Partizan NIS Belgrade rallied from a 13-point deficit, to down Canarias Basketball Academy 69-59 on Friday night at the Belgrade NIJT Qualifying Tournament. Both teams hold 1-1 record in Group B, and both remain with a chance to advance to the Saturday’s semifinals. Canarias opened the game with 7-20 lead, but Partizan caught up with a 13-0 run, and took 32-30 lead into halftime. Defenses took over after the break, and Canarias held 40-43 after three quarters, but Vanja Marinkovic and Milos Glisic scored big baskets in a 12-0 run that put Partizan up for good. Marinkovic sealed it at the end, pacing the winners with 21 points. The 15-year old Glisic had 17 points and 5 steals, while Ivan Bojanic collected 15 points plus 8 rebounds in victory. Janicek led Canarias with20 points, and Chris Tang had 19 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in defeat.

Canarias dominated from the start, going inside to Janicek, while Tang nailed three triples, and Issa Thaim added one for 7-20. Glisic and Bojanic got Partizan going, answering with a 13-0 run capped with a jumper and a triple from Bojanic. Janicek continued going strong from close range, keep Canarias in front, but Partizan finished the half with an 8-0 run that included triples from Sava Dukic and Marinkovic for Partizan’s first lead, 32-30 at halftime. Basket were few and far between at the start of the third quarter, Yankuba Sima and Janicek put Canarias back in front, and Tang’s triple made it 36-40. But Glisic and Marinkovic kept Partizan within a single possession, 40-43 after three quarters, and Marinkovic hit a triple to start the fourth, sparking a 12-0 run capped with a basket-plus-free throw from Glisic for 52-43. Janicek kept Canarias’ hopes alive, Jordan Blount nailed a triple, and Pablo Martin stole the ball for an easy layup and 56-53. But Marinkovic hit a jumper-plus-foul, and had a dunk-plus-foul with 34 seconds to go, making it 62-55 and sealing the deal.