Convincingly. But it was just one quarter
CSKA – Zenit St.Petersburg: 83-59 (+24)
CSKA: Ware (25 + 3 as), Antonov (8 + 3 rb + 2 as), Milutinov (18 + 10 rb + 6 as + 2 st + 2 bs), Kurbanov (3), Shved (11 + 6 as) – start; Khomenko (0), Freeman (2 as), Ukhov (3 + 2 st), Clyburn (5 + 4 rb + 3 to), Lopatin (0), Jerebko (10 + 4 rb + 4 pf), Kolesnikov (DNP)…
Zenit: Loyd (13 + 4 rb + 5 as + 3 st + 4 to), Kulagin (11 + 3 rb + 2 as + 3 to), Poythress (6 + 5 rb), Mickey (7 + 5 rb + 2 as), Monya (3 + 5 rb) – start; Carter (5 + 3 rb + 2 as + 2 st + 4 pf), Karasev (3), Baron (7 + 2 as), Zubkov (2 + 4 pf), Buckner (2 + 3 to), Vyaltsev (DNP), Fridzon (DNP)…
Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach:
We had right approach to the game, obviously we wanted to win more. And from start to finish, we played better. After a good start, we were not naive, we knew that Zenit would try to get back into the game. They cut the lead, but we stayed ahead all the time, kept things under control. The guests tried to play small ball, but we continued to dominate in all aspects. I told the team that we had only won the first quarter of a long game. We are mature enough to understand that life will not be easy. In the series with UNICS, Zenit also lost in the Game 1, after which they took three wins in a row. They have enough talented players, they have an excellent Xavi Pascual system. We are happy with the win, but we know where we can improve. We will watch the video, have a rest and wait for our fans on Sunday. I hope there will be more of them in the stands. Thanks to them for the great atmosphere today.
