CSKA — Tsmoki, 16 April 2022

PRE-GAME BREAKDOWN

Despite the fact that the Red-Blues are facing one of the outsiders of the tournament, who lost his chances of reaching the playoffs, the game is very important for the Muscovites. The victory is necessary for CSKA to keep the lead in the regular season and secure home court advantage at all stages of the knockout games.

After returning from Almaty, the team trained in Krylatskoe, moving to Megasport only on Friday morning. Newcomer Evgeniy Kolesnikov, who successfully passed a medical examination at the GMS Clinic, has already started working with the main team. CSKA-2 guard Vladimir Karpenko also remains in the practicing rotation.

WORD TO THE COACH

Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:

It is very important for us to finish the regular season strong, everything is in our hands. We are practicing good, we have most of the players healthy and we are looking forward to play in front of our fans, I hope they will come to support us tomorrow. We prepare seriously, Minsk is playing very aggressive basketball, they have combination of young and experienced guys on the roster. Zhenya Kolesnikov had his second practice and I think he has chances to be on the team tomorrow.

“RELATIVITY” CONNECTIONS

Absent.

PAST MATCHUPS

Wins/losses: 23-0

Game of 2021-22 VTB United League Regular Season:

23-Sep-2021. Tsmoki Minsk - CSKA: 44-92 (+48)

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), 12-time Belarusian Cup winner (2010-21)