Back to work!

The emotions are still strong, the interest to the champions is still high, but it’s to get back to reality. VTB League semifinal starts tomorrow.

The Army Men got back to work with almost no break. Only the arrival day featured no practice, the team worked out in the gym and had shooting on Tuesday and worked normally on Wednesday.

“We had not much time to prepare to the semifinal series,” CSKA head coach Dimitris Itoudis said. “It is very difficult to recharge after such a big victory, but I am absolutely sure that we will come to this games very motivated. We know that the job is not done yet. We played against Khimki four times this season and we know that there will be tough games. I ask the fans to fill our gym, we need them to celebrate our success and to support us in this difficult series.”

Only Joel Freeland will definitely wiss the series after shoulder surgery.

Past matchups

Wins-losses: 70-17
CSKA biggest win: 104-64 (+40) (2002-03 Superleague Regular Season)
CSKA biggest loss: 85-67 (-18) (2007-08 Russian Cup Final)

Short dossier

Khimki Moscow Region
Founded: 1997
Colors: blue, yellow
Home court: Moscow Region Basketball Center (3,500), Krylatskoye Sports Palace (5,000)
President: Dmitry Golubkov
CEO: Pavel Astakhov
Head coach: Rimas Kurtinaitis
Website: www.bckhimki.ru
Trophy Case: 2-time Eurocup winners (2012, 15), Russian Cup winner (2008), VTB United League champion (2011), 7-time Russian League runner-up (2006, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13), Russian League bronze winner (2007), Russian Cup finalist (2006), FIBA-Europe Cup finalist (2006), Eurocup finalist (2009)