BC Khimki best scorers: Langford (16 + 3 assists + 2 steals), Loncar (11), Kelati (11), Planinic (10 + 5 rebounds + 4 assists).

First loss happened in BC Khimki roster – Raul Lopez didn’t leave with the team because of a shoulder injury he had got in the game against Italian Caserta. The coaching staff decided not to risk his health, and the Spaniard stayed home – to train by an individual programme.

The starting five of the yellow-blue was: Planinic, Fridzon, Kelati, Monya and Eze. Just Eze opened the scoring in the beginning of the meeting. The opponent from first minutes began to pluck our attacks at the cost of a foul. BC Khimki players began to lead, 7-2. Beautiful “parachute” was played by Fridzon and Eze: the captain threw the ball to our center, and Benjamin put it into the basket. Then Planinic and Kelati demonstrated a good understanding and brilliant performance. In the absence of Lopez, Planinic was changed by Zaytsev. The beep and the score was – 21-10.

The gap of 11 points stayed for almost the entire second quarter. Our team practically didn’t throw from a distance, concentrated on attacking under the basket. Budivelnik continued to foul, but Khimki basketball players not always were accurate from free throws. Teams went to the break with the score 39-28.

In the third quarter our players managed to throw first three-pointers: Fridzon and Kelati distinguished themselves. Our devoted fans were chanting: “Only Khimki, only victory” and it was a supplementary support to our team.

Budivelnik did not throw out the white flag: a pair of successful attacks raised the morale of the Ukrainians. But Monya threw a three-pointer… and before the last quarter the score became – 60-41.

In the final quarter Zaytsev and Langford were really good. Three times Keith successively completed the attacks of our team, and the lead reached 24 points for 4:30 until the final beep. But the real decoration of the match’s end proved to be the roll call of fans of both clubs: the Ukrainians chanted the name of the Moscow Region team and our fans in response welcomed Budivelnik.

At the pitch the advantage of the yellow-blue developed into the final victory – 87-58. Now we are waiting for the return game in Moscow – on Friday, October 1, at 19:00.