RUS – CSKA to go with youngsters in VTB opener

MOSCOW (VTB United League) - CSKA Moscow will not be at full strength on Wednesday when they launch their VTB United League title defense against Lietuvos Rytas.
 
The Russians won’t have four Russian internationals: Andrey Vorontsevich, Viktor Khryapa, Alexander ‘Sasha’ Kaun and JR Holden.
 
Vorontsevich and Kaun played important roles for David Blatt’s team at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey, helping the Russians make a surprising run to the Quarter-Finals last month where they were beaten by eventual gold medalists Team USA.
 
Viktor Khryapa missed the entire tournament because of injury and has yet to appear for CSKA in pre-season games.
 
"I am pleased that the doctors allowed Sasha to play without restrictions,”  CSKA coach Dusko Vujosevic said ahead of the game that will be played in Moscow.
 
“This means that his knee has healed. After one workout, it doesn’t make sense to use Kaun.
 
“Therefore, we’ll use our young players again.”
 
Holden, who decided not to play for Russia this summer, returned to Europe for the new season but has been sidelined by what the club has described as “heart problems”.
 
CSKA announced: “JR Holden went to Germany on Wednesday for an additional examination of his heart problems in a specialized cardiology clinic of Duisburg.
 
“According to the test results, which will be available in three days, the player and the club's medical staff will decide whether to conduct a special procedure on the heart, designed to resolve existing problems.”
 
FIBA