Basketball.perm.ru | The Cup of Russia – 2010. Bravo «Spartak»! Bravo Sherf!

25.03.2010 In order to “warm the public up”, it is customary to let variety performers sing some songs before real “stars” appear on the stage. Their task is to strum something with the help of their guitars, mumble some songs in a microphone and make the public stretch their legs. Then they go to the backstage as unknown as they used to be before the concert.  The Spartak and the Khimki Teams managed to escape from such a common lot. What an enchanting game they showed at the end!
It is often said that it is not necessary to organize the matches for the third place. Especially in cases when there are no award fees. I had shared that opinion as well until I was given to nurse in my hands that bronze round medal, the prize for the third place in the Cup. Suddenly I had a strong desire to earn such a medal although useless it seems from the first sight. I simply wanted it and that was all. That moment I understood the players, who assured that they would fight for the third place and it was so important for them. As for the Spartak players, who are not spoilt with a lot of medals and prizes, that motivation turned out to be more important than for their Khimki colleagues.   
Scariolo spent most time of the match sitting on a chair. This fact itself witnesses about his Club’s attitude towards the game. Without reaching the final, the Khimki coach made two experiments, namely, the debut of Mainford and O.K.-I-will-give-the-chance-to-Mozgov-and-all-all-all-players. As a result, it was only Zaitsev, who was left without any playing practice in the game.  
Of course, the play of Mozgov stimulated the keen interest. There is no other central player in Russia like Mozgov. Everything concerning him is directly connected with the Russian combined team. There was a double impression left by Tim in his game with Spartak. On the one hand, he became the most effective and resulting player in the Khimki Team. But on the other hand, he presented a chance for Rakovich to show him off. Milovan has also gained most scores for his Team. It was a kind of fantastic concourse of circumstances that he was not announced the best Spartacus player. That title was granted to Kolesnikov, who must have had his best match in his career   (15 points, 2 times – 4/6, 3 times – 2/3, 1 time – 1/2, 2 g.p., 2 interceptions, 1 bsh.  and 2 picking ups in 23 minutes).
The duel of the Teams was adorned at the end of the match, when Khimki players were in chase of their competitors. When at the end of the duel Kolesnikov managed to reach the Spartak advantage in 13 points (70:57), maybe only few people expected the Khimki Team to come back. But two three-point throws made by Friedson reduced the difference up to 6 points (72:68). And when “iron” McCarthy managed to win four out of four penalty throws, the Spartak advantage was reduced to its minimal level (75:74 in 11 seconds before the final siren). Those seconds must have cost Mr Sherf, the Spartak Coach a couple of years of his life. At first, it was Fields, who missed two penalty throws. It was a good picking up of a ball after Maynard, but the ball got into the leg of the Khimki newcomer and rolled outside the sports ground. After that Rakovich missed his first penalty and scored the second one.  It was “Plus 2” in 5 seconds. Everything depended upon Langford. And Scariolo’s favorite dribbled the ball from his ring to the other Team’s part of the ground just to loose it in the struggle with Zozulin!  
Bravo Spartak! Bravo Mr. Sherf! The Israel specialist led the Spartak out of the crisis and disgraced the skeptics, who prejudiced the expediency to invite Mr. Sherf in the middle of the playing season to the Team suffering disaster.  
Alexander Nechaev