By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The quality and talent of CSKA Moscow made all the difference in the end versus Zenit, while Nizhny Novgorod returned to form after the mid-week home defeat for Eurocup, by outlasting Unics Kazan in overtime.
Nando De Colo scored 14 points in the last 5 minutes of the game and Milos Teodosic delivered crucial plays on both ends of court, helping CSKA (25-2) escape St. Petersburg with the victory against Zenit (15-5). The hosts failed to defend properly in the crucial moments near the end of the match, however they had previously proved themselves really tough to break.
Even though CSKA had taken a twelve-point lead near the end of the first half, Zenit turned the tables around in the third quarter, even getting ahead of the score. But De Colo was a force to be reckoned in the fourth period and his actions were way too much for Zenit to handle.
A thrilling game took place between Nizhny Novgorod (15-10) and Unics Kazan (21-4), which was decided in overtime. Coach Pashutin’s players were far better in the first half, that ended 28 – 44 but their opponents showed their teeth in the second, gaining a lead of four, 71 – 67 with less than one minute to go. Quino Colom then forced an overtime with 3/3 free throws, but it didn’t do any good to his team, since Nizhny stormed in the extra period with a 7-0 run and got the win in the end.
A 15-0 run by Lokomotiv Kuban (18-6) in the beginning of the fourth quarter destroyed all hopes that Kalev (7-17) had to take a surprising victory in Krasnodar. Now coach Bartzokas’ team has climbed in the third place of the standings. Meanwhile Enisey (9-15) obliterated Astana (6-19) through an impressive offensive output.
Dusko Ivanovic achieved his first victory with Khimki Moscow (17-8), although not without a certain amount of stress. Despite entering the fourth quarter being behind the score with 14 points, Krasny Oktyabr (10-15) made an impressive comeback and got close 78 – 79 with only 24 seconds to go! But a turnover in the very last play didn’t allow them to complete the upset and Khimki escaped with the win.
VTB League 2015/2016 – March 21st
Nizhny Novgord (Victor Rudd 21 p. 8 r. 6 a.) – Unics Kazan: 91 – 81 (OT)
Tsmoki Minsk (Anthony Hilliard 32 p. 5 r. 5 a.) – Bisons Loimaa: 119 – 83
Lokomotiv Kuban (Ryan Broekhoff 14 p. 9 r.) – Kalev Tallinn: 71 – 67
VEF Riga (Janis Berzins 19 p.)- Vita Tbilisi: 99 – 59
Enisey (David Kennedy 27 p. 9 r. 6 a.) – Astana: 96 – 70
Zenit St. Petersburg – CSKA Moscow (Milos Teodosic 20 p. 6 a.): 82 – 86
Krasny Oktyabr – Khimki Moscow (Alexey Shved 24 p.) : 78 – 80
Nymburk – Avtodor Saratov (Paul Stoll 17 p. 8 a.) : 73 – 92