Red Star beat Laboral Kutxa to clinch second place in group

BELGRADE - Red Star Belgrade beat Spain's Laboral Kutxa Vitoria 90-82 (18-18, 28-27, 24-18, 20-19) at home late Friday to reach the Top 16 stage of the basketball Euroleague as the second-placed team in Group D.

Head coach Dejan Radonjic's team will play in Group E of the Top 16 stage, with third-placed Laboral Kutxa going to Group F.

Williams (23p), Marjanovic (12p), Blazic (11p) and Mitrovic (10p) lead the hosts to victory, with Bertans (16p), Tillie (14p) and James (13p) leading the scorers for the visiting team.

The game was played behind closed doors following the Euroleague's unjust decision to punish Red Star for the crowd trouble that erupted before last month's game against Galatasaray in Istanbul, when Red Star supporter Marko Ivkovic was killed by the Turkish fans.

However, the tickets for Friday's game did go on sale, with part of the proceeds to go to Ivkovic's family.

Photos of ticket owners were symbolically attached to the seats in Pionir Hall in support of the home team, and part of the proceeds will cover the EUR 50,000 fine handed down by the Euroleague.

Photo Tanjug/M. Milivojevic (illustration)