CSKA won 86-82 against Opel Skyliners and is still on the top of the Group C. The best scorer of the game was Chris Williams from the German team, who scored 30 points. This result is the remarkable one as the Army club did not let a single player of the rival team to score 30 points or more for three seasons. As for the hosts Antonio Granger fifnished with 18 points, Marcus Brown added 14, David Andersen – 13 and J.R.Holden – 11.
CSKA vs Skyliners: 86-82
CSKA could not concentrate on the game for almost 30 minutes. Both the defence and the offence were below regular level. Only thanks to Antonio Granger effort the Army club did not let the rival to make a huge run in the middle of the 3rd quarter. The American forward scored 10 points in less than 2 minutes minutes, while whole the Opel team was able to answer only with 5.
The last 2 minutes were the key for the game. Skyliners missed four 3-points attempts and J.R.Holden and Martin Muursepp were able to push CSKA ahead – 86-82.
CSKA is the only team in the Euroleague that finished the first round of the tournament without a single loss.
The head coach of CSKA Dusan Ivkovic:
- With the such level of the difference between teams in Euroleague tournaments, we need to fight all 40 minutes in every game. Skyliners has shown very good team basketball today. Roller, Williams and Ellis were great today, they are in the very good shape this moment. I want to congratulate Skyliners and coach Didin with this game.
Our concentration in the first half was not on the expected level. Until big rest we made 10 tornovers, it is too much. We lost first quarter, but then we beat them in other 3 quarters. In the end we deserved this victory. We need to make right lessons from this tough game to prepare to Saturday derby against UNICS Kazan in Russian Superleague.
The head coach of Skyliners Murat Didin:
- I would like to notice the great game of Pascal Roller and Chris Williams who have shown very good game today. Until this season the most part of my team did not have the experience of the play on such high level. Like in the game against Panathinaikos we lose the game in last minutes. We had a chance in the end, but CSKA is more experienced team with the longer bench.
I want to wish CSKA success in future games. The organization inside and outside the team deserve the championship title this season.
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