Zadar basketball players wrote the history of Croatian basketball by winning the third consecutive Croatian championship title. In the dramatic fourth game of the FAVBET Premier League final, Zadar won 67:65 against the hosts on the road in Split after overtime, ending the series 3:1 and securing their sixth Croatian championship title.
Key moments of the final series
Final series: Zadar – Split 3:1
Fourth match (Split): Split – Zadar 65:67 (10:16, 20:8, 20:19, 10:17, 5:7)
Best player: Vladimir Mihailović with 27 points, key in the comeback and overtime.
Captain: Marko Ramljak, Zadar’s second top scorer with 12 points, stood out in defense as well.
The course of the decisive match
Zadar opened the match well and led with a 10-point difference, but Split turned it around and went into halftime with +6 (30:24). Split had +11 in the third quarter, but Zadar came back with a 7:0 run and tied the game at 60:60 at the end of the regular season. In extra time, Zadar showed character, Mihailović and Wahl brought a key advantage, and Split failed to capitalize on the last attack to equalize.
Historical significance and statistics
For the first time in the club’s history, Zadar won three Croatian championship titles. Zadar now has six Croatian championship titles, thus further strengthening its position among the clubs with the most trophies. Danijel Jusup, the architect of the Zadar streak, confirmed his status as one of the most successful coaches in the club’s history.
The best individuals in the finals
| PLAYER | POINTS (4th game) | PERFORMANCE IN SERIES |
|---|---|---|
| Vladimir Mihailović | 27 | Top scorer, key in turnovers |
| Marko Ramljak | 12 | The captain, the defensive leader |
| David Škara (Split) | 19 | The best at KK Split |
The road to the title
In the semi-finals, Zadar eliminated Cibona with 2:0 in the series, and in the final, they were better than Split, who were the last champions 22 years ago. During the season, Zadar dominated both in the regular season and in the playoffs, and the fans celebrated the historic success on Narodni trg in Zadar.
Reactions and celebration
Captain Ramljak pointed out Zadar as “the strongest point of Croatian basketball”, and coach Jusup praised the fighting spirit and unity of the team. The celebration of the title lasted long into the night, and Zadar once again confirmed its status as a basketball city and the sporting pride of Dalmatia.
Zadar confirmed their dominance in Croatian basketball with their third consecutive title and sixth overall. The dramatic final series against Split will be remembered for the significant reversals, fighting spirit, and character of the champion team from Višnjik.
