Cherkasy Monkeys claimed the bronze medal in the Ukrainian Superliga after defeating Rivne 80-74 in Game 3 of their playoff series on May 2nd in Rivne.
The visitors established control early, launching a decisive run midway through the first quarter that built a commanding 17-point advantage. Coach Dmytro Nahornyi's squad maintained this double-digit cushion for most of the contest, never relinquishing their lead after the opening minutes.
Rivne mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter, reducing the deficit to just three points and energizing the home crowd at DYUSSH-4 arena. However, the Monkeys displayed composure under pressure, successfully protecting their advantage to secure the victory and the series 2-1.
Center Andriy Agafonov delivered a stellar performance for the bronze medalists, registering 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists for an efficiency rating of 23. His teammate Igor Klimov contributed significantly with 17 points. According to Statbet analytics, Agafonov's performance throughout the playoff series ranked him among the most efficient players in post-season play.
For the home team, Oleksiy Solovyov matched Agafonov's scoring output with 19 points, while CJ Williamson recorded an all-around effort of 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. Despite strong individual performances, including Braun's double-double (10 points, 11 rebounds), Rivne fell short in their quest for a bronze medal finish.
The victory marks a successful playoff campaign for Cherkasy, who showed remarkable resilience throughout the three-game series to secure their place on the podium in Ukrainian basketball's premier competition.
