CSKA vs Ulker: 78-62
CSKA fans completely enclosed the Turkish fans’ cheering section. The red-blue flags and cacophony from over 1000 horns which were passed out to spectators. In general, number 25 in the Army team’s roster-the fans-earned their stripes.
What’s more, only flattering words can describe the other numbers in the CSKA roster.
From the very beginning, accompanied by the horn-blowing fans, CSKA went ahead 12-5 with five minutes gone in the game. The team played fast and well, not as if they were playing for first place in their Euroleague group, but rather as if in a friendly.
Ulker was limping. If the team was expecting lots of scoring from Joe Blair, one of the best centers in the Euroleage, then the long-distance shooters that gladly drive the Turkish club were quiet in the meantime. The exception was team-captain Harun Erdenay, who hit from long-distance to begin the game.
It seemed that nothing could stop CSKA from taking a 10-12 point lead in the first half and then streaking past the opponents. But Ulker thought otherwise. The Army team saw a zone defense, after which Ulker forward Miljan Golovic began to go to work, hitting 3-3 from3-point land almost in a row, and cutting the CSKA lead to 34-32.
CSKA went on their next run at the beginning of the third quarter. In six minutes, quick penetration and 3-pointers from Jon Robert Holden helped the Army team go from a 3-point to a 20-point lead. And only two driving baskets from Ulker forward Yildirim allowed the guests to cut the lead slightly going into the fourth quarter.
CSKA began to have problems when Victor Alexander went to the bench. The center did a lot to prevent Blair from getting hot, but picked up early fouls doing so. Offense without the American came with difficulty. But by that point, Ulker didn’t have enough time to change the outcome of the game.
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