The draw of Euroleague have determined the opponents for CSKA in regular season. CSKA will play in Group D against Partizan Belgrade, Real Madrid, Efes Pilsen Istanbul, Armani Jeans Milan and Panionios Athens.
The schedule will be determined later.
Andrei Vatutin, CSKA CEO:
- Once again I would like to congratulate Ettore Messina with the winning of Alexander Gomelsky Coach of the Year Trophy, which was handed to him before the Draw. Note that upon receiving the Trophy Messina thanked all the people who work for CSKA, coaches and players for their work, as well as fellow coaches from Europe who gave their votes for him.
It was the first draw conducted jointly by ULEB and FIBA, and I consider it as a very important event for the European basketball. Also for the first time the tournament will be held under the new system, which decreases the number of regular games at the first stage and makes the quarterfinal series more fair.
Curiously, during the draw which was held in the building of an old railway station, the rain started to fall and at the moment it began raining from the ceiling…
Regarding the Group D – we believe the result is normal. We went through major changes, and it will take time to make CSKA work as a precise mechanism. Because of this we'd be grateful for an any opponent. It is great that among them we have such a brands like Partisan and Real. It is also a good thing that during the regular season we do not have long-distance flights.
Ettore Messina, CSKA head coach:
- The group is interesting: now it is very difficult to predict which pair of teams will not make it to Top-16. Although it is too early to estimate the strength of the opponents – we have to see how Partisan and Panionios will finish their recruiting at least. We would like to have some time to construct the team early in the season, but the new system, with fewer games, leaves no room for error.
Complete results of Euroleague Draw for 2008/09 regular season
VTB Teams:
League&Tournament:
