Yekaterinburg, Moscow and Kazan will host 3 regular season games on Saturday.
Uralmash (Yekaterinburg) vs Enisey (Krasnoyarsk)
Time: 16:00 (14:00 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Yekaterinburg, GAUSO DIVS
Broadcast: VK Video, VTB League website
Uralmash: After Anton Yudin was appointed head coach, the team scored its biggest win of the season (63-point difference against Samara) and then nearly ended CSKA’s winning streak, losing in Moscow only after a last-second shot. Uralmash has been transformed and will now try to use this momentum against a direct competitor.
Enisey: The Krasnoyarsk club is in 7th place in the standings with a 9-12 record, while Uralmash (8-14) is at 8th place. In the previous game, the Siberian team dominated another pursuer Pari NN on the road – 76:55. This win was third in a row. Led by the duo of Egor Ryzhov and Danilo Tasic, Jovica Arsic team is clearly on a roll.
CSKA (Moscow) vs. Zenit (St. Petersburg)
Time: 16:00 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Moscow, Megasport
Broadcast: Match TV, VK Video, VTB League website
CSKA: On Wednesday, the Moscow team extended winning streak to 13 games, defeating Uralmash at home. CSKA continues the battle with UNICS for the top spot in the standings, but Andreas Pistolis feels that his players are finding it increasingly difficult to stay focused (they nearly let an 18-point lead slip away against Uralmash). After the end, the coach called the team’s play “soft” and “unworthy of players who wear CSKA jerseys”. The game against the rival is excellent opportunity to respond appropriately.
Zenit: The St. Petersburg team will face CSKA against the backdrop of parting ways with head coach Aleksander Sekulic. After that, the team was led by Maksim Uchaykin and defeated MBA-MAI. Rostislav Vergun, who joined the coaching staff as an assistant and will serve as the acting head coach for now, will lead the vice-champion onto WINLINE Game of the Week.
UNICS (Kazan) vs Pari Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod)
Time: 18:00 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Kazan, Basket Hall
Broadcast: Match! Igra, VK Video, VTB League website
UNICS: Injuries and illnesses cannot prevent Kazan team from pursuing CSKA, which leads the standings only on additional stats. UNICS’ winning streak has reached 10 games. This is Kazan team best streak since February last year, when UNICS had 16 consecutive wins. Another piece of good news is the return of Paris Lee. The comeback of one of the key players in the backcourt could be on Saturday.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: After the sensational win in St. Petersburg, the Volga team then stumbled twice at home against rivals for a place in the Playoffs – Avtodor and Enisey. The clash against Kazan team will start difficult schedule, followed by MBA-MAI, Lokomotiv Kuban and BETCITY PARMA. In order to keep the rivals close, Pari NN need to show best game.
