VTB United: CSKA takes G5, advances to Finals

CSKA Moscow’s Vladimir Micov (5), looks to dump the ball inside while Khimki’s Zoran Planinic (34) defends.

They took their VTB United League semifinal series to Game 5 on Friday, and in the battle of the two Moscow clubs, CSKA Moscow came out on top of Khimki Moscow Region, 64:87, to earn the right to square off against Lokomotiv Kuban in the Finals. They packed the Moscow Region Sports Palace to standing-room only to see the fifth and decisive game of the best-of-five semifinal.

Victor Khryapa and Sonny Weems led CSKA with 14 points each, while Kresimir Loncar also added 14 for Khimki. The difference in the contest was CSKA shooting advantage, dropping in 23 of 34 (68%) from inside the arc and 7 of 17 (41%) behind the arc, while Khimki shot 19 of 34 (56%) from short range and only 3 of 16 (19%) from the outside. CSKA also only turned the ball over six times in the game, compared to 12 times for Khimki.

First of all, I’d like to thank our fans. They showed us all of their love in one of the most important games of the season. Second, I’d like to congratulate Khimki with a good season, as well as say thank-you for those games, which we played in this series. I’d like to thank my players who played an excellent game today
–CSKA coach Ettore Messina

CSKA took the early lead, but two of Khimki’s three long-balls came at the end of the first frame, knotting up the score at 17.

In the second quarter, CSKA again got out quick behind team leaders Weems, Nenad Krstic, and Khryapa, but once again, Khimki fought back with points from James Augustine and Kresimir Loncar. At the end of the half the clubs were tied at 37.

The game turned in the third from a close contest to a blow-out, with CSKA tallying the first six and the last five of the quarter, including a Weems triple at the buzzer, while outscoring Khimki 10:22, to take a 47:59 lead into the fourth.

Weems took control in the final period, opening with a long-ball, then a jumper, a layup/free-throw combination to complete a three-point play at the end of eight straight points, giving CSKA a 19-point lead, 48:67. Khimki had no answers and get any closer, giving CSKA Game 5, and the series.

CSKA and Lokomotiv Kuban will open the VTB United League finals on June 3.

I’d like to congratulate CSKA. They played really well and with focus for all 40 minutes. We fought for two quarters, then got worn out for some reason. I’m only happy that it was a long time ago I had this type of five-game series, in 1996. I think, though, that this was our best season. We battled with European powerhouses. I’d like to thank our team and the club management. This season wasn’t easy, but we gave it our all until the end.
–Khimki coach Rimas Kurtinaitis

Weems and Khryapa paced CSKA with 14 point each, Zoran Erceg added 12, and Andrey Vorontsevich dropped in 11.

Loncar led Khimki with 14, Augustine added 13, Zoran Planinic scored 11, and Sergey Monya contributed 10.