CSKA vs. Maroussi: 78-65
Evgeny Pashutin, CSKA head coach:
Our team showed its best side, playing very focused until the last second. We had two main tasks – to stop Maroussi leaders Keys and Lucas, plus to fight for rebounds where our opponents are very strong. It is very difficult to do both as the opponent gets more space when you pay too much attention to perimeter defense. But we were able to control the glass thanks to great play of Khryapa and Kaun who improves game by game. They controlled the glass and opened up more opportunities to Holden, Langdon and Siskauskas.
Georgos Bartzokas, Maroussi head coach:
It is a very difficult job to play against such a great team like CSKA, which found its rhythm and regained its shape in comparison to our game in Athens. I think we played focused for all the game with the exception of third quarter when we missed Holden, Langdon and Siskauskas and allowed them to score from outside. We had problems on rebounds. Kaun and Khryapa made it difficult to our big men. CSKA get 10 point advantage and from that moment it was very difficult to come back. Especially if you take into consideration that we lost our captain Kaimakoglu in the first quarter due to injury.
