RUS – CSKA shoot down Zalgiris in VTB opener for both teams

MOSCOW (Unified VTB League) - CSKA Moscow caught fire from long range and brought Zalgiris Kaunas' good start to the season to a screeching halt on Thursday in the new eight-team, Unified VTB League.

Russia international Andrey Vorontsevich drilled all three of his shots from behind the arc on his way to a team-high 16 points and Croatia playmaker Zoran Planinic was also a perfect three of three from long range and finished with 15 points in a 90-74 triumph for CSKA.

The Group B game was tight until the fourth quarter when CSKA turned on the afterburners and outscored the Lithuanian giants 25-15.

"I am glad that we won in this important game which opened the season for us," Russia's first-year coach Evgeny Pashutin said.

"In the pre-season, we had successful games and unsuccessful ones, trying to find the right rotation, to improve defense and offense.

"I think that the meetings with the strong teams helped us a lot, especially the (last) one against Panathinaikos.

"That game hardened us, and we were calm today, showing no nervousness."

Viktor Khryapa, who missed the EuroBasket through injury, played more than 16 minutes and scored eight points for CSKA.

More important for Pashutin is what he did at the other end of the floor.

"Khryapa was very aggressive on defense today," the coach said. "That's why he had so many fouls (three).

"But that was understandable. "We want our defense to be that aggressive, on the brink of (committing) fouls."

Zalgiris captain Dainius Salenga had a game-high 18 points in defeat.

Azovmash travelled to Estonia and whipped Kalev in the other Group B game and took command in the opening quarter when they scored 21 points while holding the home side to just four.

Simonas Serapina finished with 21 points and Rolandas Jarutis 19 for Azovmash.

BC Donetsk, who are coached by former Lithuania boss Ramunas Butautas, beat Sergio Scariolo’s BC Khimki 70-69.

The Ukrainian outfit prevailed after outscoring their opponents 19-7 in the last quarter.

Scariolo, who will coach Spain at the 2010 FIBA World Championship, said Khimki will get better.

"Our team is still wet, you can even say green,” he said.

“The season just started for us because the willingness is far from the maximum.

“In the team, there is no chemistry. Players sometimes do not understand each other.”

FIBA