“As it was in the first game against ALBA, we face the opponents who are in good shape,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “They had some very important wins recently, they crashed Limoges at home, they beat Cedevita on the road, and they still have no losses in German League where they defeated their rival Bayern Munich a couple of weeks ago. We know perfectly that ALBA fights on the boards, defends tough and plays high-tempo basketball for 40 minutes. We have to be focused and match their energy. Overall we expect the second leg to be difficult. Though we know our opponents better, we still think that everyone will make step forward in competing against CSKA. So I am ready to repeat it every time: we need our fans on the stands for every game, we hope they will come and support the players with their chants and applause. We are playing for them.”
Victor Khryapa, Alexei Zozulin and Manu Markoishvili stay out for CSKA.
“Relativity” connections
Jonathan Tabu was a teammate of CSKA Moscow swingman Manuchar Markoishvili during the 2010-11 and part of the 2012-13 seasons with Italian club Pallacanestro Cantu.
Marko Banic was a teammate of CSKA guard Aaron Jackson for two seasons at Bilbao Basket between 2010 and 2012. They led the club to the Euroleague playoffs in 2012, where Bilbao lost in four games to CSKA.
Important numbers
Milos Teodosic leads the league in three-pointers made (19) and assists (8,4).
Teodosic needs 11 more three-pointers to crack the competition’s career top 10 in that category. The 2010 Euroleague MVP enters this week’s game ranked 13th overall with 266 career triples. Igor Rakocevic (277) sits in 10th place. Next for Teodosic to pass is Louis Bullock (275).
Vitaly Fridzon has made at least 1 three-pointer in 26 straight Euroleague games.
Fridzon has made 15 and Aaron Jackson 11 consecutive free throws in Euroleague games.
“Relativity” connections
Jonathan Tabu was a teammate of CSKA Moscow swingman Manuchar Markoishvili during the 2010-11 and part of the 2012-13 seasons with Italian club Pallacanestro Cantu.
Marko Banic was a teammate of CSKA guard Aaron Jackson for two seasons at Bilbao Basket between 2010 and 2012. They led the club to the Euroleague playoffs in 2012, where Bilbao lost in four games to CSKA.
Important numbers
Milos Teodosic leads the league in three-pointers made (19) and assists (8,4).
Teodosic needs 11 more three-pointers to crack the competition’s career top 10 in that category. The 2010 Euroleague MVP enters this week’s game ranked 13th overall with 266 career triples. Igor Rakocevic (277) sits in 10th place. Next for Teodosic to pass is Louis Bullock (275).
Vitaly Fridzon has made at least 1 three-pointer in 26 straight Euroleague games.
Fridzon has made 15 and Aaron Jackson 11 consecutive free throws in Euroleague games.
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 6-5
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 67-69 (-2)
1996-97 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 78-76 (-2)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: ALBA – CSKA: 63-70 (+7)
1998-99 – Euroleague. Preliminary Round: CSKA – ALBA: 86-75 (+11)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 71-76 (-5)
1999-00 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 81-76 (-5)
2000-01 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: ALBA – CSKA: 80-77 (-3)
2000-01 – Euroleague. Qualification Round: CSKA – ALBA: 89-86 (+3)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16. ALBA – CSKA: 57-75 (+18)
2012-13 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – ALBA: 80-65 (+15)
2013-14 – Euroleague. Regular Season. ALBA – CSKA: 68-84 (+16)
Short dossier
ALBA Berlin, Germany
Founded: 1989
Colors: dark-blue, yellow
Homecourt: O2 World (16,000)
President: Dieter Hauert
Head coach: Sasa Obradovic
Website: www.albaberlin.de
Accomplishments: Korac Cup winner (1995); 8-time German champion (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008); 8-time German Cup winner (1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2014)
