Yago Dos Santos Gives Zvezda a Scare in High-Scoring Win Over Vienna
BELGRADE – It was a night of mixed emotions at the Aleksandar Nikolić Hall as Crvena Zvezda extended their ABA League winning streak to eight games with a 108–99 victory over BC Vienna. However, the headlines were nearly stolen by a frightening moment involving star playmaker Yago dos Santos.
The Incident
Early in the first quarter, the arena went silent when Dos Santos collapsed in visible pain. The Brazilian guard was inadvertently stepped on by Vienna’s Gregor Glas (a former Partizan player), appearing to catch a significant blow to his foot.
The sight of Yago being helped off the court sent ripples of anxiety through the Zvezda faithful, especially with a critical EuroLeague double-week and a clash against Dubai Basketball looming.
A Warrior’s Return
In a testament to his toughness, the “Little Giant” didn’t stay in the locker room for long. After receiving medical attention and a heavy tape job, Yago returned to the court late in the second quarter to a standing ovation.
Not only did he play through the discomfort, but he thrived. Filling in for the rested Codi Miller-McIntyre, Yago finished the night as one of the game’s central figures:
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Points: 15
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Assists: 6
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Efficiency Index (PIR): 19
Status Moving Forward
Despite his heroic return, Yago’s status for the immediate future remains “under watch.” Speaking after the game, coach Saša Obradović expressed relief that the injury wasn’t as catastrophic as it first looked but noted that the medical team would monitor swelling overnight.
“It’s always a worry when you see a player go down like that,” Obradović said. “Jago showed his heart tonight, but we have to be smart. We have a massive flight and a battle in the EuroLeague ahead of us.”
Game Highlights
While Yago provided the drama, Jordan Nwora provided the fire, leading all scorers with 23 points. The Red-and-Whites dominated the paint, with Ebuka Izundu (11 pts) and Dejan Davidovac (11 pts, 8 reb) controlling the glass. The win moves Zvezda to an 11–3 record in ABA League Group B, firmly keeping them in the hunt for the top seed.
Zvezda fans will be holding their breath for the official medical report tomorrow morning before the team travels for their next European assignment.
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