RUS - Dynamo spring surprise against defending champs CSKA
MOSCOW (Superleague) - Dynamo Moscow proved they are not just making up the numbers in the Russian Superleague play-offs by upsetting CSKA Moscow 84-70 to level their best-of-five semi-final series at 1-1. Dusan Ivkovic’s men stormed out to a 14-0 advantage against his former club and though defending champions CSKA battled back to tie the contest at 42-42, a three-ball by former Russian international Dimitry Domani late in the third quarter sparked a decisive 9-0 run for Dynamo.
MOSCOW (Superleague) - Dynamo Moscow proved they are not just making up the numbers in the Russian Superleague play-offs by upsetting CSKA Moscow 84-70 to level their best-of-five semi-final series at 1-1.
Dusan Ivkovic’s men stormed out to a 14-0 advantage against his former club and though defending champions CSKA battled back to tie the contest at 42-42, a three-ball by former Russian international Dimitry Domani late in the third quarter sparked a decisive 9-0 run for Dynamo.
Greek internationals Antonis Fotsis and Lazaros Papadopolous led the way for Dynamo with 17 and 15 points, respectively.
Dynamo boss Ivkovic was thrilled with the way his team battled back from their 84-75 setback in the opening game.
“The game was quite different - it's play-offs, you know,” he said. “I want to congratulate my players, after so many problems and injuries, they showed very good basketball in both games.
“Players showed real passion on the floor, especially Lazaros who netted in the opening game not too many points but played better today.
“I'm glad that we won, but I'm glad even more that we won in every aspect of the game.”
Tactically, Ivkovic believes, his team was better.
“CSKA played zone in the second game half, but we controlled the game better,” he said.
“It's also very important to control the emotions and teach the players to do it in this derby.”
CSKA were beaten in the final of the Euroleague 13 days ago at Panathinaikos, and coach Ettore Messina believes his players are still feeling a hangover from that defeat.
“Dynamo played better from the very start,” he said. “They were better in all aspects.
“We were running on empty. After the Final Four – no matter if the team loses or not – it’s normal. We had the same problem last year in the series against UNICS.”
CSKA won that semi-final against UNICS 3-1 before sweeping BC Khimki 3-0 in the final.
UNICS lead Khimki 2-0 in the other semi-final of the Superleague play-offs after winning the first game, 86-72, and the second 81-78.
Dynamo and Khimki host the third games in their respective series on Sunday.
Jeff Taylor
FIBA