CSKA became the first finalist of Russian Championship 2003-04 by beating Dynamo Moscow today. Army team had control on the game from the early beginning. Only in the last quarter they missed lately spurt of hosts. But 3-pointers of Jimmy Oliver in the end of the game were not enough:
Dynamo Moscow vs CSKA: 73-84
Having chance to win the game in series, Dynamo did not show good game in the first quarter. Only one time hosts could get leadership only one time - in the early beginning. After good far throw of Damir Mrsic they lead 3-2. But then army players have shown that they are not going to continue the series. Good defense and offense has present CSKA 7 points of the leadership: 3-10. But after it several minutes our players could not score any points. At 7-10 score Victor Alexander started new spurt. Neither time-out taking Zvi Sherf neither moving Dmitry Domany to the court could change something. Dynamo could score only 0 points this quarter while CSKA scored 20.
The second quarter has begun from 5 points in a row by Sergey Demeshkin. On 14th minute Branko Milisavlevic put difference in the score to 3 points: 22-25. This moment Dusan Ivkovic substituted Victor Alexander to Dragan Tarlac. With the appearance of Serbian center on the court out advantage under boards became bigger. Till 2 minutes to the end of the quarter Sergey Monya made dunk: 26-37.
Only in the last quarter when the score was 49-68 already Dynamo tried to start their forthcoming spurt. Hosts with Jimmy Oliver as a leader tried to recover. American forward of Dynamo scored 3 3-poineers in a row and forced Ivkovic to take time-out. Our head coach returned to the court Sergey Panov and Dragan Tarlac. Till 2 minutes to the final buzzer our advantage was 7 points only: 69-76. But losing many forces to this spurt Zvi Sherf team did not have enough forces for the end. Till minute to the end they could not score 2 times in a row losing chances for the win. Time-out taking their coach till 43 seconds to the end could not change anything already. Army team finished this series with 3-0: 73-84.
The head coach if Dynamo Zvi Sherf:
- I do not like to lose like all coaches. I would like to congratulate all my players for their character in the last quarter. Our problem today was the low realization of throws. We are not ready to fight against CSKA yet. I would like to congratulate CSKA with their moving to the final. Tomorrow we have free day. From Monday we will prepare to the game for the third place. We will try to do our best.
Unfortunately, press officer of Dynamo forgot to invite the head coach of PBC CSKA Dusan Ivkovic to the post-game press-conference.
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