CSKA Moscow goes big on the road in VTB action

Round 20 of the VTB United League tipped off this week and it was business as usual for CSKA Moscow. The Russian giant had far too much for BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn with a big 79-113 win, despite the Estonians being at home. The rest of Round 20 will play out over Saturday and Sunday, but there were two other contests midweek.

A mouth-watering clash on paper opened the round when Unics Kazan hosted Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar on Wednesday. A huge game maybe as two of the VTB United League giants clashed, but the game was actually a grinding contest with little flair. That said, Lokomotiv will be delighted to come away from Kazan with a hard fought 50-60 win. In the other game on Thursday, CEZ Nymburk outlasted Krasnie Kryilya Samara at home with a 77-68 win.

BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn vs. CSKA Moscow, 79-113
Reigning VTB United League champions CSKA Moscow continued it solid defence of the title won last year with a cruising home win over Estonian side Kalev/Cramo. The Moscow juggernaut improved to 18-3 at the top of the league and has won two consecutive since losing to Khimky Moscow Region two weeks ago.

CSKA is of course chasing a record sixth VTB crown and the club looks to be the standard again this season. The club certainly had too much for a Cramo Tallinn team that now slips to 8-12 in mid table. Six players registered in double figures for CSKA Moscow, including Sonny Weems. The American has shaken off health niggles and is finding his best form, he plundered 19 points and offered six scoring passes here.

Weems was followed by a game high 21 points from Nando De Colo, 18 points from Andrey Vorontsevich, and 11 points apiece for Milos Teodosic and Sasha Kaun. CSKA produced massive second (16-31) and fourth (9-24) and dominated the hardwood for long spells and led by as much as 34 points. The visitors produced from the bench as supplements scored 34 points, while the hosts’ line players mustered just 13 points.