CSKA Moscow continues its domination in Russia.

After a dramatic defeat in the Euroleague final, CSKA had to right the ship in another where they were battling Eurocup winners Khimki Moscow Region in the Russian championship (PBL) final.

Without surprise, CSKA won three games in a row (3-0) in a best-of-five series and conquered the Russian champion title for the 10th consecutive time. CSKA, which have won 19th championships in last 21 years, dominated through the whole series as they won all three games against Khimki by double-digit margins.

Nenad Krstic was the most efficient player in the series as he scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the first game, posted a 21 and five in the second and 17 and four in the series-clincher.

Euroleague MVP Andrei Kirilenko appeared only in one game, where he had 12 points and five rebounds.

Lokomotiv-Kuban Krasnodar finished third this season as they beat Triumph Lyubertsy, 3-1, while Euroleague sensation Unics Kazan won the series over Spartak Saint Petersburg, 2-0, to win 5th place.

CSKA was nearly perfect in regular season as they lost only once in 18 games. CSKA also received another award as coach Jonas Kazlauskas was named the best head coach of the 2011-12 season.

Triumph’s Davon Jefferson was the most dominating player in the Russian league this season. The former player of USC forward led the league in scoring with 19.5 PPG and rebounds with 7.6 per game.

Aaron Miles, former Kansas Jayhawks standout and leader of Krasnye Krylya Samara, was the league leader in assists with 6.8 APG.

The Eurocup Regular Season came to a close this week.

BC Donetsk 80-69 BCM Gravelines

BC Donetsk stole a fantastic home win, a win that could have potentially propelled the Ukrainian side to the top of Group A and above their opponent, BCM Gravelines. The 11-point victory wasn’t enough, however, as point differential allowed Gravelines to keep the top spot as both teams advance to the Last 16.

Gravelines went into the second half with a three-point lead, but saw that margin vanish as Ramel Curry led a 20-0 Donetsk run that would put the game away for good. The journeyman guard Curry finished with 21 points and eight rebounds, matched only by teammate Ivan Radenovic, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

For the visitors, J.R Reynolds (former Virginia star) was one of only two players to reach double-figures with 17 points and six rebounds.

KK Cibona 78-86 Hapoel Jerusalem

With absolutely nothing on the line, Hapoel Jerusalem finished their Eurocup campaign with a second victory, taking down the Croatian side KK Cibona.

Brian Randle led Jerusalem with 17 points (7-for-11 shooting) while former NBA player Luke Jackson was also decent, contributing 13 of his own.

Cholet Basket 69-66 Paok BC

With 27 points and four assists from Fabien Causeur, Cholet Basket won a meaningless game as the French side battled it out with Paok BC for third position in Group B.

It was a nice ending for the shooting guard with the sweet stroke and nice handles as he finished his Eurocup campaign averaging 23 points and four assists per game.

James Christopher also scored 17 points for the home side while former Boston Celtic J.R Giddens scored 17 while also grabbing six rebounds. Veteran guard Ioannis Kalampokis also had a solid outing, collecting 18 points and nabbing seven rebounds.

VEF Riga 68-79 BC Khimki

BC Khimki finished their Eurocup regular season undefeated as they beat second placed VEF Riga in the other Group B matchup. Never trailing, Khimki received great performances from Alexey Zhukanenko (19 points seven rebounds), former NBA player Zoran Planinic (12 points, eight assists and five steals) and Kresimir Loncar (12 points, seven rebounds).

Former Miami Heat reserve guard Chris Quinn also had a notable performance with 10 points, four rebounds and three assists, as did Australian national player, Matt Nielsen, who had 10 points in 18 minutes. 

Gasterra Flames 75-92 CEZ Nymburk

CEZ Nymburk continued their great play in Group C, defeating Gasterra Flames on the road and remaining atop the table. Adrian Abrams score 17 points (3-4 from down town), while Drew Naymick (six rebounds), Tre Simmons and Eugene Lawrence (eight assists) all scored 14 apiece.

Aris BSA 96-86 BC Rudupis

Aris BSA was able to hold on and win a thriller at home, securing second place in Group C. Their overtime victory was even more memorable considering they dropped an 11 point third quarter lead.

Ronald Davis saved the game for the home team as his dunk with five seconds left evened the score at 78 apiece. He finished with 19 points while Dominic James (22 points) and Christos Tapoutas (18 points, 11 rebounds) also played starring roles.

Arminas Urbutis was great for the visitors and his third quarter play helped sparked the run that cut away at Aris’ 11 point lead. He totaled 20 points and five rebounds.

Telenet Oostende 87-83 Valencia Basket

With no chance at a trip to the Last 16, Telenet Oostende still managed a victory against group leading Valencia Basket. The shocking loss dropped the Spanish powerhouse out of first place in Group D as the team collapsed in the final eight minutes, giving up a small lead.

Forward Winston Kennedy (Alabama University 2002-05) scored 19 points and made 11-of-13 attempts at the line while Dusan Djordjevic had 19 points and seven rebounds.

Asvel Basket 69-68 Lukoil Academic

Kim Tillie nailed a jumper with under half a second remaining in overtime to lift Asvel Basket over Lukoil Academic and into Group D’s top position.

Tillie was strong throughout and nailed some important baskets down the stretch. He finished with 19 points on 9-13 shooting while Dijon Thompson had 21 of his own. Former New Orleans Hornet Hilton Armstrong didn’t have a great shooting night, but he did manage 10 rebounds and three steals.

