Ulker did not find the key to CSKA defence

CSKA won the last home game in the Eurolegue regular season against Ulker. The Army club managed to become the leader from the very start. The defense limited Ulker shots. The Turkish side scored the first 2-pointer from the field only in the second quarter. By the half time CSKA was ahead 37-27 and in the start of the 3rd quarter added a 9-0 run. The final result also was in the army club favor 74-51.

CSKA – Ulker: 74-51

Quick facts about the game:

• Matjaz Smodis and David Vanterpool recovered from their injuries and took part in the game

• CSKA made 27 three-point attempts. It is a repeat of a team high for CSKA this season in all the official games

• David Vanterpool made 6 assists tonight. It is his high this season in all the official games

• Alexey Savrasenko collected 11 rebounds tonight. It is his high this season in all the official games

• Alexey Savrasenko finished 2 points away from double-double (8 points+11 rebounds)

• David Vanterpool was close to double-double or eve triple-double too (9 points+8 rebounds+6 assists)


Ettore Messina, CSKA head coach

- We played good game for three quarters. I tried to rotate the players in order for them not to get tired. We had a very good start of the first and the third quarters. And there were also some good piece of news from Vanterpool and Smodis. Both performed well after recovering from the injuries and that brought them some confidence. And of course I should mention the solid game of Alexey Savrasenko. I hope that he would stay that concentrated in the future.


Ergin Ataman, Ulker head coach

- I think my team could not find some good motivation for this game. There were two reasons: first is the loss with the big difference in the game in Istanbul and the second is that the game was not much important for us. Everyone realized that the true battle for us would come the next week in a game that would determine if Ulker would go to Top 16. But, of course, we played terrible. We got some good play only from Kutluay and Trepagnier. Our point guards and centers could not catch the game rhythm and in general did not show their best. Plus in the first period and in the second half we played bad defense.