The Captain Proved Once Again Why He Belongs on the Floor

Pulse Sports Team 21:10 - 01 October 2026

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet captured their first win of the season, overcoming Anadolu Efes 77:72 in EuroLeague Round 3 at the Belgrade Arena, with captain Ognjen Dobric playing an instrumental role in the triumph.

Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet vs. Anadolu Efes was covered live on Sportal

Crvena Zvezda have finally broken the ice. The pressure was palpable right from tip-off, leaving the red-and-whites with no room for error after dropping their opening two home games. However, Ibon Navarro's men stepped up to claim their first victory of the season.

At least once a season, a game comes along where Ognjen Dobric gets his opportunity, seizes it with both hands, only to quickly revert back to being the 11th or 12th man in the rotation. After this performance, Zvezda fans can only hope history will not repeat itself.

Dobric may have struggled with his shooting efficiency on the night, but he proved once again why he remains a crowd favorite. He was the catalyst behind everything Zvezda built, as the team broke down their Turkish opponents primarily through relentless defense—and it all began with their captain.

Dobric decisively won his individual matchup against Mike James, whose night unfortunately ended prematurely due to a severe injury. Even before that moment, James had been kept in check, tallying just 11 points on 4-of-13 shooting from the field alongside a performance index rating of just four.

Handed a starting spot this time around, the captain repaid Navarro's trust in the best possible fashion. Dobric found crucial early points when few others could, brought the home crowd to their feet with offensive rebounds, and consistently forced James into tough, contested looks.

The Spanish play-caller rotated his lineup and rewarded Dobric with 22 minutes on the hardwood—with only Semi Ojeleye and Nick Weiler-Babb seeing more action. Dobric pulled down seven rebounds, including two on the offensive glass, and recorded four steals as Zvezda finished the contest with 13 total takeaways.

It may not have been flawless, and he missed a couple of shots that could have put the game out of reach earlier, but his energy and determination are qualities the Zvezda faithful know how to appreciate. Above all, he may have set the blueprint for how Zvezda need to play moving forward if they want to keep winning games.