Moscow will host the 3rd Plac Seires Game 5 on Monday.
CSKA (Moscow) – Zenit (Saint Petersburg)
Location: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Broadcast: TV Start, Match! Igra, League website
Series Score: 3-1
– Congratulations to CSKA on this win. In this game we had chances to win, the team played much better than in the last game. In the first 3 minutes of the third quarter, we just crumbled, and although in the remaining 37 minutes we played more or less as needed, fought, were concentrated, did not commit many turnovers, CSKA earned a big advantage and benefited from it. In the end, we made small mistakes on rebounding after CSKA free-throws. Fastbreak – Kurbanov, Fastbreak – Moore, senseless foul by Toropov on Kurbanov and 2 free-throws. These small mistakes in such a game cost us the win.
Emil Rajkovic, CSKA head coach:
– I think it was the toughest game in the series. Zenit fought as best as they could, even after our lead in the third quarter, they returned to this game. Everything looked bad for us, but I think in the end the character of my players took over. We hit some important, tough shots in the end, and it helped us.
Trent Frazier, Zenit guard
– I think we followed the game plan throughout the game. There were a few mistakes, but we fought, we were in the game. Yes, we are still losing in this Series, but we are not giving up. We just made a few mistakes that cost us the win. But it’s difficult to defend against them for the entire 40 minutes. We just gave them the game, it’s hard to take. Emotionally difficult.
Casper Ware, CSKA guard:
– It was a good game! In the end, the leader changed several times, and we just made our shots in the last minute. They were coming back into the game, but we didn’t slow down either and in the end we won.
Deja vu with last season, when I made a three? I didn’t have time to think about it! There are practiced moves, you’re just trying to do everything right to score. It just happened like that, I’m glad that I manage such shots. I hope they will continue!
