By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Following his team’s loss to Baskonia in Game 2 of the EuroLeague playoffs, CSKA Moscow coach Dimitris Itoudis made a remark on how Baskonia coach Velimir Perasovic didn’t talk about the free throws shot by the two teams in the match.
Perasovic had mentioned that CSKA knows how to draw fouls and go to the line after the Russian team shot 28 free throws against Baskonia’s 12 in the Spanish team’s Game 1 defeat.
Baskonia guard Marcelinho Huertas was asked about Itoudis’ comments in the presser ahead of Game 3.
“I haven’t seen the statement… but I don’t think they [CSKA Moscow] can complain much. We don’t have to talk about it either,” Huertas said. “We must go out and play and let the game be fair. We don’t ask that they favor any team but that the refereeing is fair. That’s what they are there for, to be neutral. What there can’t be, is any difference if the two teams play at the same physical level. One team pulls 40 [free throws] and the other 10 or so. It’s a topic that you have to talk about. Not us.”
Baskonia tied the series 1-1 by forcing CSKA to its first home defeat in the EuroLeague quarterfinals since 2008. The Basque side, that also hosts 2019 Final Four, can win the series with two victories at home. CSKA, on the other hand, must now win at least one game on the road.