CSKA Gets First Win

PAOK (Greece) vs. CSKA: 73-81 (15-28, 25-16, 19-18, 14-19)

M. Austin (20 min.: 18 pts. + 6 rebs. + 2 steals),
Y. Vyaltsev (25 min.: 17 pts + 2 steals + 2 assists + 6 turnovers),
S. Panov (16 min.: 13 pts + 2 ass.),
M. Brown (32 min.: 9 pts + 3 rebs. + 4 ass.),
A. Yudin, (25 min.: 9 pts.),
J.R. Holden (27 min.: 7 pts. + 3 ass. +2 rebs. + 2 steals),
V. Zavoruyev (11 min.: 3 pts.),
N. Shabalkin, (15 min.: 3 pts. + 2 rebs.),
A. Bashminov (20 min.: 2 pts. + 5 rebs.)


PBC CSKA coach Pavel Googe comments on the game:

CSKA started off the game very well, pressing the Greeks aggressively at three-quarters court. Vyaltsev, Brown, Yudin, Panov and Austin started the game. In the first 10 minutes we were able to convert 5 of 9 fastbreaks.

In the second quarter, PAOK adapted to the press, and then the young CSKA squad started to experience difficulties with positional defense.

Out of 16 points, 10 of them were from the foul line. In the third quarter, the opponents were leading 55-54, forcing CSKA to play at full strength. Several drives by Brown, a 3-pointer by Panov and Holden’s aggressive perimeter defense allowed us to take the initiative. Yegor Vyaltsev spent a lot of time on the floor and was one of our leading scorers with 17 points. Mario Austin also made a good impression. He’s a very mobile player with quick reations, very motivated and works very hard on defense.


The CSKA Reserves-Chachaka game was less exciting. The Russians nearly doubled their opponents’ score.

CSKA Reserves 71, Chachak 36 (37-11, 34-25)
Tkachenko (18 pts.), Fomin (15 pts.)