25.11.2008

Triumph Edge Close Encounter Against Kyiv

BC Triumph Lyubertsy held on for a 67-64 victory in Russia over BC Kyiv on the opening day of the EuroChallenge Regular Season.

Serbia international Nenad Krstic finished with a game-high 17 points and 11 rebounds for the winners.

In a battle of teams that failed to earn a spot in the EuroCup Regular Season, BC Triumph managed to take the lead for good with a scoring burst late in the third quarter.

Ernest Bremer made a lay-up, Alan Anderson dunked and Pavel Sergeev drilled a three-pointer as they went on top 59-52 inside the final two minutes of the third quarter.

BC Triumph kept their noses in front but the Ukrainian team almost pegged them back.

Bosnia and Herzegovina international Kenan Bajramovic made a lay-up to close the gap to 65-62 and followed that up with a jump shot to pull his team to within one at 65-64 with 2:19 to go in the game.

Kyiv had opportunities to move in front but Bajramovic was off target with an attempt from behind the arc and Scoonie Penn missed with a jumper.

After Bremer made one of two at the free throw line with 14 seconds remaining, Alex Scales had a chance to pull Kyiv level but his lay-up attempt stayed out four seconds from the end and Triumph's Anderson rebounded.

He added a free throw for the final score.

Bajramovic scored 11 points and corralled 10 rebounds in defeat.

Triumph were 15 of 22 (68.1%) at the line while Kyiv took far less trips and made three of five (60%).

25.11.2008

Quotes BC Triumph vs. BC Kyiv

BC Triumph head coach Stanislav Eremin:

"We've already played against Kyiv in the preseason, and even at that time they played very aggressively. The Obradovic basketball style looks like the Pesic style, very aggressive in defense, pressing on every position and good offense. We expected their tough game. I think that in the first half we didn't play aggressive enough, but we were successful in stopping Penn. Dmitriev helped us a lot in the second half. I'm satisfied with the result and with the character my guys showed in the end."

BC Triumph player Ognen Askrabic:

"Unfortunately we were not perfect in all game components, but the main thing is that we won tonight. The game was very tough, because BC Kyiv is the most dangerous opponent in our group."

BC Kyiv head coach Sasa Obradovic:

"Both teams today deserved to win, but I'm not satisfied how we played at the end; a few times we failed to score, and we made some mistakes. This game was tough, and maybe some of our mental failures were the result of an earlier defeat, last Friday."

BC Kyiv player Artur Drozdov:

"The game was practically perfectly balanced. Our mistake was that in few last offenses we made the wrong decisions. Of course we knew that the Triumph players are individually strong and, in general, we played good  but we lacked some more luck."