“This is the game for the first place in the group,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “We know it and they know it, too. Unicaja is a very good team that plays aggressive basketball on both ends. The teams know each other very well because we played many times in the past two years and each game was a true battle. I hope we will play a spectacular and clear basketball game and let the best team win.”
CSKA away roster stays practically the same: Anton Astapkovich, Viacheslav Kravtsov and injured Victor Khryapa stayed in Moscow, Aaron Jackson continues post-surgery rehab in the USA.
“Relativity” connections
Joel Freeland played for Unicaja from 2009 till 2012.
Dimitris Itoudis and Andreas Pistiolis coached Unicaja guard Stefan Markovic two seasons ago in Turkey at Banvit Bandirma.
CSKA assistant coach Darryl Middleton was the teammate of German Gabriel in Girona (2006-07) and Markovic in Valencia (2010-11).
Stefan Markovic was a teammate of CSKA guard Nando De Colo during the 2011-12 season at Valencia Basket. The backcourt duo helped Valencia reach the Eurocup championship game that season.
Richard Hendrix was a teammate of CSKA forward Nikita Kurbanov last season at Lokomotiv Kuban.
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 19-5
1995-96 – European Championship for Clubs. Semifinal Round. Unicaja – CSKA: 81-70 (-11)
1995-96 – European Championship for Clubs. Semifinal Round. CSKA – Unicaja: 81-67 (+14)
2002-03 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 76-95 (+19)
2002-03 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 89-70 (+19)
2003-04 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 62-65 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 91-84 (+7)
2004-05 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 62-73 (+11)
2004-05 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 76-70 (+6)
2005-06 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 87-63 (+24)
2005-06 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 77-72 (-5)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Semifinal. CSKA – Unicaja: 62-50 (+12)
2007-08 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 72-67 (-5)
2007-08 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 93-70 (+23)
2009-10 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 86-78 (+8)
2009-10 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 70-76 (+6)
2011-12 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 77-66 (+11)
2011-12 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 83-91 (+8)
2012-13 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 81-94 (-13)
2012-13 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 66-70 (+4)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Unicaja: 95-85 (+10)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Unicaja – CSKA: 75-76 ÎÒ (+1)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 101-74 (+27)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 77-95 (+18)
2015-16 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Unicaja: 78-86 (-8)
Short dossier
Unicaja Malaga, Spain
Founded: 1977
Colors: white, green, lime
Home court: Palacio De Deportes Jose Martin Carpena (10.233 çðèòåëÿ)
President: Eduardo Garcia Lopez
Head coach: Joan Plaza
Website: www.unicajabaloncesto.com
Accomplishments: Spanish champion (2006), Spanish Cup winner (2005), Korac Cup winner (2001).
