Caja Laboral avoided elimination by defeating CSKA Moscow 93-72 and thus forcing a game four in the Euroleague quarter-finals.
CSKA still hold a 2-1 advantage in the series but were thoroughly outclassed by their Spanish opponents as Vitoria opened the game up with a 17-3 run in the second quarter to lead 43-24 at the half and they never looked back.
Thomas Heurtel bagged 21 points on 5/6 three-point shooting to lead Caja Laboral to victory.
“As I said in the previous days, neither what we saw in Moscow, nor what we saw tonight here, is something real,” Caja Laboral coach Zan Tabek said.
“I would say it’s in the middle. We played great defence in the first two periods. They scored just 14 and 10 points in that time, and that enabled us to overcome the problems we found in offence, when we were not very accurate.”
Nenad Krstic led CSKA Moscow with 12 points.
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Anadolu Efes pull it back (Olympiacos lead 2-1)
Anadolu Efes have also forced a game four after they beat Olympiacos 83-72 in Istanbul.
Jordan Farmar led the hosts with 17 points as they dominated the first three quarters to lead 65-50, heading into the final period. The reigning Euroleague champions fought back in the fourth but Anadolu Efes were always comfortable.
Acie Law led Olympiacos with 19 points as their star player Vassilis Spanoulis was held to just four points.
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