Loka secured a 32:25 victory over Jerusalem Orum in the opening fixture of the 1. NLB League on Wednesday evening. The match took place at Loka's home ground with kickoff at 17:00 local time. Both sides entered the contest with identical records of zero games played.
And here's the thing — both teams had already accumulated a string of difficult results in previous seasons. Loka had lost four of their last five matches, while Jerusalem Orum had dropped every single one of their last five outings. This opener offered a fresh start for both clubs.
To be fair, the result did not dramatically shift any positions. The league table currently shows Loka in eighth place and Jerusalem Orum in seventh, though these rankings carry no weight yet with no games in the books. What matters is that Loka ground out the win on their patch.
The visitors have not won since their last campaign, and this defeat adds to that pattern. Jerusalem Orum's recent form includes narrow losses against RK Krka and Trimo Trebnje, alongside heavier defeats to Celje. They will need to regroup quickly.
Loka's defensive work proved decisive in this encounter. They weathered the storm in the final stages when Jerusalem Orum pushed forward. The two-point margin suggests a competitive match rather than a rout.
By then, the home side had established enough control to see out the result. Both teams now turn their attention to the next fixture in the division. The season is truly beginning.