Peja won overtime thriller with Kumanovo

KB Peja started the season with a win. The team hosted KK Kumanovo 2009 and won dramatically 89-88 in overtime. Both teams fought hard as the hosts played very well in second and third quarters. In the fourth Kumanovo fought back and took the game to overtime where the home side won. In the next round Peja will visit Sutjeska while Kumanovo will host the same team week later.

The visitors started better and led 11-3 after almost five minutes but soon Peja bounced back. The team took the lead at the end of the first quarter and after 8-0 run at the start of the second the advantage went up to 9 points. Until the break Peja was holding on to its lead and it remained 9.

In the third quarter the hosts continued to play well and increased the lead even more. A 10-3 run gave the team a 16-point advantage which was kept until the end of the quarter. In the last though Kumanovo didn′t give back and managed to come back. The team made a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to just 2 points and with 20 seconds to go the score was tied. In the final moments no team could score and the game went to overtime.

In the extra minutes both teams exchanged baskets before first a triple by Kostoski and then two free throws by Mandic gave the visitors a 3-point lead. Hrvoje Puljko scored a 2-pointer to cut the deficit to a point. The visitors missed and then Alban Veseli scored to put Peja ahead. Kostoski missed a triple in the end and the game was over.

Hrvoje Puljko finished the game with 25 points for the winners while Samir Saptahovic added 18 and 8 assists.

For the visitors Aleksandar Kostoski had 28 points and 8 assists as Vukasin Mandic added 18 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.

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FULL STATS FROM THE GAME KB PEJA - KK KUMANOVO 2009