Hearts of Champions

CSKA PBC – Zenit Saint Petersburg: 96-73 (+23)

CSKA: Ware (16), Ukhov (12 + 4 rb), Astapkovich (10 + 7 rb + 3 as + 2 st), Jean-Charles (7 + 4 rb), M'Baye (19 + 6 rb + 2 as + 2 st) – start; Mikhailovskii (0), Jekiri (11 + 4 rb), Avramovic (5 rb + 3 as), Gankevich (0), Trimble (20 + 3 as + 2 st + 3 to), Karpenko (1), Antonov (3 rb + 4 pf)…

Zenit: Frazier (17 + 6 as + 3 st + 4 to), Shved (9 + 4 rb + 2 as), White (7), Bacon (16 + 5 rb + 2 as + 3 to + 4 pf), Hunter (7 + 3 rb + 3 to + 5 pf) – start; Shcherbenev (DNP), Zakharov (DNP), Karasev (DNP), Zhbanov (2 + 2 as), Zemskiy (DNP), Poythress (9 + 10 rb + 3 bs + 3 to + 5 pf), Vorontsevich (6 + 4 rb + 2 as)…

Andreas Pistiolis, CSKA head coach:

As always, I want to thank the fans who came here. Their support was incredible, there were really a lot of people at this joyful moment. I think we proved that we deserve to be champions. Zenit is a good team with great players, a coaching staff, which made the victory even more valuable. We showed champion character, and I think no one will argue that we are the best team in the league. I am proud of the players who reacted well to difficult moments. They showed character.

Melo Trimble, CSKA guard:

I am very happy, this is a great victory. Zenit is a good team. I am proud of all the guys, the head coach, all the fans who came to the game. I am grateful to them and happy. Thank you to all the fans!