughly two-thirds of the way through it. Can they make it through this final stretch and the season with an untarnished 26-0 slate? Time will tell.

The game itself between the two Serbian clubs was exciting to say the least. Despite Crvena Zvezda being the heavy favorites to prevail over the then 7-9 BC Mega Leks, the home team did not disappoint their fans. Mega Leks started off being the aggressor, establishing a 19-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter. Red Star turned up the heat in the second period and they were able to seize the lead at the end of the first half, 33-41.

Red Star managed to hold onto their eight-point lead heading into the final period, matching Mega Leks’ scoring in the third quarter 19-19. The hosts put on an impressive and valiant run in the fourth and final frame, but once again, the league leaders were able to hold on and secure the win.

Nikola Kalinic has been a consistent contributor for Red Star in recent games and in this one he played the role of its main protagonist, pouring in a game-high 19 points for the winners. Jaka Blazic was also impressive who, despite being in some foul trouble, chipped in 15 points.

Mega Leks’ valiant stand was a complete team effort and they should be lauded for their tenacity. Dejan Musli led four other teammates in double figures with 17 points. Nenad Miljenovic added 14 points while handing out six assists.