Tsmoki Minsk narrowly lose to CSKA Moscow in VTB United League

Being clear underdogs ahead of the CSKA Moscow match, the Belarusian basketball club Tsmoki Minsk managed to put up a great performance and lost only by a four-point margin in tour 4.

Some 7,350 spectators watched the match at Minsk Arena on 3 November. The hosts played well against CSKA Moscow, who are champions of the VTB United League, but the away side eventually snatched a 66:62 (18:12, 16:18, 13:15, 19:17) victory, their fourth in a row at the tournament.

Tsmoki Minsk’s U.S. international Keith Benson top-scored for the Belarusian side with 21 points, while Serbia’s Milos Teodosic was CSKA’s top scorer in this game (20 points).

Tsmoki Minsk, coached by Lithuanian Donaldas Kairys, won their opening away match of the VTB United League against VEF Riga (89:83) but then succumbed to a 112:113 overtime defeat at home against Krasny Oktyabr. In the previous match in Minsk Tsmoki Minsk overpowered Lithuania’s KK Neptunas from Klaipeda 91:90. They are now set to meet Azovmash of Ukraine who have the same tournament record as the Minsk team, two wins and two losses.

Before this match Tsmoki Minsk will play in the 2013 EuroChallenge. On 5 November they meet Romania’s BC Mures in Group H. Playing in this group are also Hungary’s Szolnoki Olaj KK and Bulgaria’s Rilski Sportist Samokov. The winner of the group and the runner-up will enter the next round of the EuroChallenge.