CSKA Moscow maintained their perfect start to the defence of their EuroLeague title after a home victory over Panathinaikos at Megasport Arena in the Russian capital on…
CSKA Moscow maintained their perfect start to the defence of their EuroLeague title after a home victory over Panathinaikos at Megasport Arena in the Russian capital on Friday.
The defending champs followed up their first round win over Unics Kazan with a solid 81-77 triumph over the Greeks who are now on one win and one defeat for the new season.
Andrey Vorontsevich and last season’s MVP Nando De Colo both hit a team high 20 to pace the winners while Aaron Jackson chipped in with 9 points.
Up next for CSKA are Anadolu Efes Istanbul as six-time champions Panathinaikos next take on the Brose Bamberg.
Elsewhere on the night Belgrade celebrated their first win of the new campaign when they came from behind to beat Galatasaray.
Hosts Galatasaray got off to the better start and were soon enjoying a double digit lead.
But Belgrade’s veteran small forward Marko Simonovic came off the bench to kickstart a spirited recovery and by half time it was all square.
The Serbian visitors opened up a sizeable lead in the third and despite Galatasaray reducing that gap in a tight final quarter Belgrade held on to seal the win.
Simonovic finished the night with a career-best and team high 23 points as Belgrade won through 85-83.