By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
The battle to the top is becoming more intense between Unics and CSKA, while there is lots of reclassification in the lower spots of the standings! That being said, April holds interesting battles and intense games for most teams.
Weekly MVP
Jamar Smith earns this week’s MVP honor with a great game against Khimki! The 30-year-old player stepped in with clutch-like shots in the game’s’ most crucial turn and finished with 21 points, three rebounds and one assist, while he buried 4 out of 7 shots from afar. Enjoy his highlights:
Unics grabs tight road win in Moscow
Khimki’s meetings with Unics always hold back surprises and this time was no different either. After many shifts in charge of the score in the final period of the game, the visiting side held its ground and secured both the win and another week on top of the standings, thanks to Smith’s clutch-performance. The Kazan side is now getting ready to face its biggest opponent on April 2nd, CSKA.
CSKA’s fifth 100-point win
The reigning champions are devoted to their goal, and that, of course, is no other than finishing the season in the best way possible in VTB. On Monday, the Army team showcased its power against Enisey in their Moscow clash, with Leo Westermann taking charge for the hosts. The Frenchman finished with 15 points, while the surprise element was Alan Makiev, who tapped 14 points for the winners.
Meanwhile, enjoy some no-look magic by Vitaly Fridzon:
Six teams fighting for a playoffs spot
With the current results, Nizhny Novgorod and Parma remain in the playoffs’ picture, though Astana, VEF, Kalev and Tsmoki-Minsk are following closely behind and are looking for the perfect chance to change the balance of the standings again. Keep an eye for VEF’s game against Nizhny on April 1st, as the Latvian side desperately wants the win, while the Russians will do whatever it takes to make their place more secure ahead of the playoffs. Only a handful of games left, so stay tuned for epic battles!
Photo credit: VTB League of Flickr