Rilski Sportnist Samokov Women hosted Montana Lady Grizzlies Women in the WABA League on October 7th, 2026, and the visitors secured a narrow 88-87 victory. By then, the home side had been pushing hard, but it was the away team that found a way back into it and held on. And here's the thing — we'd tipped the visitors to win, and at 61 per cent confidence, we weren't wrong.
The match itself was tight from the opening tip-off. Montana showed their class in the closing stages, but Rilski refused to fold. To be fair, the home side had their chances, but they couldn't convert when it mattered most. The final tally tells only part of the story.
What stands out is the contrast in form going into this fixture. Montana sat second in the table with nine wins from twelve games, while Rilski languished in fifth place with just four victories. The gap on paper was clear, and the result reflected it, even if marginally. The visitors have been consistent, while the hosts have struggled to string wins together.
Looking at recent results, Montana had beaten Zagreb 100-68 in their last outing, while Rilski lost 70-75 to the same Croatian side. The difference in performance levels was evident. The away side's ability to control games is something that separates them from the pack.
The standings remain unchanged after this result. Montana stay in second place with three losses to their name, while Rilski drop further behind with eight defeats from twelve matches. The point difference at the top of the table remains significant, and the gap is unlikely to close anytime soon.
