VTB United League Play-Offs 2017-2018

FINAL

CSKA - Khimki 95-84

CSKA defended their VTB League title. They outgunned Khimki in the title game in Moscow tonight to claim the seventh straight League trophy. The game was mostly controlled by CSKA. Khimki managed to win third quarter 28-25. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They made 25-of-30 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game. CSKA looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Khimki helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. French Nando De-Colo (196-87) fired 18 points and 7 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) for the winners. American swingman Cory Higgins (196-89, college: Colorado) chipped in 20 points and 4 steals. Guard Alexey Shved (198-88, agency: Alti Sport) produced 21 points and 9 assists and American forward Malcolm Thomas (206-88, college: San Diego St.) added 17 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. Five CSKA and four Khimki players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
CSKA: C.Higgins 20+3reb+2ast, N.De Colo 18+2reb+7ast, W.Clyburn 16+4reb+2ast, S.Rodriguez 15+2reb+8ast, K.Hines 10+8reb+3ast, S.Antonov 9+4reb+1ast
Khimki: A.Shved 21+4reb+9ast, M.Thomas 17+7reb, T.Honeycutt 11+4reb+1ast, A.Gill 11+6reb+3ast, J.Anderson 9+1reb, V.Zaytsev 5+1reb+1ast



Bronze Medals Game

Zenit - Unics 93-79

Zenit stepped onto the pedestal. They beat Unics to claim Bronze medals. The game was mostly controlled by Zenit. Unics Kazan managed to win third quarter 20-18. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They made 23-of-26 free shots (88.5 percent) during the game. Zenit forced 20 Unics Kazan turnovers. Strangely Unics Kazan outrebounded Zenit 41-29 including 26 on the defensive glass. 24 personal fouls committed by Unics Kazan helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. American-Slovakian guard Kyle Kuric (193-89, college: Louisville) fired 29 points and 4 steals for the winners. American guard Demonte Harper (193-89, college: Morehead St.) chipped in 20 points. Guard Anton Ponkrashov (200-86, agency: BeoBasket) produced 11 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Canadian-Nigerian forward Melvin Ejim (201-91, college: Iowa St.) added 14 points and 7 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
Zenit: K.Kuric 29+2reb, D.Harper 20+2reb+3ast, S.Whittington 12+7reb, S.Karasev 11+2reb+3ast, E.Valiev 10+5reb+1ast, S.Reynolds 6+1reb+3ast
Unics: J.Smith 16+2reb+2ast, M.Ejim 14+7reb+1ast, J.Colom 13+3reb+2ast, A.Ponkrashov 11+9reb+4ast, M.Ndour 10+7reb+2ast, V.Trushkin 8+4reb

Eurobasket.com All-VTB League 1st Team 2018

De Colo

Kuric

Shved

Clarke

Hines

Finals MVP: Sergio Rodriguez (191-PG-86) of CSKA
Player of the Year: Nando De Colo (196-SG-87) of CSKA
Guard of the Year: Nando De Colo (196-SG-87) of CSKA
Forward of the Year: Coty Clarke (201-F-92) of Avtodor
Center of the Year: Kyle Hines (198-C/F-86) of CSKA
Young Player of the Year: Isaiah Briscoe (191-PG-96) of Kalev/Cramo
Defensive Player of the Year: Dmitrii Kulagin (197-G/F-92) of Lokomotiv
Sixth Man of the Year: Jamar Smith (191-G-87) of Unics
Best Russian Player: Alexey Shved (198-G-88) of Khimki
European Player of the Year: Nando De Colo (196-SG-87) of CSKA
Import Player of the Year: Coty Clarke (201-F-92) of Avtodor
Coach of the Year: Dimitris Itoudis of CSKA

1st Team
SG: Nando De Colo (196-SG-87) of CSKA
G: Kyle Kuric (193-G-89) of Zenit
G: Alexey Shved (198-G-88) of Khimki
F: Coty Clarke (201-F-92) of Avtodor
C/F: Kyle Hines (198-C/F-86) of CSKA

2nd Team
G: Justin Robinson (174-G-95) of Avtodor
G: Jamar Smith (191-G-87) of Unics
SF: Will Clyburn (201-SF-90) of CSKA
F: Mardy Collins (196-F-84) of Lokomotiv
F/C: Stevan Jelovac (208-F/C-89) of N.Novgorod

Honorable Mention
Sergey Karasev (201-F-93) of Zenit
Cory Higgins (196-G/F-89) of CSKA
Sergio Rodriguez (191-PG-86) of CSKA
Joaquin Colom (188-G-88) of Unics
Stephane Lasme (203-F-82) of Unics
Joe Ragland (181-PG-89) of Lokomotiv
Tyler Honeycutt (203-F-90) of Khimki
Jake Odum (193-G-91) of N.Novgorod
Alexander Perez Kaufmann (191-PG-93) of VEF Riga
Chris Czerapowicz (201-G-91) of Tsmoki-Minsk
David Kravish (208-F/C-92) of Tsmoki-Minsk
Justin Carter (193-G/F-87) of Astana
Ike Joseph Udanoh (203-PF-89) of Astana

Russia Stars - World Stars 125-124

Russian Stars edge World Stars 125-124 in St Petersburg All Star Game. Russia took a 31-23 lead at the end of the first period and led 8 points at the halftime. Both teams nailed 33 points each in the third period, while World Stars looked better at the end of the game. They reduced the gap to a minimum, however could not seal the victory.
Sergey Karasev (201-F-93, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) top-scored for the winers with 29 points and Andrey Vorontsevich (207-PF-87) nailed 26. Nikita Kurbanov (202-SF-86) followed with 18 points to become the third player in double digits. Coty Clarke (201-F-92, college: Arkansas, agency: BeoBasket) replied with 20 points in a loss, whilst Nando De Colo (196-SG-87) and Anthony Gill (203-PF-92, college: Virginia) poured in 16 each.
Frank Elegar (208-C-86, college: Drexel) won the Dunk Contest. His teammate from Lokomotiv Ryan Broekhoff (197-F-90, college: Valparaiso) became the winner of the 3-point contest.