Ives Atienza Eliminates Jovan Gvozdic in Wild 3-Game Thriller Before Forfeit Finish
- Euroleague
- Jun 18
- 2 min read
In the Cyber Euroleague Top 16 showdown, Partizan Mozzart Bet, controlled by Ives Atienza from the Philippines, survived a rollercoaster three-game battle before sealing the series 3-1 after Jovan Gvozdic forfeited Game 4. The LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne gamer exits the competition not only out of the playoffs but also facing uncertainty over future licensing in the league.
This was a brutal, high-intensity series fought on the NBA2K25 battleground, and although it ended with a whimper off the court, it delivered nothing but fireworks during actual gameplay.
Cyber Euroleague Game Recap: Partizan vs ASVEL / Ives Atienza vs Jovan Gvozdic
Game 1 of Ives Atienza vs Jovan Gvozdic saw Ives make a strong opening statement with Partizan. A 23-18 first quarter gave him early control, and despite LDLC ASVEL's response in the third, Partizan closed with a strong fourth to take an 82-76 victory. Vanja Marinkovic led the charge with 16 points, while Cory Jones and Bonga brought energy on both ends.
Game 2 was the response Gvozdic needed. ASVEL came out determined, outscoring Partizan in three of the four quarters, and pulling off an 88-79 bounce-back win. Theo Maledon dropped 29 points and orchestrated ASVEL’s offense with poise. Despite Frank Ntilikina’s surprise 15-point performance for Partizan, the series was now tied.
Game 3 was a classic. A back-and-forth slugfest that went to overtime, with both teams scoring 14 points in a tense third quarter. ASVEL’s Maledon exploded for 47 points, but his heroics were matched by Cory Jones's 30-point double-double (9 assists) to power Partizan to a 99-94 OT win. The shooting splits told the story: ASVEL attempted 84 shots to Partizan’s 74 but couldn’t overcome Partizan’s deadly 52% from three-point range.
With momentum heavily tilted in favor of Atienza’s side, the expected Game 4 showdown never materialized—Gvozdic forfeited, handing Partizan the 3-1 series victory and advancement to the Cyber Euroleague Quarterfinals.
Why ASVEL Fell Short in the Cyber Euroleague Series
Despite Theo Maledon's stellar numbers across the series (averaging over 35 PPG), ASVEL lacked team depth, which became glaring in close moments. The support cast struggled to keep up with the two-way flow of Partizan’s unit.
Partizan’s balanced production, highlighted by clutch plays from Cory Jones, Vanja Marinkovic, and veteran spacing from S. Brown and Bonga, allowed them to keep pace in every quarter. Their superior three-point efficiency, bench points, and second-chance scoring proved decisive.
Even in ASVEL’s Game 2 win, cracks were evident. They shot just 22% from the free throw line—a sign of pressure affecting execution. Game 3’s overtime collapse despite Maledon’s career performance confirmed the inevitable: Partizan was the more composed, complete team.
