ESP/RUS - CSKA put away gritty Unicaja at Euroleague Final Four
ATHENS (Euroleague Final Four) – CSKA Moscow kept their title defense on track by finally pulling away from a resilient Unicaja Malaga for a 62-50 victory at the Euroleague Final Four on Friday night. CSKA’s David Andersen, the Australian international, scored 12 points on six of nine shooting while Trajan Langdon led the Russian giants with 13 but shot just four of 14. Theo Papaloukas, CSKA’s Greece national team star, was immense. He four of five from the floor and finished with 11 points. He also had five steals, four assists and seven rebounds.
ATHENS (Euroleague Final Four) – CSKA Moscow kept their title defense on track by finally pulling away from a resilient Unicaja Malaga for a 62-50 victory at the Euroleague Final Four on Friday night.
CSKA’s David Andersen, the Australian international, scored 12 points on six of nine shooting while Trajan Langdon led the Russian giants with 13 but shot just four of 14. Theo Papaloukas, CSKA’s Greece national team star, was immense.
He four of five from the floor and finished with 11 points. He also had five steals, four assists and seven rebounds.
Malaga, last year’s Spanish champions, won a thrilling quarter-final-deciding game three against ACB rivals Winterthur Barcelona to reach the final four, but they were underdogs going into the game without center Daniel Santiago.
The Puerto Rican was unavailable after eye surgery, and his absence was felt – especially on the boards in the fourth quarter as CSKA out-rebounded the Spaniards 16-6.
CSKA won the battle of the boards overall, 43-27.
“I want to congratulate CSKA Moscow,” said Unicaja coach Sergio Scariolo. “They have confirmed why they are the defending European champions. They are a great side.”
“The fact that we were considered favourites placed my players under psychological pressure,” said CSKA coach Ettore Messina.
Unicaja did not go down without a fight.
They trailed 33-24 at the break after CSKA went on a 9-0 run before half-time, but battled back with a 7-0 surge to start the second half.
They eventually tied the contest at 44-44 on the final play of the third quarter when Spain international Berni Rodriguez scored on an inbounds pass right before the buzzer.
Unicaja then took a 47-46 lead when power forward Marko Tusek, who was doubtful before the game with a sprained ankle, made a three-pointer from the left corner.
The joy was short-lived.
Andersen’s long baseline jumper put CSKA back in front and the Spanish team went ice cold, making just two of 13 shots from the floor - Tusek’s three-ball that had given them the lead.
Andersen scored again, and Trajan Langdon grabbed a miss by Smodis, scored and was fouled on the play.
He made the free throw for a 51-47 lead.
Another long Andersen jumper, a Langdon three-pointer and a Theo Papaloukas dunk put CSKA in command at 58-47 with less than two minutes remaining.
Unicaja never recovered.
“In the second half when Unicaja took the lead, my team was knocked out, it was dead,” Messina said.
“But my players reacted and that is why I thanked them.
“We are a team that can run, than can do many things, but we have fought against a very aggressive team, with very fast players. We won because we made a great defensive effort.”
“I have to compliment my team because they showed a formidable spirit, they have given everything they had,” Scariolo said.
“Unfortunately in the last stages of each quarter, we lacked that extra energy we needed.”
Carlos Cabezas, the Spain international, led the way for Unicaja with 13 points.
The Spanish side finished 11 of 28 (39%) inside the arc and eight of 27 (30%) from long range.
Jeff Taylor, Athens
FIBA