Alimpijevic criticises refereeing but praises Buducnost after narrow loss
Coach reaction after a nail‑biter
Besiktas coach Dusan Alimpijevic acknowledged Buducnost’s win after a tight EuroCup matchup, saying his team had chances but ultimately fell short. He praised Buducnost’s talent and ability to make difficult shots late in the game, noting that much of the contest came down to isolation plays and one‑on‑one matchups where the visitors simply delivered.
Alimpijevic admitted his side looked a bit soft in key moments, but he was also critical of how some decisions were handled by the officials. He pointed out a big disparity at the free‑throw line in the first half — Buducnost shot 18 free throws while Besiktas had just three — and said the way challenges and reviews were managed affected the flow of the game.
Flow, ambitions and the road ahead
The coach complained that constant video reviews and the timing of overturned calls can tire the crowd and break momentum. He said he felt restricted about voicing everything he thought publicly but suggested the handling of some situations didn’t always seem consistent.
On the bigger picture, Alimpijevic downplayed any budget talk in public but made clear he respects all the teams in the competition. He described Buducnost as a well‑coached, offensively dangerous squad and warned not to underestimate other contenders like Hapoel Jerusalem, Bahcesehir, Turk Telekom, Bourg or Venezia. His message: the EuroCup is wide open and plenty of clubs can make noise.
He also reiterated Besiktas’ goals are high — the club aims for the top and believes it belongs among teams pushing for European progression. To Alimpijevic, with the club’s organization and fan base, it’s realistic to target spots that lead toward bigger competitions.
After the game, both Besiktas and Buducnost sit at 4–2 in the EuroCup. Buducnost will head into an ABA League meeting with Crvena Zvezda in Belgrade and then travel to Chemnitz in EuroCup play. Besiktas faces a tough domestic challenge against Anadolu Efes before returning to EuroCup action against Trento.
