OIP Insurtech Prevails 85-70 to Take Quarter-final Opener

In a decisive first game of the quarter-finals of the CLN 3 2025/26 season, OIP Insurtech carved out an 85-70 victory over Telekom Srbija at OŠ "Ivo Andrić" Niš. The visitors built an early advantage and never relinquished control, with a dominant performance on the glass and a late offensive surge that put the result beyond doubt.

The scoring by periods told the tale: after the opening quarter ended 21-14 in favour of OIP Insurtech, the second period tightened to a 12-14 exchange, leaving OIP with a comfortable margin at halftime. The third quarter saw OIP extend the gap further (25-19) and the game concluded at 85-70.

The headline figure was the all-around masterclass from Milanovic Veljko. He poured in 38 points on 14-of-28 shooting, grabbed a staggering 19 rebounds and added 3 assists. He also manufactured scoring at the line (8-of-12 free throws) and drew 14 fouls on the opposition. His 48 efficiency rating underlined how central he was to OIP's game plan, converting physical dominance into a string of momentum-shifting plays.

Comfortable as that sounds, the win was far from one-man. Tonić Bogdan supplied 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting, chipped in five rebounds, four steals and two blocks, helping to stretch the defense and punish turnovers. Role players such as Krstić Marko and Čakić Mihajlo stepped in with timely baskets and perimeter threats that kept Telekom Srbija honest.

For Telekom Srbija, veteran guard Kikić Vojin fought valiantly, finishing with 33 points on efficient shooting (13-of-24, including 5-of-7 from three). His late flurry — multiple triples in the fourth quarter — narrowed the margin and gave the appearance of a possible comeback, but OIP's interior control and timely buckets snuffed out the rally.

Telekom's supporting cast produced mixed results: Kostić Dimitrije added 14 points and six rebounds, while Trajković Stefan supplied 13 points and eight boards. Still, the visitors' dominance on defensive rebounds (led by Milanovic Veljko) and their ability to convert second-chance points were decisive factors.

The contest carried physical edges — numerous fouls were drawn and at least one technical foul was recorded — but tactical discipline and execution in clutch moments separated the sides. OIP Insurtech's ability to sustain an early edge, then widen it through the third quarter, set up a finish that Telekom Srbija could not answer despite late heroics.

Game 1 goes to OIP Insurtech; the quarter-final series now shifts to its next chapter with Telekom Srbija searching for adjustments to stop the inside-out attack they faced today.

Note: This post is generated by AI.