CSKA Moscow stars Andrei Kirilenko and Viktor Khryapa on Monday blamed themselves for the dramatic defeat to Olympiacos in the Euroleague final, saying team complacency let the trophy slip.
CSKA blew a 19-point lead to lose Sunday's final in Istanbul 62-61 to the Greeks, finished off by a last-second layup by Georgios Printenzis.
CSKA dominated the first two quarters built up what some thought was an insurmountable lead, which the Greeks reduced to a single point in the dying seconds to set up the grandstand finale.
Former Utah Jazz forward Kirilenko, who was named Euroleague MVP this season, insisted the Russians only had themselves to blame.
"You can't let your opponents catch up like that, after having a 19 points lead, " Kirilenko told RIA Novosti.
"We gave up the initiative in the third quarter and didn't control the game, waiting for the match to finish instead of playing. We can only bow down before Olympiacos. They showed a strong will and rescued this match with great basketball, especially in the second half. "
Kirilenko said the defeat was even harder to bear than that of his national team in the semifinal of the European championship against France, 71-79, in September.
CSKA captain Viktor Khryapa admitted his team was unable to withstand the pressure of the Greek club.
"We felt a bit relaxed and Olympiacos pulled eight points back and then clicked into gear, which makes any team hard to stop," Khryapa said.
"We didn't even know whom to mark, also considering at that moment they were playing without Vassilis Spanoulis, more like a team and not through one single player."
CSKA forward Alexei Shved also said this loss was "the most tragic in his career."
Olympiacos guard Spanoulis, scoring 15 points in the decider, was named the Final Four MVP for the second time in his career.
Olympiacos took second title in their second final appearance, their first championship coming in 1997.
The dramatic loss denied CSKA a seventh crown in its 12th final appearance.
