June 10, 2022 - A 56:51 (38:25) victory at home for Cibona in Game 5 brings the decision against KK Zadar. The attending media representatives elected Roko Prkačin as MVP.

Confidence was already high for the 5000 spectators at Dražen Petrović Basketball Center in Zagreb before the game began. In the previous 12 finals played by Cibona and Zadar in the Croatian championships, the people of Zagreb had celebrated 11 times. This year both teams had managed to win one away game and one home game during the first four games to reach this decisive game 5.

Despite the great support from the fans, the home team seemed to be absent at the beginning. Zadar only needed 2 minutes to acquire a 0:8 lead before Cibona was able to respond with multiple three point shots. At the other end of the court Okorn Gašper’s youngsters also started to show a better defense to turn the game around by the end of the first quarter (18:16).

With 10 points from MVP Roko Prkačin in the second quarter, Cibona managed to pass by the guests. Srđan Hellbich’s men could not find an answer for the young Cibona team’s intensive defense and accurate outside scoring. For many, the game already seemed decided by half-time (38:25).

Defending champions Zadar did not give the game up yet however. With the support of their 500 noisy fans, they managed to hold Cibona to only 8 points in the third quarter while scoring 12 themselves to make it 46:37 before the start of the final quarter. The guests even had a chance to turn the game around within the final minute. Home court advantage meant that two critical decisions were given to Cibona. The second one was a foul called against Zadar’s Thompson who fouled out and had to watch the hosts winning the game despite being outscored in the fourth quarter as well.

Cibona’s top scorers were Toni Nakić with 15 and Roko Prkačin with 14 points. Zadar’s captain Dominik Mavra (13) and his team-mate Trevor Thompson (12) scored best for the guests who couldn't beat the odds and congratulated Cibona Zagreb on their 20th title.

Referees: Hordov Tomislav, Jovović Alfred, Jurčević Josip

Box score: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/HKS/2097393/ 

Result by quarters: 18:16, 20:9, 8:12, 10:14

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June 8, 2022- 2825 loyal supporters at Krešimir Ćosić Arena in Zadar saw their team win game four 61:59 (36:36) in this year's Croatian Basketball Championship Finals against Cedevita to make it 2 wins each. The championship will now be decided in the final game in Zagreb on Friday. 

The series has been quite a back and forth with Zadar surprising in Zagreb in the opener just to see Cibona come back with two straight wins. On Tuesday night the guests from the capital could have already crowned themselves but the defending champions managed to squeeze out just another close victory to stay alive.

Both sides played a defensive game and no team was able to pull away decisively. With only two minutes to play, the game was still tied at 58:58. Both sides could not convert their tries before the night's top scorer Thompson (15 points) was fouled. The Zadar center converted both his free throws for a 60:58 lead. Prkačin had a chance to tie the game for the guests again but missed his second free throw. When Thompson followed his example to make it 61:59, Cibona still had 17 seconds to tie or even win the game but Zadar's defense managed to hold on to the lead and the chance to defend the title.

The final and decisive game will be played at Dražen Petrović Basketball Center in Zagreb on Friday, June 10th, 2022 at 20:00.

Result by quarters: 16:17, 20:19, 13:9, 12:14

Referees: Radojković Josip, Kardum Luka, Hadžić Denis

Box score: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/HKS/2097389/ 

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May 30, 2022 - Defending champions KK Zadar have started this year's best of five finals series with an away victory in front of 2000 spectators at the Basketball Center "Dražen Petrović" in Zagreb and have taken over the role of favorites. 

Cibona had gone into the game rested after defeating Gorica 2:0 in the semi-finals last Monday, while Zadar had to go all the way to beat KK Split in the third game Friday night. 

The first half was a close game between the routine team of Zadar and the young team of Cibona containing plenty of talent. Okorn Gašper's home team went into half-time with a slight lead (43:42). 

During the third quarter guest coach Srđan Helbich's team was able to increase the intensity and take the first decisive lead (53:58).

