Buducnost Overpowers JL Bourg in Decisive Game 3 to Advance - Dejan Raicevic beats Nikolay Petkov

Montenegro's Dejan Raicevic Crushes Petkov's Cinderella Run in EuroCup Thriller

In a dominating performance that stamped his authority as the tournament's top seed, Dejan Raicevic and his Buducnost Voli Podgorica stormed into the EuroCup Quarterfinals, ending the magical debut run of Bulgarian newcomer Nikolay Petkov and his JL Bourg side. The Game 3 playoff decider was never truly in question, as Buducnost dismantled JL Bourg 76-44 in what was one of the most lopsided matches of the Cyber EuroCup's Top 16.

Buducnost - JL Bourg ; Dejan Raicevic vs Nikolay Petkov - Game 3

From the tip-off, Raicevic left no doubt. Buducnost opened the game on a 20-8 run, putting immediate pressure on the underdog Petkov. The second quarter mirrored the first—another 21-8 barrage that left Bourg stunned and trailing by 25 at halftime. Although the French squad showed brief signs of life in the third, matching Buducnost's 22 points, the final quarter collapsed into a six-point effort by Bourg as their dream ended with a 32-point blowout.

The sheer dominance by Buducnost wasn't just on the scoreboard—it was in every detail of the stat sheet. Raicevic's squad outshot their opponents across all major categories: they hit 44% from the field compared to Bourg's struggling 30%, and an explosive 37% from deep (15-of-41) while Bourg managed only a miserable 2-of-21 (10%).

Fast breaks told the story of energy and aggression: Buducnost ran the floor for 30 fast break points against just 9 from Bourg. Second-chance opportunities? Buducnost had 5, Bourg had zero. Bench production? 36 points from the Montenegrin bench completely dwarfed Bourg's 24. Even in rebounds, Buducnost pulled away, particularly on defense (41 defensive rebounds vs. Bourg's 36).

While Bourg struggled to get any rhythm, JL Usher's 11 points were a lonely highlight for Petkov's roster. Bourg simply had no answer to the depth and defensive swarming from Raicevic's side. In contrast, Buducnost featured balanced scoring—F. Magee and D. Jovanovic led with 12 points each, while U. Azubuike added an efficient 10. Every player contributed, every possession mattered.

Raicevic, the No. 1 seed from the regular season, now turns his eyes to the Quarterfinals where he will face off against Lithuanian newcomer Lukas Vaitkevicius and his Hapoel Tel Aviv squad—a team that swept their way past Granada. The clash between a seasoned veteran and a promising rookie promises fireworks.

For Petkov, the journey ends, but the experience was a win in itself and he got his first ever post win, to force 1st seed to a decisive third game in the series.

In his first ever international season, he reached the Top 16 playoffs of the Cyber EuroCup. While Buducnost proved too tall a mountain to climb, Petkov has already confirmed his return next season and will also represent Portugal in the upcoming Cyber Eurobasket this summer. The future is bright.

Game 3: Full Game