Partizan celebrated at Crvena zvezda and secured the ABA League final
Partizan Mozzart Bet defeated Crvena zvezda Meridianbet 89:78 in the second game of the AdmiralBet ABA League semifinal and, with an aggregate score of 2-0, secured a place in the final of the regional competition. According to the official ABA League scoresheet, the game was played on May 21, 2026, at 8 p.m. in the Aleksandar Nikolić Basketball Hall in Belgrade, with Crvena zvezda as the host. Partizan had already created a double-digit lead in the first quarter, controlled the rhythm of the game by halftime, and in the continuation preserved the margin without major fluctuations and confirmed its second triumph in the series. The final score of 78:89 marked the end of Zvezda's ABA League season and the continuation of Partizan's fight for the title.
Official ABA League data show that the quarters ended 16:28, 17:21, 20:18 and 25:22, which clearly describes the course of the game. Partizan did the most important work in the opening twenty minutes, when, through a combination of aggressive defense, precise shooting and quick ball circulation, it reached a 49:33 advantage. Crvena zvezda had a better attacking performance in the second half, especially in the final period, but the deficit from the first half proved too large. The home team tried several times to raise the intensity and reduce the difference, but Partizan had an answer each time through inside play, rebounding or timely points from outside positions.
Partizan's early blow directed the game
The game already took a direction in the first quarter that Crvena zvezda was unable to completely change. Partizan, according to the official ABA League play-by-play record, quickly found solutions in attack and scored 28 points by the end of the first period. Such an entry into the matchup was especially important because it was an elimination game for the host, while Partizan came to Belgrade with an advantage from the first duel. Zvezda scored 16 points in ten minutes, which allowed the guests to build their attack more calmly and move the game into a rhythm that suited them better. In the second quarter, Partizan continued in the same direction, also won that period 21:17 and went to the break with a plus 16.
That result was not only the consequence of one good shooting run. In the first half, Partizan managed to stretch Crvena zvezda's defense, look for favorable situations for its big men and punish late rotations. The home team had problems with attacking continuity, and even when it got to open positions, it lacked a run that would change the psychological tone of the game. According to the ABA League statistical overview, Partizan finished with 24 assists, while Crvena zvezda ended with 14, which clearly shows the difference in offensive organization and the number of well-created shots.
Fernando and Osetkowski led the winner
The most efficient player of the game was Bruno Fernando with 19 points, according to the official ABA League statistics. Dylan Osetkowski had the highest valuation index in the game, 25, with 17 points, four rebounds, two assists and three steals. Sterling Brown added 16 points, and his three-pointer in the closing stages further strengthened Partizan's control of the score. Isaac Bonga also played an important role, recording seven rebounds, two assists and two steals in more than 32 minutes on the floor. Carlik Jones distributed eight assists, the same number that Codi Miller-McIntyre had on the other side.
Partizan's distribution of production was one of the key elements of the victory. Although Duane Washington, one of the main attacking assets during the season, did not have big minutes, Željko Obradović's team found enough options through Fernando, Osetkowski, Brown and Jones's organization. According to the official team comparison, Partizan had more pronounced production from the starting five and the bench, and the advantage in points in the paint was especially important. In the team comparison, the ABA League notes Partizan's pronounced advantage in points in the paint, confirming that the guests often reached quality finishes close to the rim. Such a difference indicates that the visiting team did not depend only on outside shooting, but systematically reached quality finishes close to the basket.
Crvena zvezda without a comeback despite the second-half attempt
After a large deficit, Crvena zvezda tried to change the rhythm in the third and fourth quarters. The host lost the third period 20:18, but in that stretch managed to stabilize its attack and prevent Partizan from completely breaking the game open already in the middle of the second half. Zvezda won the final quarter 25:22, but that was enough only to soften the defeat. According to the official record, the last basket of the game was scored by Jordan Nwora for 78:89, after which there was no further change in the score.
For Crvena zvezda, the top scorer was Joel Bolomboy with 12 points, and according to ABA League statistics he also had the highest valuation index in the home team, 17. Jordan Nwora also scored 12 points, while Codi Miller-McIntyre added eight points and distributed eight assists. Ebuka Izundu collected six rebounds, and in the closing stages the home team tried to increase pressure through more aggressive defense and faster attacks. Still, the problem remained the same as during most of the game: Partizan had a sufficiently broad attacking response and did not allow the game to return to a one- or two-possession difference.