Cibona was able to come back and tie the game at 64:64 with just under 4 minutes to play, but a 10:0 run with points by Drežnjak and Thompson decided the game at 64:74 and 95 seconds on the clock. 

Zagreb's Branković was the game's top scorer with 16 points, Thompson 15, Carter 13, and Drežnjak 12 had double digits for Zadar. 

On Wednesday Cibona will now need to win the second home game in order to maintain a proper shot at the title before Zadar will have two home games to possibly finish the series early. 

Points by quarter: 20:24, 23:18, 10:16, 17:19

Referees: Kardum Luka, Hadžić Denis, Jurčević Josip

Box score: https://fibalivestats.dcd.shared.geniussports.com/u/HKS/2097374/bs.html 

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated sports section. 

May 22, 2021 - On Thursday, KK Split managed to stay in the ABA League. Less than 24 hours later, they qualified for the Croatian basketball championship finals. 

In the second game of the semifinals, Split defeated Cibona 93:71 in Zagreb and thus went 2-0 in the series. They will play against the winner of Zadar and Gorica which is currently 1-1.

After the first quarter, Cibona had a 28:27 advantage, but at halftime, KK Split was up by 7. Split's excellent game continued in the third quarter when they led by 19, and in the fourth, the advantage only grew to confirm a spot in the finals.

Roko-Leni Ukić scored 18 points as the most efficient KK Split player, and Marko Luković added 16 points. Darko Planinić led Cibona with 16 points.

After 13 years, Split entered the Croatian championship finals, and the Yellows recorded their seventh victory against Cibona this season.

In the first semifinal game, Split celebrated convincingly 95-80.

Because of the tight schedule and Split's ABA League relegation game on Thursday, there was tension between Cibona and Split. KK Split wanted to move the date of the second semifinal match against Cibona to May 22, to which the Croatian Basketball Federation agreed, but they also needed Cibona's consent. The Zagreb club ultimately refused. 

"I think two things were important in today's game. One is that we didn't give ourselves any excuse given what we've been going through the last few days and to realize that today was the biggest chance to win," the KK Split coach Mile Karakas said and added that Cibona did not surprise them with their game.

"After 6:0, the reality was that Cibona would come out as strong as possible at the beginning. When we rejected that first and second blow, we knew that they would fall and that our quality would come forward," added Karakas, who is thrilled to be in KK Split's first Croatian final after 13 long years.

KK Split was welcomed home to Gripe with a flare spectacle which you can see below. 

Source: HRT, Gol.hr

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February 16, 2020 - The KK Zadar basketball team has won its seventh Kresimir Cosic Cup title and the first after 2007.

KK Zadar won the Kresimir Cosic Cup after defeating Cibona 89-76 (20-24, 19-19, 27-16,23-17) in the final at home, in Croatia’s famous basketball city.

This is the seventh Cup title for the Zadar, and the first after 2007, while Cibona also boasts seven trophies.

Cibona opened the game better and led by ten points. However, Zadar had a turnaround in the third quarter, was better 27-16, and entered the last quarter with a 66-59 advantage. In the middle of the second half, Zadar led with 79-64 and easily reached the first trophy since 2007.

Dominic Vavra (20), Ivo Ivanov (18) and Dominic Gilbert (15) were the best for Zadar, while the Zagreb squad was led by Mate Vucic (18) and Josip Bilinovac (15).

The last six editions of the Cup have gone to Cedevita, which no longer competes as a Croatian club.

The interest in the game was huge. A half an hour before the game, many spectators feared whether they would make it in because the hall was sold out to the last seat. Nine thousand fans were said to be in attendance. 

When the game finished, a massive celebration erupted. Fan club Tornado lit several flares, all the spectators clapped as one and sang their favorite songs. The celebrations then moved to the city streets. 

Basketball has returned to Zadar.

The Kresimir Cosic Cup, also known as the Croatian Basketball Cup, is named after Croatian basketball player Kresimir Cosic, whose career began at KK Zadar. Cosic was the second international player ever elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1996) and was also an inaugural member of the FIBA Hall of Fame. The Croatian Cup, named after him, has been running since 1992.

Source: Gol.hr

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