Ibon Navarro's first official game outside Spain ended in defeat. Crvena Zvezda fell 77-83 to Zalgiris in Belgrade in a matchup decided in the final minutes, with Jonas Valanciunas's return to competition playing a major role in the outcome.
Lithuanian Start
Zalgiris came out strong and put together an 11-0 run that gave them a ten-point lead seven minutes into the game (11-21). That opening set the tone for the rest of the matchup, though Crvena Zvezda responded before halftime and went into the break ahead.
From there, it was a constant battle with neither team able to pull away.
The Decisive Stretch
The game was decided in the final five minutes. A three-pointer by Nigel Williams-Goss made it 72-75 at the 37-minute mark, and then Edwards appeared after checking in for Valanciunas to score and make it 73-77 with 2:09 remaining.
Chima Moneke brought the hosts within striking distance at 75-78 with 1:25 left, but Edwards answered immediately with a layup (75-80) with 49 seconds to go. From there, Zalgiris clamped down on defense and Brown's free throws sealed the victory.
Valanciunas Returns
The Lithuanian center's return to EuroLeague was one of the focal points of the day. It marks his second appearance in the competition, fifteen years after his stint with Rytas in the 2010-11 season.
At 34 years old, he posted 13 points, 8 rebounds, and a game-high 24 in efficiency rating. Williams-Goss, fresh off a contract extension through 2029, added 14 points and 6 assists.
Crvena Zvezda's Debut
On the Serbian side, Chris Jones led the way with 15 points and 8 assists. Jared Butler, David Krämer, and Moneke finished with 11, 11, and 10 points respectively.
It wasn't enough for Ibon Navarro to begin his Belgrade tenure with a win. The Vitoria-born head coach arrived this summer from Unicaja, where he won seven titles in four and a half years, with an explicit mandate to lead the club to the playoffs.