For Crvena zvezda, the first quarter, in which it allowed 28 points, was especially costly. In games of this intensity, an early deficit often changes the way of playing, because the team chasing the score must take risks earlier and speed up attacks. Zvezda showed more energy in the continuation, but failed to connect enough defensive stops and precise attacking solutions. The official statistical overview also shows that Partizan had a better assist-to-turnover ratio, which carried great weight in a game with high pressure.
The series ended without a third game
Partizan secured a place in the final with its second victory in the semifinal series. The first game, played on May 18, 2026, was won by Partizan 100:94 on its home court, according to the official ABA League results overview. The second matchup brought a more convincing outcome, because the visiting team took control earlier and avoided a tense finish. Since the semifinal was played in a best-of-three format, the 2-0 result meant that a third game was not needed.
This outcome also has broader competitive significance. With the victory over its biggest rival, Partizan ended Zvezda's fight for the title in the regional league and secured a place in the final series. After the game, the ABA League announced that Partizan had again defeated Crvena zvezda and advanced to the final, confirming the end of one of the most attractive playoff series. In the other semifinal pair, Dubai Basketball and Budućnost VOLI opened their series a day earlier, and according to the ABA League schedule and announcements, the second finalist was to be determined after the continuation of that matchup.
Statistics reveal the depth of Partizan's control
Although the final 11-point difference gives the impression of a game in which the host reduced the deficit in the closing stages, the statistical details show that Partizan controlled most of the matchup. According to the ABA League team comparison, Partizan had a largest lead of 20 points, while the time spent in the lead was convincingly on the guests' side. The visiting team had 24 assists, nine steals and 14 turnovers, while Crvena zvezda in the same categories remained at 14 assists, a lower number of steals and greater pressure in organizing its attack. Such a relationship is not only a statistical figure, but explains why Zvezda failed to come close to a more serious comeback.
Partizan also had better production in transition and in points after turnovers. In the graphical comparison, the ABA League states that the visiting team achieved a significant advantage in fast-break points and points after opponents' mistakes. In Belgrade derby games, such details often decide the outcome, because both teams know each other well and because much of the preparation is based on preventing the opponent's main attacking options. In that sense, Partizan had more players who could take responsibility, while Crvena zvezda too often had to look for individual solutions after the initial action had been stopped.
The derby in a special competitive context
The duel between Crvena zvezda and Partizan traditionally carries greater pressure than an ordinary playoff game, and the ABA League semifinal further increased the significance of the matchup. According to the historical overview of the regional league, Crvena zvezda and Partizan have played a large number of head-to-head games in ABA competition, and after this matchup their record was further improved in Partizan's favor in the total number of away victories in derbies. Zvezda had a strong home performance against Partizan in regional history, but the second game of the 2025/26 semifinal showed that Partizan managed to neutralize the home-court advantage at the key moment.
For Partizan, the victory is also important because of continuity in the final stretch of the season. In the series against Crvena zvezda, the team showed the ability to win in two different types of games: the first finished with a total of 194 points and was more open offensively, while the second had a clearer defensive signature and control of rhythm. Such adaptability is important in the final, regardless of the opponent, because final series often require a different plan from game to game. In the second matchup, Partizan showed that it can gain an early advantage, defend it through multiple lineups and calmly respond to the host's attempts to return.
What follows after the Belgrade semifinal
After the 89:78 victory, Partizan awaits the outcome of the second semifinal series. According to ABA League announcements, Dubai Basketball defeated Budućnost VOLI in the first game of the other semifinal, and the continuation of that series was supposed to decide who would face Partizan in the final. For Crvena zvezda, the defeat means the end of the road in the ABA League for the 2025/26 season, at least when it comes to the fight for the regional title. After elimination, the club will have to analyze why, in two games, it did not find a stable answer to Partizan's attacking breadth and defensive pressure.
Partizan, on the other hand, enters the final with a clear confirmation of form. An away victory against Crvena zvezda, achieved without the need for a dramatic finish, gives the team additional confidence. At the same time, the way it was achieved shows that Obradović's squad has enough depth and tactical variety for the final series. In the regional context, advancing past Crvena zvezda always carries additional weight, but for Partizan the true value of this result will be measured only through the final stretch of the season and the fight for the trophy.
Sources:
- ABA League – official scoresheet of the Crvena zvezda Meridianbet - Partizan Mozzart Bet game, result, quarters, statistics and history of head-to-head meetings (link)
- ABA League – official announcement about Partizan's qualification for the final after victory in the semifinal series (link)
- ABA League – official previews and video posts related to the second game of the semifinal, including the highlights and recording of the matchup (link)