GRE/ESP - Vasiliadis keeps history-making Bilbao in the hunt

BILBAO (Euroleague/Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Kostas Vasiliadis has done a lot already for Bilbao Basket in this history-making season for the club.

The Basque outfit is playing in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for the first time and Greece international Vasiliadis has been a driving force in the team's run to the Quarter-Finals.

He was at his best on Wednesday, drilling four of his eight shots from behind the arc on his way to a team-high 20 points as Bilbao beat CSKA Moscow, 94-81.

CSKA are one of the favorites to lift the title with Russia international Andrei Kirilenko once again playing for the team.

But Bilbao now trail 2-1 in the best-of-five series and host Game 4 against CSKA.

The Spanish outfit has been so mentally tough under coach Fotis Katsikaris that CSKA will not be comfortable in the tie, despite knowing they would host a deciding Game 5 if necessary.

Vasiliadis has run hot and cold against CSKA in the Quarter-Finals.

He hit three shots from long range and scored 15 points in the opener but was then shut out in Game 2.

Vasiliadis was a key man in Bilbao's most important game of the season, the second meeting against Real Madrid in the Top 16 when Katsikaris and Co needed to win by 17 points or more to claim an advantage in a potential tie-breaker.

He buried five of six shots from three-point land and scored 19 points as Bilbao won, 93-69.

That victory allowed them to come in second place in the group and advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Some veteran players missing from Greece's EuroBasket 2011 squad will return for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Venezuela.

One player that seems to be a certainty to retain his place in the squad is Vasiliadis.

After Wednesday's performance, Vasiliadis was named as the Play-Offs Game 3 MVP.

FIBA