Game 6, FMP Zeleznak vs. Talk N' Text

by Chot Reyes

Posted on 09/16/09

FMP Zeleznak Total Points Scored: 89
Zivanovic (6'5)	11
Jeremic (6'5)	11
Smiljanic (6'6)	10
Protic(6'0)	9
Milutinovic (6'7)	8
Musli (7'0)	7
Covic (5'11)	7
Smiljanic (6'7)	7
Dranicanin (6'10)	6
Radetic (6'11)	6
Lazic (6'5)	3
Labovic (6'10)	2
Markovic (6'10)	2

Talk N' Text Total Points Scored: 87
Jimmy Alapag	29pts, 3rebs
Mark Cardona	11, 4
Yancy de Ocampo	9, 3
Ali Peek	8, 4
Harvey Carey	6, 2
Nic Belasco	6, 3
Renren Ritualo	6, 2
Jared Dillinger	6, 2
Jason Castro	4, 0
Yousif Aljamal	2, 0
Ranidel de Ocampo	0, 2
Pong Escobal	0, 0

Game Results:
FMP Zeleznak – 89, Talk N' Text - 87
(30-22; 45-43; 77-60; 89-87)

Game Notes

FMP was a semifinalist in last season's Serbia A. One of the perennial powerhouses of European basketball, they also play in the Adriatic League, reserved only for the top 6 in Serbia. Boasting of a proud tradition brought about by their being the first high school basketball school in Eastern Europe, we caught a break because their top player, 7-footer Miroslav Raduljica is playing with the national team in the FIBA Europe qualifiers, and their tallest, 7'2 Predrag Zamaridski, was out with an injury. Still they played us with 1 7-footer, Musli, a 6'11, and three 6'10s.

1st Quarter

We started with Jason, Ren, JD, Ranidel, and Ali. Meanwhile, they started with 5'11 Covic and 6'5 Zivanovic at guard, 6'7 Milutinovic and 6'10 Markovic at Forwards, and 7'0 Musli at center. Ali scored the first 4 points on assists from Jason before the hosts got into the groove and started attacking with their 7-foot Musli. Our starting unit then hit a dry spell, going scoreless over the next 4 minutes, forcing me to make an early sub of Mac for Ren.

Mac responded by breaking our scoring drought before Ali and JD joined in. We brought in the second unit before the end of the quarter and Jimmy and Nic hit back-to-back 3s to get us within 8, 22-30.

2nd Quarter

The second crew of Jimmy, Mac, Harvey, Nic, and Yancy continued to play well, limiting FMP to just 15 pts in the quarter to enable us to get within 2 at the half, 43-45.

3rd Quarter

We started the 3rd with our regular first group of Jimmy, Mac, JD, Ranidel, and Ali. However, FMP really tightened their defensive screws, pressuring our ballhandlers and really denying our passing lanes. 3 early turn-overs allowed them to jump us with a 9-0 run, forcing an early time-out in which I got the 2nd group of Jason, Ren, Harv, Nic, and Yancy back in.

Still, FMP got into too much of a momentum and went on to its biggest lead of 25 pts, 77-52, with 2 minutes left in the 3rd. After another time-out, we switched defenses, finally making stops and going on an 8-0 run that got us within shouting distance at 77-60 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

4th Quarter

Thus started perhaps our best quarter this series. After an early FMP basket to make it 79-60, we went on a 9-3 run highlighted by a pair of Yancy 3s that got us even closer, 82-69 going into the final 5 minutes. We got Jimmy and Mac back into the game at this point. Along with Harv, Nic and Yancy, this unit made FMP bleed for its points as they were thrown off rhythm by our changing defenses.

A torrid 15-5 run sparked by 2 3-point shots by Jimmy plus another Yancy 3 brought us within 3, 87-84, going into the last 2 minutes.

After forcing yet another turn-over, we worked the ball patiently until we found Mac wide open for a 3, 87-87, with 1:20 left in the game.

We forced a miss and Jimmy drove down the middle and hit Harvey cutting in, but Harv was called for a very questionable traveling violation. Giving possession back to FMP with the game tied, less than a minute left. Again, we forced a miss. We patiently attacked their defense until we found Nic wide open for a 3, which he missed, leading to a long rebound and fastbreak.

Jimmy gave up a duty foul to stop the break, but was called for an unsportsmanlike foul which game FMP 2 free throws plus ball possession, 14 seconds left.

Luckily they missed both free throws, but were able to convert on a strong inside incursion in the ensuing possession for the final count, 89-87.

Game 6 Post Script

1. We were outrebounded, 36-25, but committed only 11 turn-overs to their 12.

2. Except for the 32-17 3rd quarter, our defense is really showing signs of improvement. After we made some key adjustments, we outscored them 27-12 in the last quarter.

3. Had Ranidel been able to hit his shots, we could have won this game

4. This team is really showing encouraging signs on NO QUIT in them.