CSKA — UNICS, 27 March 2021

CSKA – UNICS Kazan: 102-86 (+16)

CSKA: James (0), Hackett (16 + 3 rb), Shengelia (15 + 2 as + 4 to + 4 pf), Kurbanov (5 + 4 rb), Eric (2 + 4 pf) – start; Khomenko (9), Ukhov (16 + 3 rb + 5 as + 2 st + 3 to), Antonov (4 + 5 rb + 2 as), Voigtmann (11 + 11 rb + 7 as + 2 st), Kochergin (0), Clyburn (24 + 3 rb + 5 as), Lopatin (0)…

UNICS: Canaan (18 + 3 rb + 2 as + 4 to + 4 pf), Gbanov (2 + 3 rb + 2 as), White (6 + 5 pf), Morgan (13 + 4 rb + 4 pf), Holland (9) – start; Brown (12 + 5 rb + 5 as + 4 st), Sergeyev (4 + 2 st), Klimenko (2 + 2 as), Uzinskiy (7), Smith (8 + 4 as), Razumov (2), Kolesnikov (3)…

We were focused on basketball, played aggressive, I liked my team’s attitude and aggressivity. We never gave up even being minus-9, we kept fighting, stayed on the same page and created good things. I enjoyed the game, all coaches enjoyed it and I think the fans enjoy it as well as they see the team fighting, no matter who we have in front of you. And we had very respectful opponent, EuroLeague-level team, EuroCup contender, UNICS is one of our rivals. I really enjoy coaching this team. The fight that we have in us, competitiveness. Because, you know, playing hard is something that you need to have for this level. But to play hard and compete are two different things. Today we played hard and compete. This is our spirit, this is what it means to play for CSKA. Congratulations to the team, we beat very good opponent dominantly I may say. The difference is not the one that they may have, they lacked their point guards, but we also faced a lot of problems, adversities. We overcame. Thanks to my team. They deserve all the credit.