Pelister beats TFT 78:70 at the start of the Basketball Super League; wins also for Rabotnički and Kozuv

Pelister has started the new season of North Macedonia’s Basketball Super League with a win, beating TFT 78:70 at the “Boro Čurlevski” hall in Bitola, as Sport Plus reports.

The match was hard-fought to the end: the hosts started better (20:16 after the first quarter), went into half-time with a minimal 38:37 lead, and two and a half minutes before the end led 71:65. TFT responded with a quick five-point run, but the Bitola side, with calm play in the finish, scored the decisive points and secured the victory. Cameron McDowell led the winners with 19 points, seven rebounds and two assists; captain Filip Sapundziev added 14 points and six rebounds, while Kirilovski and CJ Wilson each scored 11 points. For TFT the most efficient was Sila with 31 points and nine rebounds, while White scored 12 points.

According to the portal Ekipa.mk, Rabotnički won 92:85 away in Strumica: the visitors opened the match furiously and led convincingly 50:27 at half-time, but the hosts played better and better and in the final period closed to within just five points (73:78) — without achieving more. Viktor Efremovski, with 29 points, was the best for the winners, while for the losers Kem Crawford scored 31 points.

Kozuv also triumphed away in Skopje, against the renamed “Skopje” team (formerly Madzari), at SC “Jane Sandanski”. With these three matches, as the MIA agency reports, the first round of the new championship was officially completed tonight. Reigning champion MZT Skopje Aerodrom began its title defence on Saturday, in the duel with Kumanovo.