Navarro finally breaks the ice as Zvezda uncover winning blueprint for the season

It was neither easy nor pretty, but in the end, it is the result that counts. Following back-to-back defeats against Zalgiris and Hapoel, the red-and-whites faced a must-win scenario in Belgrade—starting the campaign with three straight home losses would have sounded early alarm bells for the rest of the season.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet rose to the occasion against a direct playoff contender. Surviving late drama and an open look from Collin Malcolm at the buzzer, they clinched a crucial victory that brings a huge sigh of relief.

Ibon Navarro has finally secured his first official win as Crvena Zvezda head coach. If anyone earned it, it was him.

The Spanish tactician has stayed firmly committed to his philosophy and vision for how Zvezda should play from day one, and his persistence was justly rewarded on Thursday night.

Zvezda looked significantly better than in their opening two rounds. The hosts successfully contained a potent offense to just 72 points, pulling off the win despite shooting poorly from beyond the arc and at the free-throw line.

The intense pressure will now ease, affording Navarro a much-needed period of stability to continue developing the squad and implementing his system.

Speaking after the game, Navarro emphasized the goal of having multiple players capable of catching fire and deciding games, making it harder for opponents to key in on a single threat.

Tyson Carter stepped up as that catalyst. Fans have waited patiently for him after a challenging debut season and a sluggish start to the current campaign. Having developed strong chemistry with Navarro at Unicaja, Carter retained the coach's trust and repaid it emphatically on Thursday.

When Zvezda's offense stalled, Carter stepped into the spotlight. With Efes cutting the deficit to a single point, the guard pushed the momentum back, first with a clutch three-pointer and then with a mid-range jumper. Despite a late turnover that could have proved costly, he redeemed himself at the charity stripe to seal the victory.

Carter has plenty to offer and knows Navarro's system inside out; the fans just need to believe in him.

The battle against Efes offered a clear glimpse of the formula Zvezda should follow moving forward. As Navarro pointed out, it was far from perfect—especially on the offensive end—but the red-and-whites delivered an outstanding defensive display against a star-studded squad featuring Mike James, Jordan Loyd, Dario Saric, and more.

From the opening tip, the hosts maintained relentless focus on defense, forcing contested shots and battling for every loose ball. The hustle was reflected on the stat sheet, with Zvezda grabbing 13 offensive boards and forcing 10 steals.

Ognjen Dobric looked very sharp, particularly alongside David Kramer—a pairing highlighted by Navarro during his post-match press conference. Johnathan Motley also displayed great commitment before his injury, as did Nick Weiler-Babb, who continues to do the dirty work despite offensive struggles.

Zvezda demonstrated defensive grit and plenty of heart; it is now only a matter of time before the offensive pieces fall into place.

HIGHLIGHTS: Zvezda grind out gritty win as Efes fall at the Arena!