RUS - CSKA sweep Dynamo to book place in finals

MOSCOW (SUPERLEAGUE A) - Reigning champions CSKA Moscow dispatched cross town rivals Dynamo 88-80 to win their best-of-five semi-final series 3-0 and reach the finals yet again.

Evgeniy Pashutin's side will face either BC Khimki or UNICS Kazan as they look to win their eighth domestic league championship in a row.

CSKA got off to a great start, leading 24-15 at the end of the first quarter and taking a 47-35 lead at halftime.

Dynamo, playing in front of their home crowd, fought back to get within 69-68 midway through the final period but Ramunas Siskauskas - who poured in a game-high 28 points - and Sasha Kaun combined for 13 points down the stretch to secure the win.

Viktor Khryapa had 17 points and nine rebounds while Kaun finished with 16 points and seven boards.

Alexey Zhukanenko had 21 points to lead the way for Dynamo.

Meanwhile, UNICS avoided getting swept by beating Khimki 84-72 in Kazan.

The hosts had a strong first half that resulted in a 46-36 lead at the break. But the game was tied at 60 after the visitors accounted for 24 of the 38 points scored in the third period.

UNICS though kept their cool and responded with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring their opponents 24-12 - including a 12-0 run at one point.

Marko Popovic had 19 points and handed out 10 assists for UNICS. Kresimir Loncar and Vladimir Veremeenko drained key three-pointers as part of the late spurt and that proved to be the final blow for Khimki.

Game 4 is in Kazan on Saturday.

FIBA