CSKA Moscow consolidates atop the VTB League

After Khimki’s close road loss to Zenit St. Petersburg on Sunday, CSKA Moscow had the chance to extend its lead at the top of the VTB United League. The Euroleague giant did just that, and in style too as the club put Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd to the sword while closing out Round 22 of the competition.

CSKA’s 88-101 road success was enough to enhance the clubs’ position at the top of the standings, the Moscow outfit now holding a 21-3 record. Their felled opponents Krasny Oktyabr slipped to a 9-13 record in eighth place as a consequence of the loss.

Randy Culpepper (Krasny) and Nando de Colo (CSKA) were typically in blistering scoring form, but through thirty minutes and three quarters, Krasny kept pace and the teams traded buckets. Indeed, at the final split it was 74-80 and any team’s game, but through a 23-27 third quarter the visitors had started to assert superiority. In the fourth act the Moscow contingent cemented the victory with a 14-21 charge that made it comfortable down the stretch.

Nando de Colo had a blazing game and paced to 33 points while laying on 5 assists. Sonny Weems was also strong for CSKA with a solid all-round effort of 15 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 scoring passes.

Culpepper was hard to deal with in the opening exchanges, and the Volgograd player dominated the first fifteen minutes. He cooled after, but still amassed 29 points through the contest. Following Culpepper was Cuthbert Victor with 16 points and the games only double-double, 12 points and 10 assists from Willie Deane.