MZT Skopje took the lead in the final series against Pelister with a convincing victory
The current defending champion, MZT Skopje Aerodrom, gained an initial advantage in the grand final of the playoffs, after in front of its audience in SC "Jane Sandanski", it acted convincingly against last year's and current "challenger" Pelister (84:64).
The popular "metals" reached their first victory, it seems a bit easier than what they expected. As if the rather long period between the semi-finals and the final "laid down" better for the "blue-whites".
Of course, they had an equal rival, but only until the middle of the second quarter, when they gained a one-digit lead for the first time (31:21).
Everything else, even though there was still a long, long 25 minutes for the playoffs, turned into a routine performance of the tasks for the current champion.
Simply without the effect of the complete starting five, "Pelisterci" cannot expect anything more in such important matches. Without the "real" Hadjifejzovic, poynter "the moody one" Carruthers, it is visible, and like in the game of Bitolcani.
By the end of the half, MZT Skopje had built a higher score (39:23), but by the end of the half, that difference was somewhat smaller (41:29).
It was clear, it was evident that with three players (Stajic, Maslinko and Carpenter), Pelister cannot match MZT Skopje.
Obviously, noticeable also in the second half in which, unlike the Bitola team, the Skopje team "worked" and the "bench". The reserve players of MZT Skopje (three of them) brought a total of 24 points. Or twice as much compared to the opponent (Karadzovski и Sillaji they had six conversions each).
Enough to close this first chapter of the final with a convincing plus 20 for the favorite, probably not only on paper.
The second will be "written" on Wednesday evening, at the same place, but one hour later, from 19.00. A chance for the people of Bitola to "repair" (as much as they can), and for the "metals" to repeat a game like this dominated by the defensive segment, and leave next weekend in Bitola with a big advantage in the series in which they are chasing their tenth title.
