While Kiev hosts the demonstrations where people demand the country to join European Union, European basketball seats well in the local Palace of Sports. The visit of Russian champion does not bring any contradictive feelings.
Our team visits Ukrainian capital for the first time in its post-Soviet history while some army men travel to the city quite often. For example Victor Khryapa and Yuri Kozhokar who has their relatives living here. The red-blues boarded Transaero charter flight after the practice at USH CSKA. Finally the coaches does not have any injured players: Alexey Zozulin practices with his teammates.
14 players boarded the aircraft. Only Alexander Gudumak stayed at home with the junior team. The reserve is needed because the team will fly to Samara from Kiev to play VTB United League game against Krasnye Krylia.
“We face a team which usually scores a lot, especially on their floor,” CSKA head coach Ettore Messina said. “Therefore we have to pay more attention on transition defense and defending pick-n-rolls. Our team improved over past 2-3 weeks and we need another confirmation of that.”
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