Coach Stimac delivers the death blow to Donar himself in Leiden

It was the first time that the Donar basketball players visited the brand new building in Leiden, Arena 1574. The accommodation is named after the year of the relief of Leiden, when the key city was liberated from the Spanish troops by the Beggars.

The reigning national champion played until the beginning of this season in the old, but oh so familiar Vijf Meihal, where things could get so heated between the two basketball superpowers. The crowd was packed tightly in the stands, barely a meter away from the lines of the field.

Atmospheric atmosphere

Opinions were and are divided about the new multifunctional home for the residents of Leiden. Some consider it an enrichment compared to the outdated Vijf Meihal, others speak of an atmosphereless affair, despite the fact that the capacity has grown by several hundred places to 2,500.

There weren’t any against Donar this time, although the sports hall was still reasonably filled for the poster that could previously be described as a cracker. This season, after all the financial troubles of last summer, the people of Groningen are clearly less fortunate than the people of Leiden when the selections are put next to each other. This is now also clearly reflected in the standings of the BNXT League. While Leiden has only lost one game, Donar has slipped to fifth place.

Better weapons

Yet the difference on the field was not as big as the rankings suggested. Donar, which started the job with Dakota Quinn, Justinas Ramanauskas, David Gabrovsek, John Meeks and Sander Hollanders, even took the lead in the opening phase (2-7). At 11-11 the home club came alongside for the first time thanks to a three-pointer from Tajion Jones and from 16-16 Donar lost control of the game.

Coach Andrej Stimac tried to turn the tide with a time out, but there was no stopping it. Leiden jumped out to a 25-18 lead at the end of the first quarter. As mentioned, Leiden is better equipped in terms of weapons than the Groningers this season. The club that won all trophies in its own country last season and currently also plays in Europe has better playmakers and more players with a sharp three-point shot.

No blame

This year Donar will mainly rely on a healthy dose of work ethic. In that respect, coach Stimac’s men could hardly be blamed, as they fought their way back into the match in Arena 1574. With a hard dunk, Theo John tied the score again in the second quarter (29-29). Then the best and most stable American on the Donar side this season, John Meeks, showed his team the way. The 24-year-old forward formed a solid finish under the basket and put Groningen ahead again (35-39).

There might even have been a stunt in Leiden if Donar had not been so careless with ball possession. The Groningen team gave away the ball to the home club no fewer than nineteen times, compared to eight turn overs for Leiden. That turned out to be too much of a good thing. With character, the northerners managed to catch up again after deficits of 71-63 and 76-69, but in the final phase Leiden delivered the final blow.

Death blow

Coach Stimac was partly to blame. The Croat was unable to hold back against the referee and had to leave the room after two technical fouls due to comments on the lead. On behalf of Leiden, Luuk van Bree cashed in the two free throws allocated and from the possession that followed, Groninger in Leiden service Maarten Bouwknecht hit a three-pointer. This made it 83-72, the death blow for Donar, which does not seem to be able to rise above the gray mid-table of the Premier League this season. In a week and a half, Stimac and his men can take part in the rematch when Leiden visits Martiniplaza.