Valentino Ravnic shines with 6/6 as PPD Zagreb cruise past Tatran
PPD Zagreb have managed to prolong good series they started after Zlatko Saracevic replaced Kasim Kamenica on their bench dominantly defeating Tatran Presov with 32:26 (17:10) in Varazdin sports hall. Hosts were from the first minute a better opponent both in defense and attack. Valentino Ravnic opened the match good scoring some easy transition goals to put Zagreb four goals up after only 15 minutes. 'Lions' kept on widening the gap until the end of the first when Igor Vori netted one for +7 (17:10) right before the half-time whistle. However, coach Slavko Goluza obviously managed to detect weak points in his team's performance in the first half changing tactics a bit during the break which resulted with Tatran playing better, with whole lot more confidence in the second half which is not a new thing for them. A little more than 10 minutes before the half they managed to cut the lead all the way to -3 but that was closest they would come today. Zlatko Horvat led Zagreb with 7 today, Valentino Ravnic was 6/6. Arijan Jovic and Urh Kastelic combined for 11 saves while on the other side Bruno Butorac once again led Tatran with 7 goals. Igor Chupryna had 9 saves.
Another good thing for PPD Zagreb fans and club intentions of reaching the final tournament is the fact they managed to beat Tatran with 6-goal difference which is just what they needed after a 5-goal loss in Presov in the first part of the season because they are now better in a direct duel against Tatran which would, in case they finish the season with the same amount of points, put 'Lions' above Slovak champions on League's table and that might end up being decisive for Final 4 placement.