The top scorers: Booker (19), McCarty (15), Lampe (14), Torres (13), Fridzon (11).

Until the tip off, Boris Gorenc, who once played with the Siena club, lively had some chat time with the Italians. But not with the players, after six years since he left the team, there was no one left of his original team mates from back then. But he enjoyed chatting with the press and the staff. Other players who had also played in Italy also exchanged some hearty conversation.

Still injured, Savkov and Podkolzin remained out, while Levter formed part of the dozen. In the game against the mightiest of the Group C — who had been studied by coaches and players forwards and back-the home team had the following starting five lined up: Booker, Fridzon, McCarty, Veremeenko and Wolkowiski.

At the tip off the visiting team didn’t have a single European-born player on the court. The scoreboard was lit up by Vitaly Fridzon with a 3-point play. The visiting team came back with two sure shots in the paint, though Vitaly doubled back with an offensive rebound, scoring from the ground, and then from the line. In minute 4, the Russian National Team’s guard scored a second time from the arc, forcing Simone Pianigiani to call a time out with a deficit of 8-16 in favor of their rival. After the break, the visiting team’s game improved and the home team answered them with Gianmarco Pozzecco hitting the court. The visiting team switched their key center, Shaun Stonerook, who had just racked up a rapid three fouls in some man on man with Wolkowiski. Khimki’s players, backed by the fervent fans, were winning in the rebounds.

Lampe scored as soon as he hit the court, and in minute 9 of the match, the home team changed four of its initial five, leaving McCarty on the court. Montepaschi still one this one: 8-0. The second to the last score of the quarter was converted by Ademola Okulaja, who made a steal out of the baseline, after a team mate scored. The second quarter began with a series of 3-point plays by Lonny Baxter, but Ademola responded brilliantly having made a steal in mid-court and set up a shot. Khimki started to act on some good rebounds, with two running offenses, and started to zone press, making six steals in the opponent’s court. The Moscow Region Club’s lead leaped to 9 points and the visiting team coach called a minute down time.

The Siena club’s game plan focused on distant shots, and two were converted. The time had come for Khimki’s coaches to call a time out, and after that minute, they launched Kelly McCarty to set up a 3-point play. Melvin Booker followed through on the long distance shots, and Kelly made a steal that took the score to: 52-40. The teams went to half time with the home team in the lead by 10 points. The 102 points made by the rivals at this point spoke of a less than strong defense for which both the Italians and the Moscow Region players are known for. The combined percentage of converted field goals from both teams was close to 60 (35 out of 60 were successful).

The first and third attacks from the home team in the second half had losses and the second and fourth, had errors. The advantage was cut 6 points, and fortunately the visiting team was not successful in their attempts. After this unfortunate scene, the home team coaches called time out. Vitaly Fridzon interrupted his breather being sent to battle by his coaches in an urgent mandate. Oscar Torres and Vladimir Veremeenko hit the court as well and all things returned to a normal course. Sergey Elevich was looking for reinforcements, as Montepaschi unfortunately was dangerously gaining ground. The coaches for the home team called another time out. With 3.36 minutes on the clock for the end of the third quarter, the visiting team took the lead, winning this quarter: 17-6.

Gianmarco Pozzecco modified things after scoring, with some difficulty, 5 consecutive points, giving it his all to gain some ground for his team In two offensive attacks by the Siena team, Gianmarco was too exposed, forcing the refs to card some fouls in an attack by the visiting team. Coming up to the final of the third quarter, he made it, but then a long distance flew from the hands of Terrell McIntyre who cut the advantage by 2 points. Setting into the fourth quarter, Torres answered with the same medicine. Pozzecco shook up the game and he himself got a bit too shook up. Smooth playmaker Melvin Booker –can’t touch this — along with McCarty who scored from the arc: 83-79.

One minute later Melvin shot one too, at first from the field and later from the line after they blocked his run with a foul. McCarty missed a 3-pointer from some tough resistance, and later Booker as well. At 2.57 minutes, the advantage melted down 2 points and Khimki’s attack was unsuccessful. Rimantas Kaukenas took the visitors ahead with a 3-pointer, but after 1.47 minutes Melvin snatched back the lead for Khimki: 89-88. The visiting team attempted an attack with Rimantas’ unsuccessful shot. Melvin scored two free throws after a strategic foul and later took the opponent to foul in their offensive play, and then, Vladimir Boisa got his team a 3-pointer: 91-91. Overtime ensued.

From Stonerook’s fifth foul, overtime began, and Oscar Torres was given two free throws, but Kaukenas continued his laborious task of taking the visitors to the lead: 98-95. Booker replied, but then each team made some fruitless offenses, and Torres replied with two sure shots from the line, hitting 100. The visiting team got an offensive rebound. And with 18.3 to the whistle, Booker got two FTs but then at 2.6 Kaukenas settled it with a score for his team...