RUS - One down, two to go for treble-chasing CSKA

MOSCOW (Russian Cup) - CSKA head coach Ettore Messina is celebrating once again after his side secured their fourth honour in as many attempts under his reign, with victory in the Russian Cup.

CSKA defeated UNICS 74-59 in a closely-fought final, with Slovenia international power forward Matjaz Smodis leading the scoring for CSKA with 21 points.

Russian international center Aleksey Savrasenko was named MVP for the Final Four stage after putting in a sparkling display in the final, scoring 16 points and corralling 10 rebounds.

The victory was CSKA's second consecutive Russian Cup success under Messina, who also guided them to the Russian Superleague and Euroleague glory last season when he took over.

"I'd like to congratulate my team on the win," said Messina.

"I am very proud of the players who won individual prizes, but more so for the team because we have won the Russian Cup.

"It was a difficult game and we knew that UNICS would play good attacking basketball.

"That is why we decided to play aggressively, in order to prevent them passing the ball and delivering it to their taller players. We created difficulties for them under the basket.

"I'm proud of my players because they were clever and managed find a way through their opponents," he added.

CSKA are favourites to win the Superleague title in Russia.but before that play-off campaign, they have a Euroleague semi-final clash with Unicaja Malaga in Athens next week.

Messina is hoping that the injury picked up by Venezuelan forward Oscar Torres in the Russian Cup isn't too serious.

He said: "The only bad thing was the (Oscar) Torres injury that he got in the end of the first half. He strained a leg muscle and we don't know at the moment how serious it is."

FIBA