Cherno More back in the final series, winning game 3 versus Lukoil

Atila Santos with nis best game for Cherno More

02-06-2009 19:48

Cherno More awaited a little bit more than 50 months to win against Lukoil Academic but did it when it counts. The last win was on March 16 2005 and today in Game 3 of the Finals when the team needed to win the players sealed the success 90-88. So the people will witness another game tomorrow in Varna as the champions lead the series 2-1.

From the start of the game the team from Varna showed that they won't give up easy. Two triples by Aleksandar Yanev and Corey McIntosh made the score 28-21 before two free-throws by Todor Stoykov at the end made it 28-23 after the first quarter.

In the second quarter the hosts controlled the game and at times their lead went up to 10 points. Thanks to Willie Deane and Leemire Goldwire Lukoil Academic stayed in the game and finished the half down by 6, 55-49.

The defense of Lukoil helped the team take the lead with 2.21 to go in the third. Then they went up 71-66 but a basket by Santos and a lucky triple by Simeon Tsenov tied the score.

Tsenov scored another three-pointer to start the last quarter and from here Cherno More never lost the lead. It went up to 11 points, 84-73 after Yanev lay up with 5.15 to go. The champions then made a 9-0 run to cut it to 2. Then the hosts went up by 5 before the difference was once againt cut to 2, 87-85. Plamen Aleksiev scored two free throws but Willie Deane answered with a incredible three-pointer to make it 89-88 with 5 seconds to play. Yulian Radionov was fouled and made only one free throw and in the attack for Lukoil Academic Aleksiev pushed the ball of the hands of Deane and gave his team the win.
Atila dos Santos played his best game of the season finishing with 27 points, 14 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block for 40 minutes on the court.

Great game had the youngster Aleksandar Yanev who made all 4 of his three-point attempts and finished with 21 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Corey Mcintosh made 8 turnovers but he was a leader of his team when his teammates needed him. He ended up with 18 points, 6 steals and 5 rebounds. Very strong moments had Simeon Tsenov with 13 points.In this game he will be remembered with two three-pointers - one with the buzzer at the end of the third quarter to tie the score at 71 and the second at the start of the fourth to give his team the lead for good.

For Lukoil Academic didn't help the fantastic play of the American duo Willie Deane and Leemire Goldwire. They scored a total of 13 three-pointers (Goldwire 7, Deane 6) and finished with 30 and 23 points respectively. Riste Stefanov added 13 while Todor Stoykov 10 for the champions.

Cherno More outrebounded Lukoil Academic 32-24 in this match.

Game 4 is tomorrow again in Varna at 17.30. A win for Lukoil Academic will mean new title while a success for Cherno More will take this Final to a decisive Game 5 in Pravets on Friday.

FULL STATS OF THE CHERNO MORE – LUKOIL ACADEMIC GAME 3

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