Tsmoki-Minsk takes 6th straight title

Tsmoki-Minsk’s hold over the Belarus Premier League showed no signs of loosening as the club marched to a sixth consecutive league crown. A dominating force in Belarus Basketball over the last 10 years, Tsmoki-Minsk is the true powerhouse of the country and few would bet against the club making it seven straight titles next season.

The team rallied in this game away from home against Grodno-93 to win the clash 68-78 and end a campaign that saw Minsk go undefeated through the Regular Season, amassing a 14-0 record along the way. Grodno finished the league campaign in second place, and the club gave Tsmoki an early scare in this game, taking a six point lead after 10 minutes of play. It had been a good start by the hosts, but Minsk moved through the gears in the second frame to hold a four point cushion by half-time.

Buoyed by that first half comeback, the visitors got the basics right to take a victory based on solid work in the paint. In fact, 43 points of the eventual 78 total came from underneath, giving Minsk a base from which to consistently hurt Grodno. Liutych led the winners with 16 points, while Branko Mirkovic paced the success with 15 points for Tsmoki-Minsk, followed by Aliaksei Lashkevich with 15 of his own, coming from 7 of 9 shooting from the field.

Igor Konyushenko collected a game high 17 points for the downed Grodno-93, while Kanstantin Yafremov hauled 10 points and 8 rebounds in the losing effort.