So far this season, the Helios basketball players have lost only twice to Krka in the national championship, and they are still undefeated in the ABA 2 League, and in the 17th round of the Nova KBM League, they were brought to their knees in Tivoli by Ilirija (79:77).
Before visiting Ljubljana, the Domžal team won seven games in all competitions, but in the temple of Slovenian basketball, they encountered an obstacle that was too high. In an even match, the hosts were in a slight advantage for most of the time, but they gained a seven-point lead seven minutes before the end. When he scored twice from the free line in the 36th minute Luka Kures, the gap grew to nine, but Helios came close and made for a tense playoff.
On entering the last minute it is Alexander Shashkov gave Illyria a five-point advantage from the free throw line, but ten seconds later he brought the visitors closer with a three-pointer Blaž Mahkovic. After a lost ball Maxim Gorbachev it is Tibor Mirtic 26 seconds before the end of the tie. On the other side, at the free throw line, Gorbachev kept his blood calm. There were 18 seconds left, and Domžale captain Mahkovic missed a three-pointer just before the end to win.
Helios hit 11 three-pointers, and Ilirija only four, but he made excellent free throws (23/25) and convincingly got a rebound (42:28). She collected 13 offensive rebounds. Šaškov caught eight rebounds, and with 22 points and an index of 28, he was the best player of the match. The Russian basketball player is a former member of Helios, where Mahkovic was in the best mood with 19 points.
Round 17: ZLATOROG LAŠKO – LTH CASTINGS 76:77 Copot 23; Greene 15, Bilić and Kegler 12 each.
Illyria – HELIOS SUNS 79:77 Šaškov 22, Klobučar 14; Mahkovic 19.
Saturday at 1:00 p.m.: ŠENTJUR – KRKA
Sunday at 20:00: GGD ŠENČUR – HOPSI POLZELA
Monday at 18:00: ROGAŠKA – TERME OLIMIA
The order: Krka and Helios 31 each, Šenčur 25, Terme Olimia and Ilirija 24 each, Rogaška and Šentjur 23 each, LTH Castings and Hopsi 22 each, Zlatorog 21 points.
Source: Rtvslo
