Tsmoki — CSKA, 23 September 2021

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

After winning the VTB League Super Cup, the Army Team continued to prepare for the season. On Monday morning, the players worked individually, and on Tuesday there was a full training session. It was held in the absence of Dimitris Itoudis, who flew to Belgrade for the farewell and funeral of Dusan Ivkovic. On Wednesday Itoudis was already at the helm, he travelled to Minsk with the team.

Marius Grigonis will miss the game, he is let go to Lithuania to his family - more precisely, to his newborn daughter. Vladimir Ivlev stayed in Moscow due to the coach’s decision.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

We start the VTB League season, and we want to begin with playing a serious game. We studied Tsmoki in their games in BCL qualification round. As usually they have the best Belarusian players available as well as some good foreigners, with points of emphasis under the basket and in the open court. We are good, we practice well, so we are looking forward to start the season on the high note.

“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Minsk forward Artem Kuzmin is a graduate of the CSKA Youth Project. He spent three seasons in the "junior" army teams from 2014 to 2017, became the champion of the JBL and twice won the VTB United Youth League.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 22-0

Game of 2020-21 VTB United League Regular Season:

06-Dec-2020. Tsmoki Minsk - CSKA: 60-87 (+27)
07-Mar-2021. CSKA - Tsmoki Minsk: 101-67 (+34)

SHORT DOSSIER

Tsmoki Minsk, Belarus

Founded: 2006
Colors: blue, white
Home court: Minsk-Arena (15,000)
CEO: Yuri Shakola
Head coach: Rostislav Vergun
Website: www.bc-tsmoki.by
Trophy case: 13-time Belarusian champion (2009-21), 11-time Belarusian Cup winner (2010-20)