Fazi prevail 73–65 over Telekom Srbija in Corporate Kup curtain-raiser

In a game that swung decisively in the third quarter, Fazi opened their Corporate Kup 2026 campaign with a 73–65 victory over Telekom Srbija at OŠ "Ivo Andrić" Niš on 2026-03-01. After a tight first half the hosts broke the game open with a dominant third quarter and withstood a late rally to secure the win.

The scoreboard told the story of momentum shifts: a close first period (15–16) gave way to a narrow second (22–19), before Fazi exploded in the third (20–10) to build a lead large enough to absorb Telekom Srbija’s stronger finish in the fourth (16–20).

The deciding performance came from Nešić Vuk, who was named player of the game after a complete all-around effort — 26 points on efficient shooting (12/21 FGs), eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks, finishing with an efficiency rating of 29. His inside scoring and rim protection were the spine of Fazi’s third-quarter surge.

Radenković Ilija provided valuable scoring support with 17 points, many of them from the free-throw line, and repeatedly put Telekom Srbija in foul trouble. Jovanović Jovan supplied timely long-range punch (three 3-pointers), while Ristić Stefan anchored the glass with 11 rebounds and chipped in crucial baskets on both ends.

Telekom Srbija had bright spots in defeat. Trajković Stefan led the visitors with 21 points and 11 rebounds, giving his team repeated second-chance opportunities. Kikić Vojin scored 16 and remained active in the paint, and Kovačević Mihajlo added 11 points, including perfect marks at the stripe in pressure moments.

Fazi’s third quarter was the microcosm of the match: a string of high-percentage shots and defensive stops turned a one-possession contest into a two-digit advantage. Telekom Srbija responded with urgency in the fourth, trimming the margin through a mix of threes and trips to the line, but time ran out before a full comeback could be completed.

For the coaches, the game should serve as both encouragement and a reminder. Fazi will take heart from the balanced attack and the defensive impact of Nešić Vuk, while Telekom Srbija will note the offensive contributions of Trajković Stefan and look to tighten interior defense and limit the second-quarter breakdowns that preceded the decisive third.

As the Corporate Kup series unfolds, both teams showed enough to suggest they will be competitive — Fazi for their depth and timely defense, Telekom Srbija for their resilience and individual scoring threats.

This post is generated by AI.