Regional Basketball Returns to Baldekin: Sibenik Hosts Rilski Sportist

After a victorious road return to the regional stage, Sibenik will play its first WABA League home game in over 15 years, hosting a resilient Rilski Sportist side hungry for their first win.

The WABA League action moves to the iconic Baldekin sports hall tomorrow for a highly anticipated Group A matchup between Sibenik and Rilski Sportist. Home fans have plenty of reasons to be excited, as their team has enjoyed a flawless, historic start to the 2026/27 season on both domestic and regional fronts.

Sibenik made a triumphant return to the WABA League in the opening round, securing an impressive, statement-making away win against Buducnost Bemax (73-69). Now, regional basketball is back on home court.

Remarkably, the last time a regional league match was played at the Baldekin hall was on March 5, 2011. On that day, Jolly JBS Sibenik defeated Merkur Celje 90-65 in the Final Four semifinals. The following day was supposed to feature the grand final, but Gospic failed to show up, and the title was awarded without a fight. After more than a decade and a half, local fans’ wait is over.

Sibenik’s success is not limited to the WABA League. The team has also launched an exceptional start in the Croatian domestic championship. This past Saturday, in a thrilling rematch of last season’s playoff finals, Sibenik defeated the defending national champions, Brod na Savi, 84-76, proving they are in peak form.

On the other side of the court, Bulgaria’s Rilski Sportist arrives in Croatia looking to break a spell of heartbreaking, down-to-the-wire defeats.

The Bulgarian side has already played two WABA League games this season at their Arena Samokov, losing both in incredibly tight finishes. They fell short against Studio Zagreb, 70-75, then suffered a devastating 87-88 overtime loss to Montana 2003. Just two days after that regional battle, they faced Montana 2003 once again—this time in the Bulgarian domestic league—and suffered yet another agonizingly close defeat, 70-71.

While Rilski Sportist is currently winless, their ability to push the reigning champions to the absolute limit makes them an incredibly dangerous opponent. Sibenik will need to maintain their high-flying momentum to protect their home court in what promises to be a thrilling Group A showdown.

2026-27 WABA League – Group A

Tuesday, October 13

Sibenik-Rilski Sportist 19.30 CET (Sibenik/Baldekin)   LIVE STATS   LIVE STREAM

Stipe Bralic, Head Coach of Sibenik:

Radina Ilieva, Rilski Sportist:

Foto: ŽKK Šibenik