RUS - CSKA close in on title

MOSCOW (Superleague) - CSKA Moscow are just 40 minutes away from another Superleague title after beating UNICS Kazan 70-58 on Monday.

Ettore Messina's men, winners of the Russian Cup and runners-up in the Euroleague, lead the best-of-five series 2-0 and can wrap up the championship in Kazan on Thursday.

CSKA had a fight on their hands in this one.

UNICS only trailed 55-53 early in the fourth quarter after a three-pointer by Jaron Stevenson, but Russian international Alex Savrasenko replied with a basket and his team-mate, Greece superstar Theo Papaloukas, followed with a three-pointer to put CSKA on the way to victory.

Moscow is having a heat wave and Messina said that it had had an effect on the game.

"It was another hard game," Messina said. "The unexpected high temperature makes it hard to play for both of the teams.

"Both teams had a hard time trying to score and both had poor shooting percentages.

"UNICS is a tall team that plays hard defense with good switches.

"But several times, we were able to build a lead.

"The games in Kazan would be even more difficult. And we should be ready for that."

Matjaz Smodis finished with 16 points and Papaloukas 15 to pace CSKA.

FIBA