FIBA Basketball
RUS - CSKA Moscow capture fourth title on trot
MOSCOW (Superleague) - CSKA Moscow put an exclamation point on their triumphant season by beating BC Khimki 81-75 on Saturday to sweep the Russian Superleague championship series in three games.The victory completes a hat-trick of titles for CSKA, who also won the Euroleague crown and the Russian Cup. They have also won the Superleague crown four years in a row.For BC Khimki, the setback completes a
MOSCOW (Superleague) - CSKA Moscow put an exclamation point on their triumphant season by beating BC Khimki 81-75 on Saturday to sweep the Russian Superleague championship series in three games.
The victory completes a hat-trick of titles for CSKA, who also won the Euroleague crown and the Russian Cup. They have also won the Superleague crown four years in a row.
For BC Khimki, the setback completes a hat-trick of near misses.
They lost in the EuroCup final to DKV Joventut, and fell to CSKA in both the Russian Cup and Superleague finals.
Serguei Elevich's Khimki trailed 44-36 at half-time but fought back and took a 51-49 lead midway through the third quarter after a three-pointer from Oscar Torres, who will play for Venezuela at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
Russian international Zakhar Pushutin made a pair of free throws and a basket, and Vladimir Diatchok added another shot to give CSKA a 62-59 advantage with just 10 minutes to play.
Alexey Savkov's three-pointer gave Khimki their final lead inside the last three minutes at 73-72. Alexei Savrasenko, the Russian national team center who was one of CSKA's heroes at in the Euroleague final win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, replied with a basket to put the Russian giants ahead for good at 74-73.
After Torres missed a three for Khimki, Trajan Langdon hit a shot from the arc for a 77-73 lead and CSKA made free throws in the final minute to seal the triumph.
The victory has given CSKA their fourth successive league title.
Theo Papaloukas, CSKA's Euroleague Final Four MVP and a member of the Greek national team that will play in Japan, and Langdon both had 17 points.
Torres scored a game-high 19 points in defeat for Khimki.
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA
The victory completes a hat-trick of titles for CSKA, who also won the Euroleague crown and the Russian Cup. They have also won the Superleague crown four years in a row.
For BC Khimki, the setback completes a hat-trick of near misses.
They lost in the EuroCup final to DKV Joventut, and fell to CSKA in both the Russian Cup and Superleague finals.
Serguei Elevich's Khimki trailed 44-36 at half-time but fought back and took a 51-49 lead midway through the third quarter after a three-pointer from Oscar Torres, who will play for Venezuela at the FIBA World Championship in Japan.
Russian international Zakhar Pushutin made a pair of free throws and a basket, and Vladimir Diatchok added another shot to give CSKA a 62-59 advantage with just 10 minutes to play.
Alexey Savkov's three-pointer gave Khimki their final lead inside the last three minutes at 73-72. Alexei Savrasenko, the Russian national team center who was one of CSKA's heroes at in the Euroleague final win over Maccabi Tel Aviv, replied with a basket to put the Russian giants ahead for good at 74-73.
After Torres missed a three for Khimki, Trajan Langdon hit a shot from the arc for a 77-73 lead and CSKA made free throws in the final minute to seal the triumph.
The victory has given CSKA their fourth successive league title.
Theo Papaloukas, CSKA's Euroleague Final Four MVP and a member of the Greek national team that will play in Japan, and Langdon both had 17 points.
Torres scored a game-high 19 points in defeat for Khimki.
By PA Sport, Exclusively for FIBA