Frankfurt triumphs over Moscow - Goree returns to Frankfurt

[by Kris SANTIAGO] - It was not your typical David-vs-Goliath-game but Moscow arrived with three former NBA-players (Krstic,Bremer and Anderson) in Frankfurt to meet the Skyliners in FIBA's EuroChallenge on the second game-day.

Nenad Krstic, who chose Triumph Lyubertsy to cash in some Russian oligarch money is one of the better Euros that played in the NBA, so all people that I talked to before the game, looked at Moscow as the clear favorites due to their roster.

What my friends and many others do not know is the fact, that Triumph Lyubertsy Moscow Region is currently having a dismal season (2-4 in the Superleague) in Russia and are far from meeting the expectations of its wealthy owners.

With that in mind, coupled with the return of Keith Simmons to the parquet and the home court-advantage, a close win of Frankfurt seemed possible.

Moscow started well into the game thanks to Vyaltsev but Wysocki and Roller countered with three-pointers while Keith Simmons helped to keep the lead until the end of the first quarter. The second quarter showed how problematic the situation in Moscow is, as Bremer, Goree and Anderson were non-factors for the Russians and Frankfurt kept the pace with Wysocki and Emmenecker hitting threes to extend the lead to ten points. Serbian center Krstic scored only from the foul-line and was kept out of the game when Frankfurt changed to a smaller line-up.

Triumph bounced back after the halftime-break due to some scoring of J.R. Bremer and Ognjen Askrabic but Simmons and Ivory were able to hit their distance shots. Still, Moscow, now with the help of former-Bobcat Alan Anderson, closed the gap until the end of the third, and it all looked like the guests are going to travel back with a "W".

The fourth quarter appeared to be the most interesting of all, as both teams kept scoring baskets and the tense begun to rise in the Ballsporthalle. Anderson, who had a weak first half, really found his way into the game and scored around the rim while Panin and Toporov were clutching in threes for Moscow.

But it was little used back-up center Greg Jenkins who pulled some rebounds and netted in some important free-throws to seal the deal for Frankfurt in the end.
With this 77-71 win, Frankfurt improved their record to 1-1 after loosing last week in the last minute to Kalev Tallinn 77-75.

Here are some vids of the game - In the last one, you may hear the phony MC (Who whispered "defense" during the game into his mic) as well.







Goree returns to Frankfurt

I was anxious to see how Marcus Goree would be playing here, as he was treated like a star over here back then during his early days of his career.
For the ones who do not remember: 2001-2002: Frankfurt Opel Skyliners 32 games: 19.5ppg, 9.3rpg, 1.6apg, 1.3bpg, 1.0spg (His stats back then)
He and guard Chad Austin played spectacular basketball during that time, when Frankfurt also competed in the Euroleague and beat teams like Ülker Istanbul (Back then with coach Murat Didin - Who is now the coach of the Skyliners) Zalgiris Kaunas and Kinder Bologna.

Six years later, not much of him is left.
He basically sets screens for other players and bumps around the post with little success (1 point against Frankfurt and 2 points against Tallinn so far).
Known for his rim-rattling dunks and pull-up jumpers, the "Russian" Goree designed his body after a Siberian cage-fighter rather then a basketball player and could easily compete in the NFL after I witnessed yesterday how he can push players aside.

Last year, the 31-year old power forward managed to win the Euroleague with CSKA Moscow, but he was not a big factor offensively and his shooting is really not the same anymore as in the past where he scored in double digits in Israel, Spain and Italy.

With a new three-year contract under his belt, the Methodman look-a-like (Check the pics) is literally in the winter of his career and may retire once his contract runs out (He once said in an interview, that he is going to play ball until he's 30-years old).
I will still keep his jersey (The only jersey I bought from the Skyliners so far) for the good old times...

I'm out like Russian oil money