Dubočica claimed a narrow 34-32 victory over Alpla Hard in the European Cup on Friday evening. The result came just seven days after the sides met, when Dubočica won 34-33 at home. It extended Alpla Hard's difficult run to four consecutive defeats.
The hosts had lost their previous three matches by single goals — 33-34 to Dubočica, 26-28 to Ferlach, and 33-35 to Lisi. Their last win came in May, a 32-31 triumph over Aon Fivears Margareten. The visitors were more varied in their recent form, with wins against Radnicki Kragujevac and Vranje alongside losses to Pancevo and Crvena Zvezda.
By then, Alpla Hard had already opened talks about stabilising their campaign. The scoreline told a familiar story — tight margins defining every encounter. Dubočica kept knocking on the door and took their chances when they arrived.
Alpla Hard will make life awkward for themselves heading into the next round. They have not won since May and now face a side that beat them twice in rapid succession. The history between them adds an edge to future meetings.