G. Canaria 71-58 Fraport Skyliners

Gran Canaria did everything they needed to do in Round 6 by defeating struggling German side Fraport Skyliners, but still failed to qualify for the Last 16. Stuck with four wins and two losses left Gran Canaria in a three-way tie for the top-two positions in Group E and they missed out on advancing by the smallest of margins.

Not a close game at all, Canaria was led by Nelson Spencer who scored 15 and grabbed nine boards. Their balanced attack won out against the one man show of Jimmy McKinny (27 points, 5-8 three point shooting) with all but one man on the roster scoring at least two points.

Banvit BK 79-55 Lokomotiv Kuban

Banvit BK blew out Lokomotiv Kuban and the win sealed top position in Group E for the Turkish side. Despite the no show from Lokomotiv, they find themselves also making the Last 16, beating out Gran Canaria on point differential.

Six players reached double figures for Banvit with Chuck Davis and Kenan Bajramovic leading the way with 15 and 14 points respectively.

BC Azovmash 67-74 Lietuvos Rytas

Lietuvos Rytas won their matchup with BC Azovmash and remained one of three teams to finish the Eurocup regular season undefeated.

Lietuvos found themselves down at the half, but the Lithuanian side took the lead in the third term and never gave it back. Renaldas Seibutis (17 points), Tyrese Rice (16 points, seven assists) and Lawrence Roberts (15 points, six rebounds) all had nice performances for Lietuvos.

KRKA Novo Mesto 68-65 Le Mans

Their second seed already secured in Group F, KRKA Novo Mesto won a tight game at home against Le Mans. The scores were even with just over four minutes to go, but Novo Mesto hold on to leave Le Mans with just one win for their campaign.

Smiljan Pavic led KRKA with 13 points and eight rebounds and Jure Balazic was also great, posting 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Spartak St. Petersburg 97-77 Benetton Treviso

Spartak wrapped up the inevitable last night by blowing out Italian side Benetton Treviso at home by 20 points. Six wins and zero losses to their name, Spartak completed another dominant performance Vladimir Dragicevic’s 21 point effort. Pint-sized, exciting point guard Patrick Beverely only managed four points, but made up for his lack of scoring by contributing eight rebounds and ten assists.

Benetton emerged from the loss with a three-three win-loss record and still qualifies for the Last 16. Decimated by the recent losses of extremely talent 19-year-old top-scorer Alessandro Gentile to Olimpia Milano and NBA player Brian Scalabrine, Benetton were not as dangerous as they had been earlier in the tournament, but received a welcome 22 points on 6-6 shooting from three point land by Jobey Thomas.

Bayern Munich 80-65 Cedevita

Bayern Munich finally gave their fans something to cheer about with a home win against another struggling side, Cedevita. Both failed to qualify for the Last 16, but Bayern, with their deep pockets and talented roster should be better next season.

Center Jarred Homan was dominant, posting 18 points and 11 rebounds, and front court buddy Chevon Troutman was also solid as he registered 13 and eight of his own.

KK Buducnost Voli 57-72 Alba Berlin

Alba Berlin finished their dominant regular season campaign with an easy 15-point win over KK Buducnost Voli. The losing side still managed a place in the Last 16 finishing with a 3-3 win-loss record.

Yassin Idbihi scored 21 for the Group H champs who surprisingly received a quiet performance from star point guard DaShaun Wood (four points, six assists).

Dexia Mons Hainaut 98-97 PGE Turow

In a game of no consequence, Dexia Mons Hainaut secured a one point win over PGE Turow. Neither side advances to the next round.

An exciting game nevertheless, Ronald Moore of Mons scored a put back bucket to tie the game at 74 each. 

Top-five contenders: BC Khimki, CSKA, Lokomotiv-Kuban, Spartak St. Petersburg, Unics Kazan

CSKA Moscow can compete with the likes of Panathinaikos and Montepaschi in regards to domination of its own domestic league. Nine championships in a row and counting, nine Euroleague Final Four appearances in the past 11 years and a bunch of other trophies. Nevertheless, a catastrophic performance in last year’s Euroleague led CSKA to a rebuilding process.

This year we’ll see a different CSKA with many roster changes. Longtime CSKA players and symbols of CSKA’s victories, J.R.Holden and Trajan Langdon retired from basketball this summer, but the Russian club quickly found equal replacements. They signed the MVP of the 2009-10 Euroleague season Milos Teodosic and last season’s sensation Sammy Mejia. Moreover, CSKA added Nenad Krstic, Darjus Lavrinovic, Andrei Kirilenko and created a team, which is capable of winning the Triple Crown (Euroleague, Russian championship and Russian cup).

CSKA decided to stay away from contracted NBA players and made an exception only to Andrei Kirilenko for obvious reasons. Their main opponent in competing for the title, BC Khimki, different than CSKA, used available opportunities to strengthen their roster with NBA players and signed three of them -- Austin Daye, Timofey Mozgov and Chris Quinn. However, NBA players didn’t help BC Khimki to avoid fiasco in Euroleague Qualifying Rounds, where they didn’t reach the final and didn't qualify for Euroleague.

As a result, BC Khimki is the main favorite to win the Eurocup and stil remains good enough to compete with CSKA in Russian championships.

NBA players in Russia:

Austin Daye (Detroit Pistons) - Khimki Moscow (NBA-out)

Andrei Kirilenko (Utah Jazz) - CSKA Moscow (NBA-out)

Nenad Krstic (Boston Celtics) - CSKA Moscow (no NBA-out)

Timofey Mozgov (Denver Nuggets) - Khimki Moscow (NBA-out)

Chris Quinn (San Antonio Spurs) - Khimki Moscow (no NBA-out)