After two losses, the basketball players of Chernomorets won their first victory in the Top 6 of the Sesame NBL. The current vice-champions beat CSKA 78:68 in a match of the 25th round.
The first half did not foreshadow such an outcome, but in the second, Vasil Evtimov’s selection showed that it had completely different plans and crushed the “armies”, causing them a second mistake in a row in the second phase of the elite.
Coach Vasil Evtimov was satisfied with the performance of the “sharks”, he also paid attention to the double-digit difference, which was almost melted in the fourth part.
“We’re playing with fire, that’s what we do. I don’t understand how with plus 18 points for us at the beginning of the last part for 3 minutes we lose the ball. I want to see things done from the start of the game, not at halftime. Overall I’m happy except for a few details. So far, no one has complained to me about shooting fewer times per game. I want to see the return of Hristo Zahariev and Tony Trosha to have these two players in our rotation. Then we will become even more dangerous.”
“I am convinced that CSKA will play better in the quarterfinals of the Bulgarian Cup. In this match, the guests played with what they had. They have an injured player in Aleksandar Radukic. This reduced their rotation by one basketball player, which is not easy. Cameron Gregory is still not in optimal form, but knowing Rosen Barchowski, I am confident that he will prepare his team for the quarter-finals. We have to be focused because it won’t be easy.” Evtimov finished.
The reigning runners-up are back at the top of the provisional standings with 20 wins and 5 losses, while Rosen Barchowski’s side occupy fourth position with 13 wins and 11 defeats.
The match was a general rehearsal for the two teams before the tournament for the Bulgarian Cup, which will take place from March 15 to 17 in Burgas. As is known, Chernomorets and CSKA will end the quarterfinals on the first day of the Final Eight.
Andrey Ivanov and Shaun Smith were the main attraction in the opening minutes, with the duo dominating the basket and giving the hosts the opportunity to take the lead first. Vasil Bachev, Georgi Boyanov and Cameron Gregory showed that the visitors had no intention of backing down and the turnaround was not long in coming.
However, the latter had no answer for the strong inclusion from the bench of Alex Wandier, who hinted at his scoring qualities and led to the fact that the “Sharks” enjoyed a 2-point asset at the end of the opening period.
Episodic performances from Laderion Griffin, Wandier and Ivanov ensured the reigning runners-up held the lead well into the next ten.
Damian Minkov set the tone for the “army men”, and his example was followed by Bachev and Boyanov, in order to return the feeling of intrigue. However, the Burgas team managed to pull away at 38-37 in the locker room.
The hosts gave signs of an even more serious performance in the defensive plan at the start of the third part and included in a decisive show with the assistance of Evgeni Khadzhirusev, Griffin, Smith and Ivanov, with which they did not delay to reach the first double-digit lead.
Despite the flashes of Minkov and Gregory, confidence in the ranks of the capital team began to be lost. Travis McConico, Wandier and Smith reminded the Sharks of their strength to push them to an 18-point lead after 30 minutes of playing time.
The Reds tried to respond appropriately in the opening moments of the final quarter, with Boyanov and Gregory often in the limelight.
Ivanov and McConico gave a breath of fresh air to the current vice-champions, but the experience of Bachev and Boyanov was enough for the capital team to reduce its deficit to only 6 points with less than 3 minutes to the final whistle.
McConico and Ivanov subsequently found their way into the spotlight in the final chords, ending the controversy.
Andrei Ivanov recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds for Chernomorets. Laderion Griffin scored 16 points, Travis McConico had 13 and 9 assists, Alex Wandier had 12.
In the fourth round, on March 25, Chernomorets plays against Balkan.
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