RUS/MKD - Kaun leads Blatt’s team to win

KAUNAS (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Russia won a couple of very close games against The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) at last year's EuroBasket, including a clash for the bronze medal.

But center Sasha Kaun didn’t play in either of those contests after being ruled out of the tournament with an injury.

Kaun was present on Thursday in Kaunas, though, when the teams met in a warm-up game for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) and he led the Russians with 14 points in an 80-61 victory.

The game was an encouraging one for Russia because Andrei Kirilenko played a lot of minutes, despite having only just linked up with the team.

The team lost Viktor Khryapa to a finger injury in the second half, though.

FYROM played without key men Pero Antic, Vlado Ilievski, Bo McCalebb and Todor Gechevski.

"I'm particularly pleased with the last 20 minutes of the game," Russia coach David Blatt said.

"My guys showed a very good game and did just the things that I asked them to do.

"Everyone played a lot and had the opportunity to prove himself.

"Andrei Kirilenko got a lot of playing time and this is primarily due to the fact that he has recently joined the team.

"This game was supposed to help him quickly get into rhythm.

"I am pleased with the form in which he is in.

"Viktor Khryapa also got to spend more time on the floor but he got a little finger injury, something I hope is nothing serious."

Russia’s federation later announced that Khryapa has a dislocated finger, and that doctors have prescribed an individual training program for him that likely rules him out of friendly encounters in the coming week.

Blatt says there is a lot of hard work to be done by his squad before they play at the 12-team OQT in Caracas, Venezuela, where three places for the London Games are up for grabs.

The event tips off 2 July.

"We have no illusions about the victory at this stage and sees it as a workout," Blatt said.

Next up for Russia in Kaunas is a game against Greece, another side that will be at the OQT.

FIBA