By Eurohoops Team / info@eurohoops.net
Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar is in the semi-finals! With two straight wins, ‘Loko’ booked the ticket to the next round, defeating Herbalife Gran Canaria 59-80 on the road.
The game was close in the first half (35-37) as both teams were competing. Dimitri Kulagin and Ondrej Balvin were going at it, but the story of the game was the third period. With an impressive 0-12 run at the start of the second half, ‘Loko’ built a double-digit lead (35-49). Sasa Obradovic’s team played great defense in the third quarter, forcing the home team to shoot 21.4% from the field for nine total points. Since that point, the visitors did not look back and even increased the deficit in the final quarter to twenty points.
Kulagin was on another level tonight as he finished with a career-high 32 points (4/8 3FG) (12/12FT) willing his team to the semi-finals. The 25-year old did it all, scored three-pointers, drove the lane to the basket but also made twelve free-throws. Frank Elegar added 11 points and eight rebounds. For the losing side, Ondrej Balvin finished with 12 points.
Darussafaka also qualified to the semis. Lokomotiv will play with either Zenit or Reggio Emilia in the next round.