The Cat Finally Runs Out of Lives

• You could follow the final showdown between FMP and Spartak Subotica live on the Sportal website.

Whoever won, it would have been well-deserved. Simply by dispatching the eternal Belgrade rivals in the semi-final matches, ensuring that Serbia, for the first time since becoming an independent, unitary state, would crown a champion that was neither Partizan nor Crvena Zvezda, Spartak Subotica and FMP had already done enough.

They showed everyone that basketball in Serbia is played beyond the Belgrade Arena (or Pionir), and that trophies can be won with local (when we say local, we mean from "these parts") or more affordable players. That success doesn't always require millions and legions of expensive (and often overrated) American players.

Saša Nikitović's squad trailed throughout the entire game, facing a massive 13-point deficit midway through the final quarter. However, thanks primarily to the phenomenal Filip Barna (who finished the game with 27 points), they forced overtime and were on the verge of victory.

The Panthers tried everything to snatch the win, fighting tooth and nail, but this time, the cat ultimately ran out of its nine lives.

Despite gambling and almost losing a triumph they practically had in their grasp, the Subotica team found enough strength and composure in overtime to quell FMP's fierce surge and regain momentum.

Olivier Hanlan and Igor Drobnjak were most responsible for Spartak's victory, combining for 38 points (the Canadian with 25, and the Montenegrin with 12 less). In addition to filling FMP's basket to the brim, Vladimir Jovanović's potent backcourt duo also played excellent defense and, one way or another (whether through assists, ball movement, or extra passes), contributed to almost all of Spartak's points.

Danilo Nikolić also made a huge contribution, ultimately scoring the game-winning basket.

In their historic quest for the title, Spartak's basketball players had – considering that Čair was half-empty – solid fan support, as the club, emboldened by reaching the final, organized free transport from Subotica to Niš for all interested supporters.

Around a hundred, perhaps slightly more, Spartak fans gathered in the lower tier of the Čair arena, providing passionate support to their basketball players for all 45 minutes.

In overtime, when it mattered most, the Subotica supporters were at their loudest. They spurred their players towards victory, and in the end, triumphantly unfurled a banner across the entire stand: Spartak champions!

VIDEO The reign of terror by Partizan and Crvena Zvezda is over: Spartak is the champion of Serbia!