Cinkarna Celje Cruise as Montana 2003 Edge Bulgarian Derby in Overtime

07 Oct 2026

It was a day of contrasting dramas in the WABA League as the regional powerhouses showcased both ruthless dominance and ice-cold composure under pressure.

While Cinkarna Celje put on an absolute clinical masterclass to dismantle Tresnjevka 2009 by 30 points, Montana 2003 had to fight tooth and nail in a breathtaking overtime thriller against Rilski Sportist to claim the bragging rights in the season’s first Bulgarian derby.

2026-27 WABA League – Group A:

Saturday, October 3

Group A – Samokov (Arena Samelyon)

Rilski Sportist-Montana 2003 87-88 (18-16, 14-22, 30-22, 17-19 – 8-9) OT FULL STATS FULL GAME VIDEO GALLERY

The closing moments of regulation were packed with intense drama. With Rilski Sportist leading 76-73, Marie Kenembeni missed two crucial free throws that could have extended the hosts’ advantage. Montana capitalized immediately, stringing together six consecutive points to shift the momentum. However, Marie Kenembeni quickly redeemed herself, scoring a crucial basket with just 32 seconds remaining to tie the game at 79-79.

In the final seconds of regulation, both teams squandered golden opportunities to seal the victory. First, Daniela Wallen missed a potential game-winner for Montana 2003, and Patricia Bura grabbed the offensive rebound but missed the follow-up putback. In the final possession of regulation, Radina Ilieva missed a buzzer-beating three-pointer for the home team as time expired.

As the game moved into the extra period, Montana 2003 struck first. Jovana Savkovix drained a clutch three-pointer to open the scoring in overtime. Montana 2003 held onto the lead until the final minute, when Denitza Manolova converted a crucial basket to give Rilski Sportist their only lead of the overtime period at 87-86.

The game was ultimately decided at the charity stripe, where Daniela Wallen calmly sank her free throws to regain the lead for Montana 2003. In the dying seconds, Rilski Sportist had one final chance, but Montana’s former captain, Gabriela Nikolova, missed a potential game-winning three-pointer as the buzzer sounded.

Daniela Wallen put on a spectacular individual performance for Montana 2003, leading all players with a game-high efficiency rating of 32 after contributing 27 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists in nearly 41 minutes of action. Jovana Savkovic also stepped up big for the winning side, adding 18 points and 3 assists, while Patricia Bura dominated the boards with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. India Farcy reached double figures as well, chipping in 11 points and 4 assists.

For Rilski Sportist, Marie Kenembeni anchored the team with a powerful performance, scoring 28 points and grabbing 6 rebounds to achieve a team-high efficiency rating of 26. Yanina Todorova provided efficient offense with 18 points and 5 rebounds, while Ivana Boneva orchestrated the floor brilliantly by dishing out 9 assists to go along with her 12 points. Denitza Manolova rounded out the top contributors for the home side with 11 points. Following this thrilling regional battle, Montana 2003 turns its focus to international duties with their opening match in the European Cup next week. Due to their busy continental schedule, the Bulgarian side will take a prolonged break from WABA League action, with their next regional game scheduled for December 9 against Sibenik.

Preslav Peshev, Head Coach of Montana 2003:

Group B – Celje (Gimnazija Center Celje)

Cinkarna Celje-Trešnjevka 2009 83-53 (22-9, 23-11, 19-17, 19-16) FULL STATS FULL GAME VIDEO GALLERY

Cinkarna Celje secured a commanding 83-53 victory against Tresnjevka 2009, showcasing absolute dominance from the opening whistle. The Slovenian powerhouse left no room for doubt, turning the match into a one-sided affair early in the first half.

Cinkarna Celje opened the game with an aggressive 10-2 run, immediately establishing their rhythm. Shortly after, they dismantled the visitors’ defense with 15 consecutive points. By the 13th minute, the scoreline surged to a staggering 32-9, effectively deciding the outcome of the match before halftime.

A key highlight of Celje’s offensive masterclass was their exceptional ball movement and depth from beyond the arc. An incredible eight different players converted at least one three-pointer, pushing Celje to a total of 14 made shots from deep (41% accuracy) compared to Tresnjevka’s mere 4 conversions.

Raneem Elgedawy anchored the paint with a team-high 18 points and 8 rebounds, while Zorana Radonjic delivered a highly efficient performance, contributing 16 points (including 4/8 from three-point range) and 6 assists, and Nika Baric added 10 points.

Karolina Sare paced the Croatian squad with 18 points in a losing effort, Iva Tabak came off the bench for 11 points and Tetiana Tkachenko had 10 points.

Due to their upcoming commitments in the European Cup, Cinkarna Celje will take a prolonged break from regional action. They are scheduled to play their next WABA League match on December 8.

Damir Grgic, Head Coach of Cinkarna Celje: