The Finals are back to Kazan

05.06.2016
CSKA (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
The deciding game of the best Russian teams will take place in Tatarstan capital after nine years. Our team went to Kazan with 2-0 lead and seriously determined to win.

“We expect difficult fight, but we are ready for everything that we can face,” Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach, said. “We have very good, talented team as an opponent. We have motivation and determination; we remember perfectly that we need one more victory to lift the trophy.”

Joel Freeland (shoulder) and Nikita Kurbanov (nose) remain out for the Army Men.

Past matchups


Wins-losses: 69-16
CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)
Last game at USH CSKA: 90-77 (+13) (03.06.2016. VTB United League. Final)
Last game at Basket Hall: 89-100 (+11) (06.03.2016. VTB United League. Regular Season)

Short dossier


UNICS Kazan
Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Evgeny Pashutin
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011),
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004),
- 4-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007),
- 6-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 2-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012)

Photos
Dimitris Itoudis (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
Nando De Colo (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
Vitaly Fridzon (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
Victor Khryapa (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
Andrey Vorontsevich (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)
Cory Higgins (photo: M. Serbin, cskabasket.com)