By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Sergio Rodriguez registered a new EuroLeague career-high 35 in PIR after scoring a record-tying 25 points, dishing out 8 assists and grabbing 6 rebounds, leading CSKA Moscow to a 90 – 81 against Baskonia in Vitoria.
“We came with a lot of character in the second quarter and second half. It’s a big victory because we finish the first part of the regular season on top”, Rodriguez said in the post-game flash interview.
Chacho was also the one to drop the dagger by draining the 3-pointer that made 85 – 78 with 1:17 remaining. This bucket completed a decisive 15-6 partial score that CSKA run in the beginning of the period to notch its 12th victory in 15 games of the first leg of the regulars season.
Baskonia, that entered the final period up 72 – 70, couldn’t keep up in the last stretch and fell after scoring merely 9 points in the fourth quarter, thus dropping to 7 – 8. Toko Shengelia had a big double-double of 20 points/13 rebounds while Janis Timma added 17 points plus 5 boards.
The Basques had a stunning entrance and closed the first period up 26 – 18 but the Chacho’s impact, along with Will Clyburn’s (20 points, 6 rebounds) all-around helps lifted the “Army Men” high enough to go ahead 51 – 48 at the break.
Although the hosts took over 24 – 19 in the third, CSKA’s final push was simply too powerful to be stopped.