By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
The VTB League Final Four is only a few days away. CSKA Moscow faces Zenit and Unics Kazan will fight against Khimki for a ticket to the league’s big final.
So many common aspects between the teams, though three of them share one more connection: A Greek head coach! The Greek coaching era is rising and their presence in the Final Four of VTB is a sign of change in European basketball. Throw a chase of a EuroLeague ticket in the mix and things are getting even more enticing.
CSKA Moscow – Dimitris Itoudis
CSKA might have gone through a tough EuroLeague Final Four, though Dimitris Itoudis has led the team to glory multiple times. Itoudis, that first joined the team in 2014 and ever since has won three VTB League championships with the Army Team, while he has also been named coach of the year in 2015 and 2017.
This Final Four will be a challenge for CSKA, that wants to cover up for its performance in Belgrade and the chances are in favor. It remains to be seen if they can overcome Zenit.
CSKA’s consistency in the past few years proves that Itoudis is the perfect cut for the team, while at the same time, it’s a bright sight for the Greek coaching ‘industry’.
Khimki Moscow – Georgios Bartzokas
Bartzokas’ cooperation with Khimki began last season and in a short period of time, the team has left an impression. After making it to the EuroLeague playoffs and putting on pressure on Itoudis’ CSKA (despite the elimination), they found their way to the Final Four of VTB.
Khimki has a great thirst for a VTB League title, after losing to CSKA last season, one that matches perfectly with Bartzokas’ mindset.
With persistence and hard work, he has gained ground in European basketball. A EuroLeague champion in 2013, Bartzokas surely knows how to push each and every team he coaches to the best of its ability. If he meets Itoudis in the finals, expect Panathinaikos fans to support CSKA and Olympiacos to favor Khimki.