Unfortunately a tournament in Belgrade was not so successful for CSKA-JBL, who was pretending to get to the final of Junior Euroleague. After loss in the game against FMP, CSKA occupied 7th place. Today the team is going to Krasnodar to participate in a first round of a semifinal stage of JBL.
“The problem was that the players didn’t have much time for preparations, because of the games in Russian Championship, and we were able to practice really good for only 2 days before the first game, - head coach Leonid Spirin said. We could win, but we lacked physical energy. Moreover our opponents were very strong and well prepared, in a good shape. First day we played two games with an only 4 hours break between them. On the break we didn’t leave the arena, we had a lunch in locker room and after we took part in the Opening Ceremony of the tournament. It was very difficult physically, thought we won against Buducnost, we lost the second game against FMP Zeleznik. After this game it was obvious that a Serbian team is stronger than ours. Also we were lacking international experience, while the opponents had it quite enough. Nevertheless I would like to outline a good playing of Andrei Loginov, Ivan Shamov, Ivan Strebkov and Victor Pavlenko.
After the loss against Olimpia, CSKA had a chance to fight for the 7th place, and this game was won.
On the final day of the tournament Nikita Barinov won the slam-dunk contest. He got all ‘excellent’ marks for the first shot (FLASH video). And he tried to make a second shot carrying the ball under the leg, but only hit a hoop. Nevertheless he got the maximum points and became a winner.
For today CSKA-JBL planned a control game with CSKA-2, and tomorrow the team is going to Krasnodar where a first semifinal stage of JBL will start.
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