Đoan Penjaroja, the coach of Partizan, provided his thoughts after the first semifinal match of the ABA league against Red Star.

"It was only 1-0. We need to win both games. We played a good game, especially in the 32-33 minute mark, controlling everything. We didn’t have to suffer, but in the last six or seven minutes, we watched the clock while Red Star fought. They could have turned it around, but we definitely deserved the win. We need to fight all 40 minutes, not just 32. We shared the ball well and were aggressive in some defensive reactions. We found Bruno Fernandes in the paint, the ball flowed well, but we fell apart at the end, while Red Star had three-pointers 10/15 in that moment," said Penjaroja.

Was it due to a 20-point lead or was Red Star surprising?

"They played very well at that time, using this pressing style for the whole season, and they have players who can handle it. It’s true that we had problems in the fourth quarter, we ‘disconnected,’ and that was our mistake. They worked hard and played with a lot of energy, scoring 35 points in the fourth quarter. That’s too much," emphasized Penjaroja, adding:

"I’m happy that we played well in the third quarter, especially in defense, and they had problems sharing the ball. We controlled one-on-one situations, offensive rebounds, and Nik Kalates had five or six assists. But similarly, but in reverse, it happened in the last quarter."

Did you want to create a drama in the closing moments?

"We had a 15-point lead, but we ‘disconnected,’ the game fell apart, and we had problems moving the ball. But this is a learning experience."

What did you tell the players when Red Star came within a point?

"It was a tough moment, but the team showed character. We had problems moving the ball and resolving situations. We needed to stay focused, we have that experience, and we want to have our key players on the court, especially those with good shooting percentages and from the free-throw line. The free throws by Karlik Jones were crucial, and before that, Washington made a mistake, and they came up with three easy points. This is a learning experience. It’s important that after five bad minutes, we were able to stay focused and win."

What about Nik Kalates, who is rumored to be leaving the team in the summer?

"It’s time to focus on the game. It’s not the moment to talk about any player’s future. The next game is most important."

The series winner is the team that wins two games, and the second match, which will be played on Thursday in Belgrade’s “Aleksandar Nikolić” hall, will have Red Star as the home team.