Rilski stunned by KK Metalac at home

KK Metalac Valjevo finally knows how win tastes, as the Serbian team achieved their first ever win in the EUROHOLD Balkan League. After a superb second half, Metalac won against Rilski Sportist in Samokov, as the final score of tonight`s game was 74:82.
 
The first quarter started really close, as both teams excnanged a few baskets, and after a basket by Nenad Stefanovic Metalac were up 5:8 in the fourth minute. Travis Peterson scored 4 points to make it 9:8, and Stefan Bircevic answered with a jumper from midrange to make it 9:10 in the sixth minute. From now until the end of the first quarter it was all Rilski Sportist on the floor in Arena Samokov. Rileco made a 16:4 run to find themselves 11 points ahead after 10 minutes of play - 25:14.
 
Metalac got off to a strong start in the second period, and for the first 3.41 minutes, they were on a 8-0 nothing run, cutting Rilski`s advantage to just 3 points - 25:22. Aleksandar Ugrinoski and Aleksandar Gruev scored to get back a more secure advantage, and until halftime Rilski were ahead with a good value over their heads - 42:32.
 
Rilski started good after halftime and they hade their biggest lead - 12 points in the 31st minute (46:34). KK Metalac answered with a 7:0 run to cut their losing to 5 points (46:41). They continued their strong play until the end of the quarter, to find themselves trailing with only 2 points after 30 minutes - 59:57.
 
In the decisive final period of the game, the Serbian team totally outplayed the home side, and after the score in the last ten minutes was settled at 15:25, Metalac won their first game ever as participants in the EUROHOLD Balkan League.
 
Dragomir Marojevic was on fire for KK Metalac, as he scored 22 points, along with 13 rebounds and 2 assists. Vladimir Panic added 20 points and 7 rebounds, while Marko Ljubojevic finished with 14 points and 4 rebounds, before fouling out.
 
Travis Peterson once again was on top of his game, but it seems that he wasn`t enough for his team to win. The American had a double double with 20 points and 13 rebounds. Team captain Aleksandar Gruev shot 11/12 from the free-throw line, to finish with 20 points, along with 8 assists and 5 steals, but also he commited 5 turnovers. Bogdan Boev was the last player on Aleksandar Todorov`s squad to finish in double digits - 11 points.
 
KK Metalac now find themselves on the fourth position in Group A of the EUROHOLD Balkan League with 1 win and 2 losses, while Rilski Sportist, who have the same balance are third.