By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
CSKA Moscow began the new Euroleague season in a manner more than fitting to the reigning champions by completely overpowering Galatasaray 84 – 109.
It was like the Russian team took it from where they left it in the previous years, running a show compiled by 24 assists and a shooting display of 62% in field goal attempts.
Although CSKA was in control, mostly a total one, during the vast majority of the game, the final outcome was more or less decided in the first moments of the fourth quarter. Coach Itoudis’ players had entered the period with a 71 – 81 and proceeded to slash through the “Cimbom” defenses scoring 13 points while receiving only two in less than three minutes.
With the difference skyrocketed to 21 points, 73 – 94, the rest of the game became a standard procedure.
To no one’s surprise, the main responsibles for CSKA’s absolute victory were Nando De Colo (22 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) and Milos Teodosic (20 points, 11 assists). The Serbian guard also entered the Top 10 of the all-time leading scorers in Euroleague, passing Sarunas Jasikevicius in the related list.
Five players dropped double-digit numbers in scoring for Galatasaray, but the Turkish team couldn’t match their opponents’ power. The only moment when the hosts showed they might become dangerous was in the beginning of the third quarter when they struck as lightning to score 18 points in six minutes 63 – 68. However there was no continuation to this outbreak.
Sinan Guler finished the match with 16 points and 5 assists, while Alex Tyus had 16 plus 5 rebounds.