Nigerian wing-center Čima Moneke played through significant pain as Red Star secured their spot in the ABA League semi-finals after a grueling match against Cedevita Olimpija. Moneke scored 11 points with five rebounds, but his performance was even more remarkable given his injury, which involved a sprain in his right hand.

Post-match, Moneke was candid about the difficulty of reaching the semi-finals. "It was really tough, but that's what a playoff game should be. After the way we lost the previous game, we had to show that we are a better team. We simply couldn't afford to lose at home," Moneke told "Meridian sport."

Moneke revealed that he has been playing with pain for some time now, but he refuses to give up until the ABA League concludes. "It's not good… The injury is causing me problems with everything I do, especially since it's my right hand. It affects not just shooting and dribbling, but also jumping and defense. Everything hurts, but I try not to think about it when I'm on the court," the Red Star player honestly admitted.

Moneke also explained why he will not play in the KLS finals, emphasizing that he fully understands Coach Saša Obradović's decision. "I understand that decision, and that's why I want to give my all to win the ABA League. That's what this is all about," Moneke concluded.