The Walls of Pionir Will Speak of This: Peñarroya's Masterclass Explains a Few Things to Obradović

The Spanish coach had Crvena Zvezda's game plan down to a science. Everything that worked well for Saša Obradović's team was nowhere to be seen in this series. His decisions were more than just correct; they were spot-on. The substitutions and the timing of player introductions were perfect. The former Barcelona coach displayed a timing and feel for the game that belonged in a basketball clinic. The composure with which he managed this game, and indeed this team since March-April, deserves absolute praise.

The pivotal moment in the second game was undoubtedly the introduction of Nick Calathes. Peñarroya recognized that Karlik was struggling, not fully "present" at the start of the match. Bringing in the Greek guard brought something Partizan had long lacked: stability. Calathes was the coach's extended arm; his three-pointer ignited a barrage of similar shots, and he consistently found solutions and timely passes that dismantled Zvezda's defense.

"Reading" is an understatement for what Partizan did to Zvezda in these two games. Their defense was almost perfect, but Joan Peñarroya's masterstroke in this series was consistently feeding the ball to his centers, a tactic that succeeded in nearly 90% of attempts. Tonye Jekiri and Bruno Fernando were gifted easy points, time and again.

They exploited Zvezda's tendency to switch on almost everything, and Tyson Carter, Dobrić, Kalinić – no one could stop them. They were taller, stronger, and seemed to possess more desire, sending a clear message to the opposition who had no idea how to counter it. Obradović was completely outmaneuvered in this chess match.

It was evident what the Black and Whites' intentions were for the remainder of the game. Exactly the same. Pick-and-roll, ball down low, and the result was consistent. That's a coach's signature. A significant advantage is that both Fernando and Jekiri are adept at dishing out passes to open three-point shooters, and Partizan capitalized heavily on this. Again, Peñarroya's coaching imprint. With this kind of play, approach, and desire, the Black and Whites are favorites to defend their ABA League title, whether their opponent is Dubai or Budućnost. This man has earned it, as he has shown immense desire and, more importantly, immense courage from day one.

VIDEO: Partizan, fueled by Washington, dances in the Arena; Zvezda can't keep up with the Black and Whites' rhythm