Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade used a blend of experience and energy to secure a 93–87 victory over Anadolu Efes in EuroLeague Round 3 on Thursday, marking coach Zeljko Obradovic’s first win against compatriot Igor Kokoskov.
Obradovic, a nine-time EuroLeague champion with five different clubs, saw his team avenge last season’s 97-65 defeat at the same venue.
Sterling Brown led the way with 24 points, while Tyrique Jones added 18 points and 8 rebounds against his former team. Isaac Bonga contributed 16 points as Partizan relied on a balanced attack to overcome a resilient Efes side.
Partizan dominated early, forcing 10 turnovers in the first half and converting them into fast-break points, establishing a 55-43 lead at halftime. Efes fought back in the third quarter, outscoring the hosts 26-16 to briefly take a 75-76 lead early in the fourth.
Partizan’s defensive intensity limited Efes to 12-of-32 shooting from three-point range, neutralizing their early perimeter success. The hosts combined relentless hustle with timely scoring from Brown and Bonga to maintain the edge in a back-and-forth final quarter.
With the win, Partizan improves to 2-1 in the EuroLeague, while Efes falls to 1-2 despite standout performances from Kevin Jones and Rodrigue Beaubois, who combined for 37 points.
