OVERVIEW OF VTB UNITED LEAGUE 5TH ROUND

Victories of CSKA, UNICS, «Khimki» and «Zalgiris» lead them to «Final Four» in advance

In past week-end there were held games of 5th round in Moscow, Kazan, Riga and Tallinn.

Destiny of vouchers to «Final Four» from Group A depended on results of both games of the round. First — in Riga — played Latvian VEF and Russian «Khimki». Inspite of lack of tournament motivation and...head coach (coach of VEF Valdis Valters could not attend the game due to flue) host team, as it was expected, did everything, even impossible, to take first victory in the tournament. Leaded by Alex Renfroe (30 points and 9 assists) VEF players won the first quarter. However, one of grandees of Russian club basketball was not agree to such a situation. Before the brake players of Sergio Scariolo could jump ahead showing a gap between teams’ class. Any way home team was not broken and found strength to give a fight to threatening competitor. In 35th minute after long shot made by Renfroe himself the score difference reduced to 1 point — 77:78. However, «Khimki» did not let Riga’s player to get more: victory of Russian club — 90:83.

— First of all I would like to thank VEF team for a good game — marked head coach of «Khimki» Sergio Scariolo in press conference. — Our players controlled the flow of the game, leader 15 points but at some point we lowered concentration and let the opponent close by fast breaks and improving from game to game Alex Renfroe. It is good that we could bring status quo back. I would mark Jankunas who brought us important points in the end of the game.

Khimki’s victory in Riga, however, it did not guarantee the place in «Final Four». Moscow regional club is necessary loss of their competitor Ukrainian «Donetsk» in Kazan. Well, Kazan team did its best and took the fifth victory — 85:77. Frankly speaking it is necessary to mark that result of the game was affected by non-sport factor. The matter is that due to weather conditions «Donetsk» players could arrive to Kazan in the day of the game. Together with coach changes in the team: administration of the club resigned Lithuanian specialist Ramunas Butautas who was substituted by Zoran Kalpic. There were some problems with UNICS. Due to high temperature the leaders of the team Marko Popovic and Vladimir Veremeenko should have been miss the game. In the end, nervous, equal game which was decided in the third quarter. Valdemaras Homicius’s players could take the game and go ahead. UNICS victory — 85:77. Kazan guaranteed its place in «Final Four» and helped the another Russian club — «Khimki».

— It is hard to play such games — said coach of UNICS Valdemaras Homicius. We all have been waiting that opponent would be tired of the flight and could not play in full strength. Only when we understood it we played as we needed to.

— We could play better today — said acting as head coach of «Donetsk» Zoran Kalpic. — We could not which is explained by objective reasons. Head coach of the team is left, Askrabic could not play as well as tiring flights. We will continue to work, get ready to play better.

In Group B the place in «Final Four» was booked by Russian CSKA. Military club without any sign of problem beat Ukrainian Azovmash on Saturday — 98:69. Home team advantage which is in a very good shape was growing with each quarter. Active Champions of Ukraine did not surrender without fight; however, class of the teams was not equal.

— Guys were very motivated and professional — said head coach of CSKA Evgeniy Pashutin. — Moreover I am glad with our reserve players who spent enough playing time on the court.

— We played not the way we can — said coach of «Azovmash» Andrey Podkovyrov. — Probably the long way to Moscow because of the weather. More over some players are sick but the young players are not ready to play with such a team as CSKA. We ‘ve been fighting as we could the rest was impossible.

The last voucher to «Final Four» of VTB United League 2009/10 received Lithuanian «Zalgiris». In Tallinn in the final game of the 5th Round Kaunas club over played Estonian «Kalev». The result of the game was decided in the first quarter: guests controlled the flow of the game and made two digitals score advantage. Same confidently player of Gintaras Krapikas acted in the third quarter by adding 10 more points. The maximum which «Kalev» could get was to win the forth quarter. In the end «Zalgiris» victory — 82:58.