CSKA Moscow downs AEK Athens in friendly
Reigning Euroleague champions, CSKA Moscow, continued its fine preseason form as the Russian giant continued to warm for the elite continental competition. CSKA is bidding to become just the third club to defend the Euroleague since 1990, following Olympiacos (2012 and 2013) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004 and 2005).
If successful, CSKA Moscow will win its 8th title in the competition, just one behind Real Madrid on the all-time list. The Army Men will be buoyed by the showpiece finale at the end of the Final Four in May, where they defeated Fenerbahce 101-96 in overtime.
It’s all business again though with the 2016/2017 Euroleague set to tip off soon. This season’s competition sees a change in format which will put the clubs against each other from the start. In its preparations on Wednesday, CSKA Moscow travelled to Greece and overcame AEK Athens 84-90. The game proved a solid workout for the Russians and allowed coach Dimitrios Itoudis to test his roster.
AEK Athens vs. CSKA Moscow, 84-90
The hosts started in terrific form and peppered the bucket to the tune of 27 points in the first quarter. CSKA could only hustle to keep pace, but through ten minutes trailed by 4 points (27-23). The tide started to change in the second frame as the Euroleague champs’ quality started to show. A 28-point effort in the stanza allowed the guests to take a slender 49-51 lead through the long break.
In the third act there was nothing to separate the teams as baskets and the lead were traded. At one point, CSKA had opened a double-digit lead at 55-65, but AEK Athens rallied back to tie proceedings 67-67 earlier in the fourth. James Augustine helped hand victory to the Russians, scoring four as Moscow plundered six straight points late in the quarter to take the contest.
Milos Teodosic led the win with 18 points and 6 assists, current Euroleague MVP Nando De Colo scored 14 points, and James Augustine managed 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting plus 9 rebounds.
Dusan Sakota paced AEK with a game high 20 points, followed by Edin Atic and Dimitrios Mavroeidis with 12 points apiece.