The basketball players of Slavija have secured three consecutive victories in the Bosnia and Herzegovina League after previously enduring a streak of six defeats.
These three consecutive wins—against Posušje, Mostar, and Radnički—have brought smiles back to the faces of everyone at the club from East Sarajevo, as they represent a significant step toward securing their place among the best. With five rounds remaining in the competition, Slavija holds a record of 11-10, the same as Orlovik, which has the upper hand in their head-to-head matchup.
“The losses were a result of a tough schedule, as we played against ABA League teams and squads that will likely be in the playoffs. On top of that, we had injury issues and couldn’t count on Kevin Kangu, who was out of training for about twenty days, as well as Stefan Milovanović, who was sidelined for a month and a half. Once they returned, things became much easier for us, and the schedule was in our favor, allowing us to string together three wins, which I believe were well deserved,” said Slavija’s coach Srđan Stanić in an interview with Glas Srpske.
Speaking about player injuries, he believes that they could have secured a few more victories had the team been at full strength.
“If we had at least one of them available during the tough stretch, we surely would have beaten one of the favorites. We simply don’t have depth in the squad. When one key player gets injured, it’s a disaster, and when two are out, it’s an absolute catastrophe. Besides that, some other factors also left an impact, but it is what it is,” said Stanić.
Slavija currently holds eighth place in the standings. Fifth-placed Sloboda is four wins ahead, while they lead Mostar and Spars by three victories.
“We cannot say that we have mathematically secured our place yet, as there are five rounds left, but we are in a good position. Additionally, we have a favorable schedule—we will play three games at home and two away, and my plan is to win all five. I don’t know what others think, but that’s our mindset. Of course, we could lose all five as well, though I don’t believe that will happen. If we play at our best, we can win all of them. Theoretically, we even have a chance to reach fifth place if some of those teams slip up before the end. We are thinking about that a little, too, even though it seems unrealistic—but why not believe that it’s possible?” Stanić stated.
Remaining fixtures
Next weekend, Slavija will host Mladost, followed by an away game against Sars. Then, they will face Leotar at home, visit Promo, and in the final round, they will host Borac.
“In the last round, Borac is coming to our court. We held our own against them in Banja Luka and lost only at the very end, so I believe we can win in front of our home fans. Overall, looking at the bigger picture, the chances of us getting relegated are slim, but so are the chances of reaching the top six for the championship round. However, we will aim to finish the season with a strong winning streak,” Stanić concluded.
Source: Glas Srpske
