Budućnost VOLI Podgorica saw off Slovan Bratislava 82:70 on Sunday in the opening round of the ABA League campaign. The hosts took control early and maintained their advantage through a sharp second quarter before closing the game out against a side that struggled to find rhythm.
Both sides entered with one win and one defeat from their first two fixtures, though neither had accumulated any points yet in the standings. The hosts had lost their opening two games before beating Słonek Wrocław, while Slovan had dropped to Hantlová before taking down Cibona Zagreb.
and here's the thing — we called this one at 70 per cent confidence before kickoff. The home side's depth showed through when Slovan tried to mount a second-half push, and the visitors paid for a sloppy opening that left them chasing.
Budućnost VOLI were dominant in the air from set plays and ran the floor well in transition. Slovan kept things tight for stretches but could not sustain pressure when the game opened up, and by then the hosts had built enough of a buffer to see the game out.
The result moves the hosts into seventh place on the table, while Slovan drop to eighth. Both sides remain level on points after two games each, though the hosts now hold the slight advantage from winning their head-to-head.
It was a straightforward affair in the end, but the hosts sensed blood when Slovan failed to respond to early pressure. They are unbeaten in five at home this season and will fancy their chances of building momentum from here.
