AUS - Andersen stumbles, Jackson slips

MOSCOW (Superleague/Euroleague) - Two Australian basketball superstars, Lauren Jackson and David Andersen, had European victories in sight over the weekend, but both suffered narrow defeats.

Leading by two points with one quarter to play in the third game of the women’s Russian Superleague Grand Final series, Jackson’s Spartak Moscow side lost to CSKA Samara overnight, 86-83.

CSKA now leads the best of five series 2-1.

Jackson posted 17 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals in defeat.

Jackson will have an opportunity to square the series at 2-all when Spartak takes on CSKA early tomorrow morning, Australian time, on Spartak’s home court.

But there will be no second chance for Andersen, whose CSKA Moscow side lost to Greek side Panathinaikos in the Grand Final of the prestigious Euroleague Basketball competition early on Sunday morning, 93-91.

Trailing by eight points after three quarters of play, defending champions CSKA stormed back to be within two points with 51 seconds to play, but could not clear the final hurdle.

"They made the big plays right when it mattered," Andersen said.

Andersen had a quiet night, posting 4 points, 6 rebounds and 1 steal in 26 minutes on court.

One final chapter remains in the 212cm Victorian's long European season.

This week he will play out the men’s domestic Russian Superleague Grand Final Series, a separate competition to the Euroleague, before returning to Australia.

There he will begin preparations for the Australia Post Boomers’ three test Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand in August.

Basketball Australia