BC Kyiv got more than enough chances to steal a W in game 3 of the 2008 Superleague Finals, still allowing the defending champions to escape with a narrow 67:65 victory.

The low-scoring affair was even during the first seven minutes of the opening quarter. With the teams tied at 12, Azovmash gave Kyiv a 9:0 blow to finish the stretch 21:12. The second quarter was well-balanced as the visitors kept cutting the lead to 5 or 6 and the host kept regaining it. As a result – 43:33 for Azovmash at halftime.

Mariupol led by as many as 13 points two minutes into the third quarter and that is when Kyiv finally “woke up”. The vice-champions kept their opponents scoreless for almost 6 minutes, coming up with 12 points and cutting the deficit to one.

Later in the contest a three from Artur Drozdov gave Kyiv a 4-point 56:60 lead, but Yahor Mesheriakau and Gerrod Henderson restored the advantage for the home-side.

Drozdov once again put his team up by 1 with just under a minute to go, and it was Rodny Buford’s turn to change the lead. Kyiv’s Pooh Jeter missed a potential go-ahead three-pointer and the visitors had to foul to stop the clock. Panagiotis Liadellis scored just one out of two free throws, giving the opponents a chance to tie the game, but Jeter once again failed to connect. Another foul by Kyiv and Liadellis keeps their hopes alive, missing both foul shots. Artur Drozdov found Marko Maravic for a potential game-winner, but Buford blocked the shot from beyond the ark.

Mariupol’s Robert Archibald scored 19 points in the win. Kyiv’s Artur Drozdov had a game-high 24.

Game 4 will be in Mariupol on Saturday.