The Army Men know what is like to be in Berlin in May. The visit did not bring the title in 2009 but everyone is ready to use another chance. The 13th Final Four in 14 years started for our team today.
It seems like not so much time passed since last visit but the team changed almost completely in 7 years. Just two players (Victor Khryapa and Andrey Vorontsevich) stay on the roster from the team that had miraculous comeback against Panathinaikos in the championship game and stopped just one shot away from the title. All the coaches are different and only legendary Asker Barcho remains on the medical staff. Still the Army Men have some other people who were here at the time: Dimitris Itoudis beat CSKA in those game as Zeljko Obradovic assistant and Milos Teodosic defended Olympiacos colors substituting Theo Papaloukas.
The accommodation is also different: all participants stay in Hilton, closer to the arena, this time with no need to use different hotels due to two Greek “derby” teams fans in the city.
Seven years ago it was CSKA that came to the tournament first. This time the team did not hurry and moved its normal schedule just one day ahead. It is natural because Thursday is a busy day during the Final Fours with big number of different events planned. The main ones are the press conference and award ceremony that will feature three CSKA players. Nando De Colo (Alphonso Ford Award, All-Euroleague First Team), Milos Teodosic (All-Euroleague First Team) and Kyle Hines (Defensive Player of the Year) took the suits with them.
After beating Nimburk in VTB League playoffs the team practiced normally with just one day-off – for the Victory Day. The practice on Tuesday was marked with Ivan Lazarev injury – the center had his nose broken while fighting in the paint. But doctors acted perfectly so that Ivan does not look like the guy who was hit a day before. He is ready to play in the protective mask that was tried during the practice today.
The Army Men left USH CSKA in good mood. Bright sun let them stay in summer clothes. Besides three dozens of fans who came to wish good luck to their favorites, made the departure special. One brave female fan made it funnier by collecting autographs on… different parts of her body.
The flight was also organized in good traditional way. Big Airbus of Aeroflot took the team, staff, family members, dance team and junior team to Berlin.
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