Hassan Martin reveals what Dusko said in the locker room after cup win

Mindaugas Bertys
Daily Writer
2023-02-19 14:00

Hassan Martin told that Dusko Ivanovic was his usual self in the locker room after winning the cup and focused on defensive details. The big man says it was difficult to focus for the final as the team was very tired after the derby against Partizan the night before.

Credit: Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic
Credit Partizan Mozzart Bet/Dragana Stjepanovic

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade captured the Radivoj Korac Cup yesterday, comfortably beating Mega MIS Belgrade in the final. However, one could argue that the true final was played the day before when the eternal derby was played in Nis.

Fans from both teams went crazy, and the game versus Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade had to be stopped multiple times. At one point, the match's referees left the court after continuous warnings were ignored. On top of that, head coach Dusko Ivanovic was ejected after receiving two consecutive technical fouls when he protested a non-call.

In the middle of all the action was Hassan Martin who had played just one game against Zadar before after coming back from a knee injury that had sidelined him for almost two months.

Free throws this season

78%
13,7
Points made: 13,7
Accuracy: 78,1%
Place in standings: 10
Record max: 22
Record min: 1
Most made FTs: Nemanja Nedovic

"I think I'm getting my rhythm back slowly. I've got to get in game shape, got to get my legs back under me in the game," Martin told BasketNews after winning the Serbian Cup. "Games like these like yesterday and the first cup game are going to get me back to my rhythm."

"Overall, I feel good. My knee feels healthy. Like I said, I've got to get my shape back a little bit more and I'm good," the player said.

In the end, the derby took about two and a half hours to complete. The press conference was finished well past midnight. 20 hours later - another match awaited, this time against a seemingly weaker team in Mega MIS.

After such games and such experiences, the players from both teams usually have a hard time falling asleep that night. Hassan Martin agrees.

"It was tough getting super motivated for this one. Yesterday was a derby game, we gave there our all, we were so tired this morning," the player shared. "At the same time, it is a championship game for the cup, so we really had to just lock in. It was definitely tough mentally today."

Head coach Dusko Ivanovic is a four-time Spanish Copa del Rey winner, he's won the Swiss Cup, the French Cup, and the Greek Cup. The Montenegrin specialist has now added the Serbian Cup to his trophy list.

Known to be a fierce and strict tactician, Ivanovic did not change his usual personality one bit, despite having just won a major trophy, Martin says. 

"That's one thing about him - he's gonna say the same [things] no matter who we play, no matter the circumstance, he's gonna stay the same," the Crvena Zvezda big man revealed.

Up by 14 points at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Mega's big man Danko Brankovic got an offensive rebound and decreased the deficit to 12 with a tip-in. Ivanovic was visibly mad at Martin after the play and substituted him out during the next dead ball situation.

"He told us that we need to pick it up [defensively] for sure, and he said we were too relaxed," Martin said with a smile.

Together with Luca Vildoza and Nemanja Nedovic, Facundo Campazzo was crucial in taking down Partizan in the semifinal despite having an awful shooting night where he made just 2 field goals in 11 attempts. The Argentinian ended the game with 12 points, 7 assists, and 14 PIR nevertheless.

Despite scoring just 2 points in the final, Campazzo dished out 6 assists while being his usual flashy self.

Crvena Zvezda still cannot register him for the EuroLeague but only one game has left where the team from Mali Kalemegdan will not be able to count on Campazzo being on the roster.

"It feels like he's already joined us. We see him in practice every day, we see him in the ABA League games," Martin explained. "Once he joins us in the EuroLeague, it's gonna be a show, I can't wait for it."



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