By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Knotted at one win apiece, KIROLBET Baskonia and CSKA Moscow will square off on Wednesday. The two teams will meet again at the Fernando Buesa Arena on Friday. “After winning on the road, we have more options taking the series home” Velimir Perasovic said ahead of his team’s two home games.
The home-court advantage now belongs to the Spanish side that can advance to the Final Four with a pair of victories at Vitoria-Gasteiz. “We are aware of the difficulty of the opponent but it’s also true that having a 1-1 with two games at home is positive” the 54-year-old head coach added.
The final stage of the Europe’s premier competition will also take place at the Fernando Buesa Arena, which is an added incentive for Baskonia. “They are an experienced team that has lost very few games and it won’t be easy, but we do not have to think about it too much. We will be in front of our people and we are eager to play a good game” Perasovic pointed out.
Baskonia’s player, Marcelinho Huertas, talked about he believes a 2-1 lead can be achieved: “The team is feeling well on all fronts. The mind controls it all and we must be ready to face any script for the game. We must keep them at a low scoring, that’s what’s best for us, and then we have to try to run and play transitions.”
On the other side, CSKA’s boss Dimitris Itoudis pointed out: “We go to Vitoria to play better game than we did in Game 2 in Moscow”. Nikita Kurbanov mentioned: “We know what to expect in means of basketball and atmosphere in the gym. We have the most important games of the season so far in front of us, and our goal is very clear.”