BANJALUKA IN THE SIGN OF BASKETBALL AND A MAJOR ANNIVERSARY

Banjaluka is celebrating youth, basketball and a major club anniversary this weekend. Basketball Club Radivoj Korać is marking its 30th anniversary, while the 23rd Memorial Tournament dedicated to one of the greatest basketball players in the history of Yugoslavia, after whom the club was named, is being held as part of the jubilee celebrations.

PHOTO: Detalj sa turnira

The organizers have divided the six participating teams into two groups. Group A features Borac from Banjaluka, Sloboda from Užice and Maks from Banjaluka, while Group B includes Igokea from Aleksandrovac, Rilvej from Sarajevo and Ruki from Banjaluka.

Igokea enters the tournament as the defending champion.

The organizers said they had made every effort to ensure that the tournament would be worthy of the club's 30th anniversary.

“We wanted the Memorial Tournament to be organized in the best possible way in the year when our club is celebrating 30 years of work. As every year, we have done our best to make everything run smoothly. This is especially important because we carry the name of one of the greats of Yugoslav basketball, and we wanted to show that we are worthy of his legacy,” the organizers said.

They added that six high-quality teams will take part and invited basketball and sports fans to attend the games at the Obilićevo Sports Hall over the next three days.

“Young players and the future of this sport will be on the court, so spectators will certainly be able to enjoy high-quality games. Last season, the atmosphere was excellent, and this year we have made an additional effort to inform the public so that the stands are even fuller,” they said.

MARKO ŠĆEKIĆ TO PROMOTE THE TOURNAMENT

The tournament's promoter is Borac head coach Marko Šćekić.

The organizers have also prepared a special programme to mark the club's 30th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, Basketball Club Radivoj Korać produced a documentary film about its history, which was screened ahead of the official opening of the tournament.

A TOURNAMENT IN HONOUR OF A BASKETBALL LEGEND

The Banjaluka club continues to preserve the memory of Radivoj Korać, one of the most celebrated basketball players from the former Yugoslavia, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield two years ago.

Known by his nickname “Žućko”, Korać left an indelible mark on European and Yugoslav basketball with his distinctive style of play and remarkable scoring records.

One of the most famous achievements of his career remains his incredible 99-point performance against Swedish side Alvik, a record that continues to be remembered as one of the most extraordinary scoring feats in basketball history.

The 23rd Memorial Tournament is therefore not only a celebration of young basketball talent, but also a tribute to a sporting legend whose name continues to inspire new generations of players.