Preview

It is start of play off finals in Macedonian basketball league and will
met two best teams and both participants of ABA league this season.
After they survived relegation in ABA league joined Macedonian league in
winners stage where MZT was more successful and finish on top, while
Karpos was 3rd placed, with Rabotnicki in between. Because of this MZT
will have advantage of playing one more game at home in this finals if
this come to 5 games , but this home field advantage should not be big
since both teams are from same city, capital Skopje. Also Rabotnicki is
team from Skopje and Karpos had no troubles knocking them out in just
three games from which two were as visitors and actually on Rabotnicki
games it is really hostile atmosphere to play with fans very close to
the pitch and when not satisfied know to throw things or spit to
opponents because of which first semifinal game between Rabotnicki and
Karpos was interrupted after 3 quarters and finished next day without
fans. In MZT games it is not that hostile since the club lost their
biggest fans that made great atmosphere before so now is more theatric
on their games. There is rivalry between this teams since met many
times before and already 4 times this season with MZT being more
successful winning 3 times and loosing once. But most of the games were
very close since three of them finished in single digits splitting the
home wins in ABA league 74:71 for MZT and 77:74 for Karpos, while in
winners stage there were both MZT wins, from which away win was very
close 87:85 and after overtime, whiel their last meeting was big MZT
home win 83:61 and this lats game is only reason why we have today
double digit spread. MZT also won semifinals against KUmanovo easy and I
juts 3 games and home wins were big and around 20 points difference, but
KUmanovo is much weaker team than Karpos hwo also beat them by 25
differecne 100:75 in Skopje. ON the ither side KArpos opponent
Rabotnicki was more quality since they only beat MZT in regular season
and also had plenty experienced players and ex Macedonian
representatives. Karpos and MZT are very similar in quality packed with
some American and plenty Serbian players and in ABA league Karpos was
better placed. MZT coach Nazor stated that last match score is totally
misleading and that will definitely not be that easy in play off finals
so we must benefit of bookies putting to much credit to that last MZT
big win which raised the spread higher than expected. I think will be
exciting game broadcasted live in my country and teams will show great
fight and will be close score like in most of their meetings. Karpos
already won Macedonian cup in Kavadarci against hosts Feni winning
80:69,where MZT totally failed against same opponent in semifinal
loosing already won game and was missed big clash which everybody
expected. Now they met in play off finals and MZT will seek for their 6
title in a row but Karpos will also want their first title and double
crown this season which would be most successful in their history. Will
be exciting battles with plenty of close results since teams are very
equal and I think they will start in this fashion.