CSKA Moscow retains VTB League title

CSKA Moscow defeated Unics Kazan in Game 4 of the VTB League finals series to claim yet another title in the competition. The Army Men cemented its dominance of the league with a 74-81 road win in Kazan, a hard fought victory that had plenty of thrills and spills.

The success continues CSKA’s unprecedented control of the VTB League, this is the club’s fifth consecutive title. Since the VTB League commenced in 2008, CSKA Moscow has won seven titles in eight seasons, conceding just one to Khimki Moscow Region in 2011.

Of course, this title win lands in a season where CSKA also win the Euroleague, the club celebrating winning Europe’s elite competition last month. This undoubtedly means this is a campaign that will be written into CSKA’s already illustrious history.

Unics Kazan vs. CSKA Moscow, 74-81

CSKA’s win was built in the first half when the visitors stunned Unics, especially in a powerful first quarter. However, while Kazan was always in the contest, CSKA led from start to finish and at one point held a 21 point advantage.

The first quarter saw CSKA pepper the Unics bucket to the tune of 25 points, while keeping the hosts at 11 points for a huge lead. The win was all but sewn up in the second frame as CSKA moved over 20 points in front with a 15-17 run that made it 24-42 through the long break. In the third act Unics Kazan managed to cut the deficit with a 19-16 run, the scoreboard reading 43-58 through thirty minutes on the hardwood. The hosts continued to rally in the fourth quarter, but 29 point haul could not stop CSKA from wrapping the title.

Euroleague MVP Nando De Colo topped the win with 16 points, including six points in the final minute to secure the win. Milos Teodosic secured 11 points and took home the playoffs MVP trophy, while Kyle Hines added 10 points.

Arturas Milaknis led the scoring on the night with 23 points for Unics, followed by Keith Langford with 16 points.