Balkan Botevgrad 91 – 89 Euroins Cherno More | NBL Bulgaria | May 10, 2026

Balkan Botevgrad edged out Euroins Cherno More in a thrilling 91–89 contest on Saturday night at the Arena Botevgrad. The home side built a double‑digit lead in the second quarter but had to withstand a ferocious Cherno More comeback to hang on by the slimmest of margins.

Match Overview

The first quarter saw both teams feeling each other out, with Balkan taking a 23–20 advantage. In the second period, the hosts exploded for 32 points, pushing the lead to 55–43 at halftime. Cherno More responded after the break, tightening their defense and forcing turnovers to trim the deficit to six points entering the fourth quarter.

Key Moments

• Third‑quarter charge: Cherno More opened the second half on a 12–4 run, fueled by aggressive drives from guard Dimitar Dimitrov, cutting the lead to 67–65.
• Balkan’s answer: Veteran forward Pavel Marinov hit a step‑back three and a mid‑range jumper to restore a 78–72 cushion with five minutes left.
• Final possession: Trailing by two points with 12 seconds remaining, Cherno More’s inbounds pass was tipped and partially deflected, forcing a contested three‑pointer that rimmed out as time expired.

Standout Players

• Pavel Marinov (Balkan Botevgrad): The 34‑year‑old forward scored a game‑high 27 points on 10‑of‑16 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 4 assists in a vintage performance.
• Dimitar Dimitrov (Cherno More): The young guard erupted for 22 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, almost single‑handedly leading the comeback.

Table Implications

Balkan Botevgrad move to 18–10, holding on to third place in the NBL standings and tightening their grip on home‑court advantage in the playoffs. Cherno More fall to 12–16 but remain just one game out of the eighth‑place play‑in spot.

Balkan next face Spartak Pleven, while Cherno More will look to bounce back against Akademik Plovdiv, as the race for postseason positions heats up in the Bulgarian league.