Fourth but not last

Unicaja is the best-known opponent for our team. The club from Malaga comes to Moscow for the Euroleague Top 16 game – the fourth for the opponents this season.

“We’ve already played three games against Unicaja – 2 in regular season and one in preseason tournament,” Dimitris Itoudis, CSKA head coach, said. “All the games were difficult, everyone remembers that they led by 20 in Malaga in our latest encounter, and we expect another tough meeting now. Unicaja is a strong, high-level team, which leads the Spanish League by far. The opponents are 0-3 in Top 16 now but it does not reflect their real strength. Unicaja played an almost perfect first half against Efes, led by 15 but did not manage to protect the lead; they had to play Olympiacos right after an exhausting game against Real Madrid. Their strongest asset is rebounding, they are dominating the boards in every game, including ours, and this is something we should take care of. They have a very good roster, inside and outside game, pick-n-roll, defense. This is why we are preparing for another tough battle and I again ask our fans to come here and to help the team with their chants and applause. This is something we really need now.”

Some help will be really useful this time because Sonny Weems remains questionable for the game. Sonny missed past two games because of left ankle problems and continues to practice individually. Victor Khryapa also remains sidelined as he recovers after ankle surgery.

“Relativity” connections

Dimitris Itoudis coached Unicaja guard Stefan Markovic last season in Turkey at Banvit Bandirma.

Sonny Weems was a teammate of Unicaja forward Mindaugas Kuzminskas during the 2011-12 season at Zalgiris Kaunas. That team won the Lithuania League and Cup double plus the Baltic League title.

Kostas Vasileiadis was a teammate of CSKA Moscow guard Aaron Jackson for two seasons between 2010 and 2012 at Bizkaia Basket Bilbao in Spain. They led the club to its first-ever Euroleague appearance and then to the Euroleague playoffs in the second of those seasons.

Stefan Markovic was a teammate of CSKA guard Nando De Colo during the 2011-12 season at Valencia Basket. The backcourt duo helped Valencia reach the Eurocup championship game that season.

Markovic teamed up with Milos Teodosic in Olympiacos Pireaus during 2007-08 season.

Important numbers

Teodosic is closing in on a spot among the Euroleague’s all-time top 10 in three-pointers made. He enters this week’s game in 13th place with 273 career triples. Louis Bullock is next with 275, followed by Drew Nicholas (11th, 276) and Igor Rakocevic (10th, 277).

Teodosic has scored in double figures and made at last 1 three-pointer in 8 consecutive Euroleague games. Andrey Vorontsevich did the same in each of the past 7 games.

Weems has made at least 1 three-pointer in 11 straight Euroleague games.

Kaun has blocked at least 1 shot in each of the last 7 Euroleague games.

Aaron Jackson has made 17 consecutive free throws in Euroleague games, Vorontsevich – 12, Nando De Colo – 9.

De Colo has recorded at least 1 steal in eight straight Euroleague games.

Past matchups

Wins/losses: 17-4

1995-96 – European Championship for Clubs. Semifinal Round. Unicaja – CSKA: 81-70 (-11)
1995-96 – European Championship for Clubs. Semifinal Round. CSKA – Unicaja: 81-67 (+14)
2002-03 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 76-95 (+19)
2002-03 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 89-70 (+19)
2003-04 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 62-65 (+3)
2003-04 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 91-84 (+7)
2004-05 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 62-73 (+11)
2004-05 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 76-70 (+6)
2005-06 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 87-63 (+24)
2005-06 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 77-72 (-5)
2006-07 – Euroleague. Semifinal. CSKA – Unicaja: 62-50 (+12)
2007-08 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 72-67 (-5)
2007-08 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 93-70 (+23)
2009-10 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 86-78 (+8)
2009-10 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 70-76 (+6)
2011-12 – Euroleague Regular Championship. CSKA – Unicaja: 77-66 (+11)
2011-12 – Euroleague Regular Championship. Unicaja – CSKA: 83-91 (+8)
2012-13 – Euroleague Top 16. CSKA – Unicaja: 81-94 (-13)
2012-13 – Euroleague Top 16. Unicaja – CSKA: 66-70 (+4)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular Season. CSKA – Unicaja: 95-85 (+10)
2014-15 – Euroleague. Regular Season. Unicaja – CSKA: 75-76 ОТ (+1)

Short dossier

Unicaja Malaga, Spain
Founded: 1977
Colors: white, green, lime
Home court: Palacio De Deportes Jose Martin Carpena (10.233 зрителя)
President: Eduardo Garcia Lopez
Head coach: Joan Plaza
Website: www.unicajabaloncesto.com
Accomplishments: Spanish champion (2006), Spanish Cup winner (2005), Korac Cup winner (2001).