Led by last year’s Euroleague Finals MVP, the playoff-tested Ramunas Siskauskas, CSKA Moscow advanced to the Euroleague’s championship game by narrowly defeating F.C. Barcelona 82-78 (discuss)

Siskauskas scored 18 of his career-high 29 points in the fourth quarter which included consecutive three-pointers that gave CSKA their first lead of the game, 62-61 midway through the final quarter.

Altogether, Siskauskas hit 8/14 shots from the field which includes four three-pointers in just six attempts. His career-high came despite coming off the bench for just the third time this season.

Former Duke star and current Euroleague star Trajan Langdon added 15 for CSKA (+ 6 rebounds), and 27-year old Russian forward Viktor Khryapa filled up the boxscore by contributing 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.  Also for CSKA, Matjaz Smodis added 9 points, Erazem Lorbek and J.R. Holden each had 8 points.  Holden also had a game high 4 assists.

Former CSKA player David Andersen led F.C. Barcelona with 24 points, hitting all six of his two-point attempts, all three of his free throws, and was  3/6 from three point land.  Barcelona’s backourt of Jaka Lakovic and Juan Carlos Navarro each scored 13 apiece in defeat.  Lakovic also had a game-high 5 assists.  Daniel Santiago of Puerto Rico added 9 points and 6 rebounds for the losers.

CSKA are the defending Euroleague champs, and will next face the winner of other semifinal match between Greek rivals Olympiacos and Panathinaikos in the championship game.  CSKA is looking for its seventh Euroleague title.

Links and Resources: Euroleague Final 4 in Berlin (Interbasket), Regal F.C. Barcelona – CSKA Moscow Boxscore (Euroleague.net), Euroleague final: Panathinaikos vs CSKA Moscow (Interbasket)