Zvezda's Formula for Triumph Is Simple: Control the Glass, Secure the Win!

The red-and-whites flashed their rebounding potential as early as round two. Against Hapoel, they grabbed a staggering 51 rebounds—a remarkable tally despite coming in a defeat. It served as a clear indicator of Zvezda's athleticism and, crucially, their ability to box out dominant rebounders.

Now, that hard work has paid off. The red-and-whites hauled in 41 rebounds against Dubai. Achieving that against a roster boasting Diakite, Kabengele, and other top-tier rebounders on both ends of the floor seems almost surreal. Dejan Davidovac pulled down five himself, while Nwora grabbed seven. Boxing out those players and controlling the boards was crucial, as winning games in the EuroLeague without doing so is an uphill battle.

That is why controlling the glass matters so much. An old coaching adage dictates that if you win the rebounding battle, you win the game. While it offers no guarantees, numbers like these show why that unwritten rule holds true. Doing so against an athletically formidable team like Dubai makes it all the more impressive. If Zvezda continues to out-rebound their opponents in this manner, future rivals will have their hands full.

The red-and-whites restricted Dubai to a mere 58 points in the contest—the lowest scoring mark the Middle Eastern side has posted in the EuroLeague. It stands as a proud benchmark that demonstrates Zvezda's absolute defensive dominance. A look at the stat sheet reveals 29 defensive rebounds, eight steals, and two blocks for the red-and-whites.

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