Borac Čačak left Zagreb with one of the most valuable road wins of their Adriatic Basketball Association League season, edging Cibona Zagreb 95-94 in a thriller at the Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall. The visitors trailed for long stretches, survived a frantic final possession, and walked away with a one-point victory that will be remembered for its execution under pressure rather than its margin.

The result is a painful one for Cibona, who did almost everything right for three quarters and led by as many as eight points in the second half, only to see the game slip away in the closing three minutes. For Borac, it is the kind of result that builds belief: a road win against one of the competition's most storied clubs, decided by composure at the free-throw line and a defensive stop in the final seconds.

Match Overview

The game was tight from the opening tip and never opened up into a comfortable margin for either side. Cibona used their home crowd and a hot start from the perimeter to build a narrow first-quarter lead, while Borac answered with disciplined half-court offense and second-chance points.

• Final score: Cibona Zagreb 94–95 Borac
• Competition: Adriatic Basketball Association League
• Venue: Dražen Petrović Basketball Hall, Zagreb
• Quarter scores: 24–22, 21–26, 25–22, 24–25
• Margin: 1 point

The quarter-by-quarter breakdown tells the story of a game defined by runs. Cibona won the first and third periods, Borac took the second and the fourth — and it was that final stretch that decided everything.

How the Game Turned

Cibona came out sharp. A pair of early three-pointers and aggressive drives from the wings pushed the home side in front, and their ball movement against Borac's switching defense created open looks from the corners. The hosts led 24–22 after ten minutes and appeared to have the rhythm of the game in hand.

Borac responded in the second quarter with the patient, physical basketball that has become their trademark in the ABA League. Their guards attacked the paint late in the shot clock, drew contact, and converted at the line, while their big men crashed the offensive glass to extend possessions. A 26-point quarter flipped the momentum and sent the visitors into the locker room with a slender advantage.

The third quarter belonged to Cibona again. A 9–0 run midway through the period, sparked by back-to-back steals and transition baskets, restored a lead that grew to eight points. The Zagreb crowd was on its feet, and Borac's offense briefly stalled against a more aggressive pick-and-roll coverage.

Then came the fourth. Borac chipped away methodically — a three here, a pair of free throws there — and the eight-point cushion was gone with just over five minutes to play. From that point, every possession felt like a small final. Cibona had chances to ice the game at the line in the last minute but left points at the rim, and Borac's decisive basket in the final seconds proved to be the difference.

Tactical Story

The game was decided in the details of two areas: rebounding and late-game shot selection.

Borac finished with a clear advantage on the offensive boards, turning missed shots into second opportunities at critical moments — most notably during their fourth-quarter comeback. Cibona's half-court defense was generally sound, but the extra possessions allowed the visitors to stay within striking distance when their offense went cold.

Offensively, Cibona were at their best when the ball moved side to side and their shooters came off screens with momentum. When the tempo slowed in the final period, the hosts leaned on isolation plays and contested mid-range jumpers, which played directly into Borac's hands. The visitors, by contrast, kept their late-game possessions simple: high pick-and-roll, downhill drives, and a willingness to take the foul rather than force a difficult shot.

Free-throw shooting, as it so often does in one-point games, proved decisive. Borac's composure at the line in the last two minutes contrasted with Cibona's missed opportunities, and that single-digit difference was ultimately the whole game.

Standout Performers

Cibona Zagreb:

• A high-scoring perimeter outing from the backcourt carried much of the load, with the lead guard consistently breaking down the first line of defense and creating for others.
• The starting center was effective around the rim in the first half, finishing through contact and protecting the paint before foul trouble limited his minutes late.
• A bench wing provided a valuable spark in the third-quarter run with steals and transition points.

Borac:

• The visiting guards controlled the tempo