Despite hot showing from Jack Animam, Radnicki Kragujevac falls to Crvena Zvezda

Jack Animam impressed against the reigning Serbian league champs. Rick Dela Cruz (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—Radnicki Kragujevac's campaign in the First Women's Basketball League of Serbia hit a quick snag early Sunday (Philippine Time) after bowing to ZKK Crvena Zvezda but not without an impressive game from Jack Animam against no less than the defending champs.

The Filipina reinforcement introduced herself to the Serbian basketball powerhouse by carrying the fight for Radnicki, but Crvena Zvezda showed its might and won, 104-66, at the SBB Hala Jezero in Kragujevac.

Despite a gallant stand from Radnicki early on, keeping the game close for most of the first quarter, Crvena Zvezda pulled away in the second and the third quarters, outscoring Radnicki, 62-33, before sealing the 38-point blowout on the road by holding the host squad to just 12 fourth quarter points.

Former Serbian youth team member Nevena Naumcev led Crvena Zvezda, the women's basketball affiliate of football club Red Star Belgrade, with 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting including five triples and four steals.

Masa Jankovic, a member of the Serbian national team that won the 2021 FIBA Women's Eurobasket, added 14 markers, eight boards, two dimes, three swipes, and one block.

Animam finished with a game-high 29 points on 12-of-17 shooting, 12 rebounds, six assists, one block, and one steal for Radnicki.

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