BC Khimki’s Head Coach Kestutis KEMZURA, is certain the team would lose even before the tip off.

— We gave the boys a lot of sprit, but we were unable to prepare them enough. I am pressed to explain this. We know that Crvena Zvezda plays raw with fouls. Granted, but even our offense was immobilized. Our defense lacked bite, we took too long, and we allowed too many attempts.

— After a start like that, we were unable to recuperate, not only to level the game, but to catch up to a lead of 12 points from the first game. I think the opponents’ coach -having made a good analysis — was able to give his boys optimum training for this game.

Kestutis, did you expect the opponent would handle the ball from the very beginning and for 20 seconds, killing time, or…?

— We expected a couple of variations. We knew that on Zvezda’s roster, there are players able to press in, and we considered this type of play. Nonetheless, I was sincerely a bit worried.

Do you think the team was not psychologically or physically prepared enough?

— The graphic was difficult, but we prepared for each of the possible combinations. The systems do not always come out as plan A. The players are human, regardless of any tactic or strategy developed by the coaches. We lacked some hardness, and probably what we will have to correct.

At least, before the half time, when there was less than 20 seconds to go, you made some changes. Where you trying to shake up the team?

— Giving up is not part of my rules. I surely asked for a time out too early in the first half.

The game and the points scored by the leaders in this game were not too satisfactory…

— The game, and statistics, is not always the same thing. In basketball, besides the score, there is an active defense, and not always the most effective is the best. I don’t want to point out anyone in particular. On Tuesday, the entire team lost, and I did too.

Head coach for Crvena Zvezda, Dragan SAKOTA, considers that his team won a prestigious victory, in the rematch as well as in the general series.

— I think we were the stronger ones throughout the game. I'm sorry we didn’t play this way in the regular stage, but because of these results we got third place, and we remained in the skeletal structure where destiny assigned all the best teams of the tournament: Khimki, Real, UNICS, and Montepaschi. But the first step has been taken, and now we can prepare for the match versus the Madrid team.

1/8 Finals. Rematch

FMP Zeleznik (Belgrade, Serbia) vs. Grupo Dunas (Grand Canaries, Spain): 70-64 (14-19, 14-17, 22-15, 20-13). First Match: 88-84.
Lietuvos Rytas (Vilnius, Lithuania) vs. Snaidero (Udine, Italy): 65-60 (16-7, 14-17, 14-18, 21-18). 72-75
BC Ventspils (Latvia) vs. Hapoel (Jerusalem, Israel): 62-73 (15-22, 13-23, 12-15, 22-13). 73-88.
SLUG Nancy (France) vs. IG Strasbourg (France): 74-86 (15-22, 13-20, 16-21, 30-23). 86-89.
Real (Madrid, Spain) vs. Alba (Berlin, Germany): 73-57 (12-18, 21-18, 18-12, 22-9). 74-65.
BC Khimki (Moscow Region) vs. Crvena Zvezda (Belgrade, Serbia): 76-93 (11-26, 26-25, 20-22, 19-20). 77-89
UNICS (Kazan, Russia) vs. Hemofarm (Belgrade, Serbia): 95-64 (23-17, 26-17, 28-13, 18-17). 90-73.
Montepaschi (Siena, Italy) vs. PAOK (Saloniki, Greece): 80-77 (18-14, 14-16, 26-26, 22-21). 79-62.

1/8

1/4

1/2

Final

1/2

1/4

1/8

30.01,13.02

27.02, 06.03

13, 20.03

10.04

13, 20.03

27.02, 06.03

30.01,13.02

FMP, Serbia

Real M, Spain

88-84, 70-64

FMP Serbia

Real M, Spain

74-65, 73-57

Grand Canaries, Spain

Alba, Germany

P

R

Ventspils, Latvia

BC Khimki, Russia

73-88, 62-73

Hapoel, Israel

C Zvezda, Serbia

77-89, 76-93

Hapoel, Israel

C Zvezda, Serbia

1 — 2

Nancy, France

UNICS, Russia

86-89, 74-86

Strasbourg, France

UNICS, Russia

90-73, 95-64

Strasbourg, France

Hemofarm, Serbia

Q

S

L Rytas, Lithuania

Montepaschi, Italy

72-75, 65-60

L Rytas, Lithuania

Montepasch, Italy

79-62, 80-77

Snaidero, Italy

PAOK; Greece