"We were wrong..." Eternal Derby EuroLeague reactions: I would show this to kids in practice! /VIDEO/

"That defense... Partizan's defense in the opening five minutes. If I were a basketball coach in Serbia, Lithuania, Latvia, Greece, Turkey, Spain—anywhere—I'd show that tape to kids in practice. The way they pushed Zvezda's players out of their comfort zones was a masterclass, a brilliant performance," said BasketNews editor Donatas Urbonas.

"Zvezda's players were just standing around, passing the ball until the shot clock ran down and someone was forced to shoot. Ball movement was a huge issue. The only ones actively moving were Partizan's players, who racked up 52 points in the first half while shooting 67% from the field with nine assists. Zvezda struggled against Partizan's defensive pressure. They had maybe one or two set plays, but Partizan shut everything down, forcing them into one-on-one isolations. They found some rhythm in the second half, which is why they managed to force overtime," the Lithuanian journalist stated.

"It's true, we were wrong. This team is much better than we anticipated. We did Partizan a disservice—we looked at the roster on paper and felt it wasn't among the most talented in the EuroLeague. But this isn't fantasy basketball; it's real life. I'd say they are my dark horse now. Individually they have weaknesses, but Peñarroya found the right roles for everyone and established a great foundation. There will be ups and downs, but the two new additions should bolster their offense. This team will surprise many, and their fans can be truly proud of them," Urbonas and Blaževičius concluded.

"Jabari Parker is no longer a Partizan player! Following the expiration of his spell at Joventut, Parker returned to Belgrade but was not part of the squad. Today, the player and the club reached a mutually agreeable solution to terminate their contract. KK Partizan wishes Jabari Parker the best of luck in his future career."