Rilski Sportist holds on for important win in Peja

BC Rilski Sportist won an important match in group A. The team from Samokov visited KB Peja and took 93-91 victory in thrilling game. The team offered a lot of emotions to the people in the gym as they witnessed very interesting moments. In the final minutes the visitors did better and took an important win. With it now they have 4-3 record and next week at home against Kumanovo they will fight for first place in the group. Peja finished the First Stage with 4-4 record and the team will be either second or third in the group.
 
Both teams started the game well and were exchanging baskets and leads. It was like this with shortly to go in the first quarter when Rilski took a 3-point lead. Then the hosts scored a point but in the final minute Darin Ivanov made two triples to give the visitors 8-point advantage after ten. The second quarter started better for Peja and after 11-3 run they tied the score. Simeon Ilev however was key for Rilski as he scored a basket and a triple to give the lead back to his team and after Peja tied again, at the buzzer of the first half Iliev scored again and Rilski led by 3 points after 20 minutes.
 
Shortly after the start of the second half Peja tied the score and a bit later they took the lead. It was between 2 and 4 points for a few minutes before Rilski scored 5 points in a row to go up by 1. Then in the final minute of the quarter Norfleet made two triples with only 2 points for Peja between them and after 30 Rilski led by 5.
 
A triple by Norfleet with 2.30 played in the last quarter made the visitors advantage 9 points. In the next three minutes the teams exchanged three-pointers and the difference remained the same. Peja scored the next 6 points and cut its deficit but then Gugino scored a very important three-pointer for Rilski. However Saptahovic returned it in the next offense and after the visitors missed he p?ssed to Brkic who cut the lead to 1. With 1.26 to go Rilski went up by 3 after Gugino′s tap-in and after him Veseli scored one of two free throws. Then with 48 seconds to go Iliev made a triple but immediately Veseli scored one of his own. Bozov followed with a miss and after that Saptahovic couldn′t score from the three-point line. Then Bozov was fouled with 13 seconds to play and made two free throws to put his team up by 4. Saptahovic then also scored two free throws and after that Bozov repeated the same. Saptahovic once again made two free throws but then Rilski managed to hold on to the ball and won the match.
 
Simeon Iliev was the top scorer for Rilski with 20 points while 15 and 7 rebounds had Yordan Bozov.
 
For the home team great game Samir Saptahovic with 33 points as 15 scored Jozo Brkic.

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FULL STATS FROM THE GAME KB PEJA - BC RILSKI SPORTIST