Lokomotiv Kuban advance to the Eurocup Final

PBC Lokomotiv Kuban Krasnodar made it to the Eurocup final! Lokomotiv advanced to the title game despite a 63-68 against Valencia Basket. Lokomotiv had recorded an 87-97 road win in Game 1 and won the two-way series on points differential. As such, Lokomotiv sealed its ticket to the Eurocup title game, which will take place at the RTL Spiroudome in Charleroi, Belgium on April 13. It will face the winner of the other semifinal between Uxue Bilbao Basket and BC Budivelnik Kiev. Valencia lost the chance to become the first team to reach a fourth final - and a third title - in competition history. Nick Calathes led the series winners with 19 points. Jimmy Baron had 11 while Mantas Kalnietis added 10 for Lokomotiv. Stefan Markovic and Bojan Dubljevic led Valencia with 14 points apiece. Pau Ribas added 12 while Thomas Kelati for 10 for Valencia, which lost Flo Pietrus, Justin Doellman and Serhiy Lishchuk due to respective injuries midway through the game. Valencia had a good start and a layup by Ribas gave the guests an 11-13 edge. Derrick Brown and Mantas Kalnietis allowed Lokomotiv to get a 16-15 lead after 10 minutes. A jumper by Simas Jasaitis boosted the hosts' lead to 23-17 but Lishchuk and Dubljevic stepped up to put Valencia back ahead, 26-28. Lokomotiv struggled to score after the break and an outstanding Lishchuk boosted Valencia's lead to 35-43 late in the third quarter. A dunk by Dubljevic tied the series, 43-53, midway through the fourth quarter. Calathes stepped up in crunch time and Baron hit 6-of-6 free throws in the final 22 seconds to send Lokomotiv to the Eurocup title game!