Kurban-Bayram started in Turkey today. All the country enjoys holiday while our team moved from Antalya to Istanbul.
Starting from Friday the Army Men will play three straight games, the first one – against Euroleague side Anadolu Efes. The team had no chance to have some time off: the players had flight, lunch, short rest and practice on Abdi Ipekci.
By the way the players got a surprise when theyarrived to the arena. They were greated with a group of boys and girls wearing white shirts with CSKA letters. The meeting was a part of a collaboration program between our club and one of the biggest sports schools in Istanbul. The research showed that CSKA is a most popular European non-Turkish basketball team in the country. Now it was difficult to bring more kids because of the holidays but the school management promises to have more than 200 pupils on the stands during the November meeting with Darussafaka.
The kids with their parents watch half an hour of practice, had a photo with the team, collected autographs and went back home. The Army Men continued to work hard on polishing team game. It should be noted that Alexander Burov went back to Moscow directly from Antalya after being thanked by the coaching staff. He will help the junior team in the first round of Russian Cup. Alexander Gavrilov and Mikhail Maleyko stayed with the main team.
“First of all we would like to thank the organizers, Banvit and Tubad, for inviting us to this tournament,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “It will feature strong competition with two Euroleague and two Eurocup teams participating. We are coming here after mini-camp in Antalya. With all the respect towards the opponents we had there I expect it to be much more difficult in Istanbul. We have some significant absences. Victor Khryapa and Joel Freeland are injured. I expect them to come back to the practices when we return to Moscow. I also allowed Milos Teodosic and Nando De Colo to rest some extra days after tough Eurobasket. They were with us last season so I think it will be easier for both to get back into system. Still we have Gomelsky Cup ahead, we can make our final touches on team picture there. Here we start from probably the strongest opponent. Anadolu Efes collected great team this year headed by great coach and my good friend Duda Ivkovic. The games like this will help us realize where we are right now.”
Banvit & Tubad Tournament, Istanbul, Turkey
September 25. CSKA – Anadolu Efes. 18:00
September 26. Galatasaray – CSKA. 16:30
September 27. CSKA – Banvit. 16:30
VTB Teams:
League&Tournament:
