Moscow army team won the first game of the semifinal series of play-off against Dynamo Moscow. Losing 10 points during the game CSKA thanks brilliant game of Alexey Savrasenko and Sergey Panov could recover and defeat their opponent:
CSKA vs Dynamo Moscow: 97-69
CSKA took the most fighting squad to the first game of the semifinal series of play-off of Russian Championship. Egor Vialtsev was absent in the technical roster this time. Dusan Ivkovic decided not to change the starting five from the semifinal game against Maccabi. Only one substitution - Victor Alexander has started the game instead of Dragan Tarlac.
Army team took the leadership in the early beginning. Marcus Brown and Victor Alexander scored 5 points in a row. But after 1,5 minutes Dmitry Domani after good steal put score to 5-4. After it he forced Dusan Ivkovic to take time-out: 5-9. But this minute did not change anything – Dynamo lead in middle of quarter: 5-15. Only after Sergey Panov and Dragan Tarlac arriving on the parquet CSKA could stop this spurt. Serbian center moved to the game in the good way, scoring 5 points in a row. Then John Robert Holden made fast break: 14-17 and Zvi Sherf had to take time-out. On last second of the quarter Sergey Panov equalized the score: 20-20.
In second 10 minutes army team players answered to 2-pointers of the opponent by the good realization of free throws. But this time CSKA was not good in the offense. Thanks good free throws we could did not give Dynamo to run away. In the end of the quarter Dragan Tarlac scored 4 points and gave us the opportunity to finish the quarter as leaders. But on last second Padius and Domani returned their team the leadership: 40-41.
In the big rest Dusan Ivkovic could find right words for his players. Holden started their forthcoming spurt by two 3-pointers. Then the captain of the team Sergey Panov made the same: 59-49. Getting comfort advantage CSKA let Dynamo to recover them a little: 63-55 before the last rest.
The last quarter became the benefits of Alexey Savrasenko. He was the best players under both boards and became the best sniper of our team. By crown of fans his name he put our advantage to 20 points already: 84-64. Only when he scored 18 points, Ivkovic substitute him to Alexander Bashminov. The final point of the game was 2 points of Sergey Monya: 97-69.
The head coach of CSKA Dusan Ivkovic:
- First of all I would like to congratulate all my players for a very nice start of the semifinal of play-off. I understand that it was some pressure on players in the first half. We did too many turnovers and let Domani to make too many steals. We let them to score too many easy baskets. We did not control the game. After Final Four I check results of teams. Skipper and Montepaschi lose their last games. This night I like that kind of basketball that we show. It was one very good team basketball. I am very happy for Alexey Savrasenko who was very good today. I am happy that fans crowd his name today. So, I want to congratulate all my players with this victory.
The head coach of Dynamo Zvi Sherf:
- CSKA was the better team today. We could not succeed to the second half defenses and offenses advantage of the first half. For my very sorry in the fourth quarter we collapsed all. I am very disappointed of that. We will try to see what we can do in continue of the series.
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