5 times this season the undefeated Novi Sad Al Wahda almost lost

BEIJING (FIBA 3x3 World Tour 2018) –27. That is the crazy winning streak Novi Sad Al Wahda (SRB) takes into the Bloomage Final in Beijing. The Serbs have not lost this season and won all five Masters they played in.

They might almost be 3x3’s Invincibles but there is hope for opponents in Beijing. Novi Sad almost lost several games during the season and needed a few miracles to maintain their unbeaten record.

Let’s have a look back at some of their great escapes.

Novi Sad Al Wahda v Belgrade: Debrecen Masters, Quarter-Final

Novi Sad’s countrymen brought it and the game was in the balance in the dying stages, With Novi Sad leading 20-19, Belgrade’s Dragan Bjelica attempted to be the hero but he was sent back by anesthetized by the Serbian surgeon Marko Savic.

You know the script – Novi Sad hangs on and eventually claim the Debrecen Masters.

 

Novi Sad Al Wahda v Riga Ghetto, Hyderabad Masters, Semi-Final

Riga needed just one basket to finish off Novi Sad but Karlis Lasmanis couldn’t take off on flight KLM and he was denied twice at the rim by Dejan Majstorovic and the Maestro was the hero by coldly draining the game-winner.

Once again, Novi Sad proved they have more lives than a cat.

 

 Novi Sad Al Wahda v Liman Tesla Voda, Lausanne Masters, Final

The game was tied at 20 between the two great rivals and this was the closest Novi Sad was to defeat during the Masters. Aleksandar Ratkov just needed to convert the simple layup but the moment was too big and he blew it.

You have got to knock Novi Sad out and Liman missed their chance. Marko Savic drained the game-winner as Novi Sad again pulled off a miracle.  

 

Novi Sad Al Wahda v Liman Tesla Voda, Saskatoon Masters, Final

Liman just have not been able to get past Novi Sad this year. Maybe Beijing will be different but, right now, there are only painful memories playing against their arch-rivals.

In the Saskatoon Final, it was another epic encounter and Aleksandar Ratkov could have sent it to overtime but his shot rimmed out. Different season, different outcome: we all remember Ratkov’s crazy game-winner against Novi Sad Al Wahda last year in Debrecen. 

 

Novi Sad Al Wahda v Delhi 3BL, pool stage Hyderabad Masters

Novi Sad struggled against physical hosts Delhi, who were not intimidated by the Serbs.

Delhi led 17-15 with victory in sight but you know what happened next. The Serbs put on their superhero capes to score six straight points with Dusan Bulut aka Mr. Bullutproof finishing the deal to prove no team plays better in the clutch than Novi Sad. 

 

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