In Marioupol on the second match of ULEB Cup group stage against “Azovmash” the basketball club “Khimki” arrived in a good mood. After beating Lokomotiv-Rostov the Moscow Region team became the leader of the Russian Championship and wasn’t defeated in any game. In Marioupol the Ukrainian champion was waiting for “Khimki”. “The opponent is very strong team and we don’t wait a bed of roses” — said before the match the BC Khimki guard Vitaly Fridzon, who played against “Azovmash”last seasons in the FIBA-Europe Cup. – The Ukrainian club renewed the roster, now it is very strong, athletic team in a fighting form now”.
Before the match the roster of “Azovmash” changed. Sergey Lischuk was injured, Aaron Harper was dismissed. Khimki had one, but big loss — Macej Lampe. Nikita Morgunov got rehabilitated after the cold. Nikita Shabalkin reproduced the form and the captain Kelly McCarty is at his peak now.
With big players absent “Azovmash” gambled on fast small Edney, Liadelis, Reese and new player – Buford Rodney. As BC Khimki coach staff expected, “Azovmash” started to play zonal defense. But yellow-blue, supported by their fans, came, penetrated under the backboards of Marioupol..
The home team didn’t want to give up initiative to Khimki, the first half of match no team could build a lead. Before the big break the score was 54-48 in favor of “Azovmash”. After the debriefing Bc Khimki cut the advantage and the master of three pointers and the Moscow Region team took the lead -70-68 after the third period. «Azovmash” didn’t want to throw a fight. With 2-42 russian team lead 81-76. BC Khimki didn’t missed the advantage. The final score is 93-91. It is the second victory in ULEB Cup!

Kestutis Kemzura, the BC Khimki head coach:
— I am glad to win today. We expected that it would be very difficult game. Azovmash is very talented team, one of the favorites of our group. We played bad in the defense at the beginning of the match. I feel some confusion. In the second half of the match we have an initiation. And I am satisfied of the performance of my players at the end.