UNICS vs CSKA: 1-2

Missing spurt of Kazan team in the early beginning CSKA could not recover. UNICS won 92-76 and cut army team advantage to 2-1 in the series. Before the fourth game CSKA has an advantage in 1 victory and tomorrow will return to the parquet of Basket Hall.

UNICS vs CSKA: 92-76

The head coach of CSKA Dusan Ivkovic decided to do not change the starting five of his team. And on other sides this game did not give any surprises after two games of the series. But on the third time CSKA losing during the most part of the game could not find power to recover. As Ivkovic said on the post-game press-conference, the key moment was the first quarter when his team loses 13 points.

Till fourth minute it was equal fighting, but after it Kazan players remembered about their snipers ability and started to score 3-pointers. Two throws by Greer and Stombergas, and UNICS advantage is 6 points already: 12-6. Army team started to turn back. Brown scored 2 points, then Tarlac made steal and fast break: 12-10. When Holden cut advantage of hosts to minimal, Stanislav Eremin had to take time-out: 15-14. After it his team scored 13 points in a row letting CSKA to score only another one: 28-15.

After the first rest Monya and Panov entered to the court. Young forward of CSKA has shown that he also can score 3-pointers. The captain of the army team was fighting under both boards, in defense and also scored points. He became the best sniper of our team scoring 13 points. CSKA started its spurt to recover UNICS. When they cut advantage of Kazan to 7 points Monya and our bench received fould. Koubrakov scored 3 free throws, then Samoilenko add 2: 41-29. Neither time-out of Ivkovic nor substitution Savrasenko to Bashminov could force army players to another one spurt. Teams went to the big rest with 54-50.

In the beginning of the third quarter Zukauskas receiver fourth and soon fifth foul and ended the game on the bench. But this lose did not change anything. Stanislav Eremin team continued to score far throws. Ivkovic decided to light the squad: Holden, Brown, Khryapa, Panov and Turkcan. CSKA could win this quarter with the minimal advantage, but UNICS still was ahead with 13 points: 75-62.

This advantage is not so big that CSKA could not recover. But in the beginning of the decisive quarter UNICS started another one spurt. In the middle they grow their advantage to 20 points and army team loses its chances to finish the series today. In final minutes Ivkovic team could only cut the advantage: 92-76.


The head coach of CSKA Dusan Ivkovic:

- Today UNICS was better and absolutely deserved this victory. The most important part of the game was the first quarter. We lose 13 points and made most important mistakes. Other quarters were much more balanced. Today my team had not enough power to recover. Like first two games players of UNICS have shooting very well. They scored 54% of 3-pointers. We need to play more aggressive in the defense. Tomorrow we have new game and we have to prepare to continue the series.

The head coach of UNICS Stanislav Eremin:

- Before the game I was much care about the psychological form of my players. All around were saying that UNICS must win home games after two good games in Moscow. And I am very glad that players moved to the court free and good prepared. I think they today they were fresher than army team and it was our advantage. Tomorrow will be more difficult game. Our leaders are tired. Today till 4-5 minutes to the end my helpers asked me to give these players rest and put to the court young players. But CSKA is very important team. And it is dangerous to experience with them. And despite it I wanted opponent to feel the power of UNICS this season.