RUS - Fridzon dagger helps Khimki win Eurocup

MOSCOW (Eurocup) - Sergey Monya and Vitaly Fridzon will travel to Venezuela for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) this summer as Eurocup champions.

The Russian national team duo helped BC Khimki beat Spartak Saint Petersburg on Saturday and then Valencia Basket on Sunday in the Eurocup Finals.

Fridzon had a huge play in the game that swung the momentum to Khimki for good.

Nik Caner-Medley had just pulled Valencia level at 66-66 with a shot from the arc when Fridzon answered with a three-pointer.

Khimki led for the rest of the contest.

"This is amazing," Fridzon said.

"I cannot describe how I am feeling right now. It is the first European trophy for Khimki.

"We won a Russian Cup before, but this is much bigger. I am so happy to be in this team."

Mickael Gelabale, meanwhile had an important moment in the contest for Khimki when he made a defensive play that snuffed the life out of the Valencia team.

Caner-Medley had just made two free-throws to cut the Khimki advantage to five and Florent Pietrus intercepted the inbound pass and attempted to drive in and score with a lay-up.

Gelabale got into good defensive position, however, jumped straight up before blocking the attempt from his fellow Frenchman.

The play triggered a fast-break that led to a dunk by Australia international Matt Nielsen.

By winning the Eurocup, Khimki have qualified for next season's Euroleague.

Zoran Planinic, a veteran Croatian, was the MVP of the Eurocup Finals after scoring 19 points on Sunday.

Jonas Valanciunas, like Planinic and Caner-Medley a member of the All-Eurocup First Team, bounced back from a sub-par performance in Saturday's 80-70 defeat to Valencia by scoring 10 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking three shots as Lietuvos Rytas beat Spartak Saint Petersburg, 71-62, to clinch third place.

FIBA