Milan Barbitch shines as Gdynia wins thrilling derby with buzzer-beater against Sopot
Milan Barbitch scored 23 points in the Gdynia derby Photo credit: Arka Gdynia
Milan Barbitch continues to round into form in Poland. After limited playing time in Greece during the first part of the season, the French guard has changed scenery and appears to be relaunching his career with Arka Gdynia. Following a complete first outing despite the lose, he this time combined efficiency with victory in a very special context: the Tricity derby against neighboring Sopot, separated from Gdynia by barely fifteen minutes by road.
Explosive offensive display in crucial derby
For his second match in the Polish championship, Milan Barbitch finished as his team’s leading scorer with 23 points on 6/11 shooting, adding 4 assists in less than 22 minutes. A top-level offensive production in a contest that remained tight throughout against Trefl Sopot.
The French point guard had already shown promising signs during his first appearance, with a well-rounded statistical line: 8 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and 5 steals in 28 minutes. This time, his impact was accompanied by a precious victory.
In this derby between Sopot and Gdynia, Arka eventually prevailed 80-77 in dramatic fashion. While Trefl thought they had gained the upper hand in the final quarter, the home team fought back to level terms, notably thanks to Jakub Garbacz and Milan Barbitch.
Buzzer-beater heroics seal dramatic victory
The decision ultimately came down to the final possession, with a huge buzzer-beating 3-points shot from Kamil Łączyński, the hero of the evening according to the Polish league‘s match report. Enough to make Gdynia explode with joy in this high-rivalry local duel. Especially since Arka now sits just one victory behind Trefl in the standings (14 wins and 8 losses versus 13-8).
Są takie rzuty, które zapamiętuje się na lata – to jest jeden z nich! 🤩
MARSZAŁEK KAMIL ŁĄCZYŃSKI Z BUZZER-BEATEREM NA ZWYCIĘSTWO W 47. DERBACH TRÓJMIASTA! 🔥🔥🔥 #plkpl pic.twitter.com/OfVH0Hewta
— AMW Arka Gdynia (@ArkaGdyniaKosz) March 16, 2026
In a championship less prestigious than the one he frequented in Greece, Milan Barbitch seems to have found a favorable environment to regain confidence and rhythm. In two matches, he has already demonstrated his ability to produce in different areas: playmaking, defensive activity and now scoring. For a player seeking to relaunch his career, these first Polish steps are certainly encouraging. And delivering such a performance in a derby won at the buzzer can only strengthen his momentum.
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