The defeat was Brod na Savi's second consecutive loss in the 2026/27 EuroCup Women campaign, following their 79–44 setback against Spanish side Hozono Global Jairis in the opening round. Despite the disappointing results, the Croatian club are gaining valuable experience in their first European campaign after winning a historic domestic championship title earlier this year.
Promising Start Gives Brod na Savi Early Hope
Brod na Savi entered the contest determined to deliver a stronger performance than in their opening European fixture, and the hosts immediately showed greater confidence in both attack and defence. Led by American guard Zaay Green, the Croatian champions started aggressively, using quick transitions and effective defensive pressure to unsettle their Hungarian opponents. Their energetic approach helped them establish a 7–2 lead, forcing DVTK to call an early timeout in an attempt to regain control.
The home side continued building momentum and eventually extended their advantage to seven points at 17–10. Green was particularly influential during this period, creating scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates while demonstrating the attacking quality that has made her an important member of the Croatian squad. Brod na Savi's defensive intensity also prevented DVTK from developing their usual offensive rhythm, allowing the hosts to maintain control for much of the opening quarter.
However, the Hungarian visitors gradually recovered as the first period approached its conclusion. DVTK increased their defensive pressure, improved their ball movement and began finding more opportunities close to the basket. Although Brod na Savi managed to finish the opening quarter with a narrow 20–19 advantage, the visitors had already shown signs of finding their rhythm.
The competitive opening offered encouragement for the home supporters, demonstrating that Brod na Savi could challenge a strong European opponent when maintaining their defensive discipline and attacking intensity. Unfortunately for the Croatian champions, that level of performance proved difficult to sustain throughout the remainder of the match.
DVTK Take Control and Punish Croatian Mistakes
The momentum changed significantly during the second quarter as DVTK began taking advantage of Brod na Savi's defensive weaknesses. The Hungarian side increased the tempo, forced turnovers and used their superior presence around the basket to create high-percentage scoring opportunities. What had initially been a closely balanced contest gradually moved in the visitors' favour as the Croatian team struggled to maintain their early efficiency.
DVTK's ability to control the rebounds became increasingly important, allowing them to create additional possessions and prevent Brod na Savi from establishing any consistent attacking momentum. The visitors combined effective interior scoring with improved perimeter movement, forcing the Croatian defence to cover more space and creating gaps that were repeatedly exploited.
The decisive stretch came towards the end of the first half and continued after the interval, when DVTK produced a scoring run that effectively settled the outcome. Brod na Savi struggled to respond, with their attacking possessions becoming less productive as the Hungarian team's defensive organisation improved. Despite occasional positive contributions from Green and her teammates, the hosts were unable to reduce the growing deficit.
DVTK maintained their dominance throughout the second half, controlling the pace and preventing Brod na Savi from mounting a serious comeback. The Hungarian visitors continued to attack efficiently and extended their advantage until the final buzzer confirmed an emphatic 89–56 victory. The result reflected the difference in consistency between the two teams, with DVTK successfully overcoming a difficult start before taking complete control of the encounter.
Zaay Green Shines Despite Difficult Defeat
Although Brod na Savi were unable to challenge DVTK over the full 40 minutes, Zaay Green delivered an impressive individual performance and emerged as the standout player for the Croatian champions. The American guard finished with 24 points, four rebounds and six assists, contributing significantly to her team's offensive production while also taking responsibility during difficult stretches of the contest.
Green's performance was particularly encouraging given the quality of the opposition. Her ability to create opportunities, attack the basket and involve teammates provided Brod na Savi with their most consistent source of offence. However, the Croatian side struggled to find sufficient scoring support, making it increasingly difficult to compete once DVTK began establishing a substantial advantage.
For the Hungarian visitors, Fanni Szabó led the scoring with 20 points, producing an efficient attacking display that helped her team maintain control. Nicole Enabosi was equally important, recording a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Her dominance around the basket was particularly influential, providing DVTK with a significant advantage in physical contests and second-chance opportunities.
The contributions of Szabó and Enabosi highlighted DVTK's greater depth and offensive balance. While Brod na Savi relied heavily on Green's individual quality, the visitors benefited from multiple scoring options and a more consistent collective performance. That difference ultimately proved decisive as DVTK secured their second victory of the EuroCup Women campaign.
European Experience Remains Valuable for Croatian Champions
Brod na Savi's participation in the EuroCup Women represents an important milestone in the club's history. After claiming their first Croatian women's basketball championship in May 2026, the team earned direct qualification for the group stage of Europe's second-tier women's club basketball competition. The achievement marked a major step forward for basketball in Slavonski Brod and provided the club with an opportunity to compete against internationally established opponents.
The Croatian champions were drawn into Group E alongside Spanish side Hozono Global Jairis, Hungarian club DVTK HUNTHERM and Greek representatives Panathlitikos Sykeon. The group presents a demanding challenge, particularly for a team experiencing European competition at this level for the first time. DVTK's presence is especially significant because the Hungarian club entered the EuroCup after failing to qualify for the main stage of EuroLeague Women, illustrating the quality of opposition Brod na Savi must overcome.
Despite suffering two heavy defeats, the Croatian side have shown glimpses of their potential. Their strong opening quarter against DVTK demonstrated that they can compete effectively during individual phases of a match, particularly when combining aggressive defence with quick attacking transitions. However, maintaining that intensity for 40 minutes remains a major challenge, especially against opponents with greater European experience and deeper squads.
The match also exposed areas requiring improvement, including defensive rebounding, protecting possession and maintaining offensive consistency under pressure. Addressing those weaknesses will be crucial if Brod na Savi hope to improve their performances in the remaining group-stage fixtures. While qualification for the next phase has become more difficult following two consecutive defeats, the European campaign continues to offer important opportunities for individual and collective development.
For the club, success cannot be measured solely through immediate results. Competing against established European teams allows players to experience different tactical approaches, higher levels of physical intensity and the demands of international basketball. Those lessons could prove valuable when the team returns to domestic competition and continues building towards future European appearances.
Brod na Savi's 89–56 defeat to DVTK HUNTHERM was undoubtedly disappointing, particularly after such an encouraging start, but it also highlighted the challenge of competing at a higher European level. With Zaay Green providing individual quality and the team gaining valuable international experience, the Croatian champions will now look to turn those lessons into more consistent performances as their EuroCup Women campaign continues.
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