EuroLeague champions CSKA Moscow completed its tour of China with two straightforward victories without breaking much of a sweat.
Despite the lucrative markets that the Chinese Basketball Association possesses and its business-like way of pulling in former EuroLeague and NBA stars, its elite teams were not even close to competing with the Muscovites in either game.
Without the services of Milos Teodosic and Kyle Hines, CSKA convincingly disposed of reigning CBA champions Sichuan Blue Whales 92-49 in a game that was over by half-time.
Already taking a comfortable 29-19 cushion into the second, CSKA’s lead ballooned to twenty at the break and from there, the game had a practice feel, which a contrast to the enthusiastic atmosphere that greeted both sides at tip.
EuroLeague’s regular season and Final Four MVP Nando De Colo dropped 18 points, while Nikita Kurbanov and Vitaly Fridzon both added 11 points.
Two days later, CSKA concluded their mini tour with a sound 101-75 win over Guangdong Tigers. Teodosic was involved, but Hines and Cory Higgins were unused.
However, the Tigers showed some early fight, taking an early lead in the first quarter until the returning Teodosic and De Colo teamed up to put CSKA into the lead.
From there, Guangdong, eight time winners of the CBA crown submitted rather tamely.
De Colo hit 16 in the first half and ended with 20 points to lead the Muscovites.
It was a decent runaround for CSKA, who were perhaps more fatigued from their journey and time differential rather than being tested on the court. They open their defence of the EuroLeague title against last season’s EuroCup winners Galatasaray in Istanbul.
