The Montana 2003 runner-up prevailed over defending champion Beroe with 78:55 (30:8, 24:26, 13:8, 11:13) as a host in the “Youth” hall in Montana in the third match of the final playoff in the Bulgarian women’s basketball championship. Beroe won the first two home games, but Montana 2003 was able to close the series at 1-2.
Up to three successes out of five possible matches are played, with the fourth coming on April 22 (Monday) again in Montana at 6:00 p.m., and if a fifth meeting is necessary, it will be held on April 24 in Stara Zagora at 6:30 p.m. .
The players of head coach Preslav Peshev started the match very motivated, and after an equal three minutes, after which the guests led 8:7, a series of 23:0 for Montana 2003 followed and a total of 5 triples out of 10 attempts. Beroe did not record a single point for seven minutes and at the end of the first quarter the home team led 30:8.
Montana 2003 maintained its lead during the second 10 minutes, and despite their attempts, the girls, led by the coaching team Jacqueline Zlatanova and Albena Hubenova, were unable to reduce the gap below 17 points. The hosts kept their more effective shooting and at the break the score was 54:34 in their favor.
Montana 2003 scored eight unanswered points in nearly five minutes of play after the break to take a 62-34 lead. The guests made their first basket in the middle of the third period, by Tsvetomira Naumova, and after a low-scoring period they trailed 42:67 before the final period. In the remaining minutes, the home team did not lose the initiative and did not allow the weaker shooting opponent to threaten their leadership. The biggest difference in the match reached 29 points.
Five contestants at Montana 2003 scored 10 or more points. The most productive was Terry Battle, who formed a “double-double” of 16 points and 12 rebounds. Taya Robinson finished with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and Borislava Dencheva added 14 points and 2 rebounds.
Nicolette Gilday had 15 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists for Beroe, and Nikolina Zubach chipped in with 10 points and 6 rebounds. Jacqueline Zlatanova did not take part in the meeting.
The former coaches of Montana Stefan Mihailov and Nikolay Gospodinov watched the third playoff meeting with Beroe for the title in the company of the mayor Zlatko Zhivkov.
Montana – Beroe 78:55 (30-8, 24-26, 13-8, 11-13) Montana: Borislava Dencheva 14, Teya Robinson 15, Yanina Todorova 12, Teranik Battle 16, Mikaela Damyanova 10 (Valentina Goranova 9, Preslava Koleva-capt. 2, Vanina Vasileva, Emilia Borisova). Coach: Preslav Peshev. Beroe: Gergana Madankova 6, Nicolet Gilday 15, Nikolina Zubac 10, Tsvetomira Naumova-capt. 4, Denitsa Stoyanovska 7 (Radostina Hristova 9, Dimana Kostova 2, Evgenia Natskina 2, Victoria Mircheva). Coach: Albena Hubenova. Judges: Ventsislav Velikov, Vladimir Zanev, Peter Kr. Petrov. Hall: “Youth” – 300 spectators.
