Two regular-season games will take place on Wednesday.
Avtodor (Saratov) vs. Uralmash (Yekaterinburg)
Time: 7:00 p.m. (6:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Saratov, Kristall Sports Palace
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Avtodor : The team delighted its fans with a victory in the season opener against Samara. But now Rostislav Vergun’s team faces a tougher test in the form of Uralmash. That said, the home team, having tasted victory, is unlikely to be intimidated by the opponent’s name. The Saratov squad, led by the “hot guy” Wendell Green, is ready to surprise everyone this season. In this matchup, they’ll give it their all to defeat the ambitious Ural club.
Uralmash: The situation is different for the visitors, though. In their season opener, they played a brilliant first half against Zenit. But in the second half, their more prestigious opponent was ultimately able to stop Uralmash’s offense. A double-digit loss is not what anyone expected from the team. So the “factory boys” need to bounce back quickly. And a win in Saratov would be a good fresh start after that setback.
Avtodor Head Coach Rostislav Vergun: “Uralmash is a team with a very strong, deep roster. At every position, our opponent has several high-level players—both foreign and Russian. They know how to capitalize on their strengths and are very versatile on offense. Needless to say, that, out of their 11 preseason games, they won all 11—including the Ural-Great Cup, which we attended. So after their loss in St. Petersburg, I’m confident they’ll want to redeem themselves, especially in front of their own fans. We’re in for a tough game—a great challenge for all of us to prove ourselves against a team that sets the highest goals for itself. We’re really counting on the support of our fans. We promise to put up a real fight on the court.”
Uralmash Head Coach Anton Yudin: “This is our second road game. After the game against Zenit, we made some adjustments and, of course, prepared for Avtodor. I think this team has always been known for playing very well at home. So we’re not underestimating our opponent at all. I’m hoping for the right response from the team after the loss in St. Petersburg.”
UNICS (Kazan) vs. Dynamo (Vladivostok)
Time: 7:00 p.m. (7:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Kazan, “Basket-Hall”
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
UNICS: In the first-round match, PARMA spoiled Milan Karakaš’s coaching debut. Now, the Croatian coach will try to do the same against the League’s newcomer— Dynamo “by the sea” UNICS looks like the favorite in this matchup. And the team’s fans who come to the stands at “Basket Hall” will expect nothing less than a victory from their favorites.
Dynamo: For its VTB League debut, Dynamo has drawn a tough opponent. UNICS, affected by its loss in the opening game, will be looking to take it out on the tournament’s newcomer. But don’t count the blue-and-whites out just yet. Teams from Vladivostok have always been known for their tenacity and grit. The visiting squad features standout players capable of surprising even the most formidable opponent. So in this historic matchup, Sergey Kozin’s players have no intention of being pushovers—they’re ready to put up a fight.
UNICS Head Coach Milan Karakas: “On Wednesday, we’ll face Vladivostok’s Dynamo. Their roster includes some truly strong players who, on their best days, can score 25–30 points. I’ll admit, after our home loss to PARMA, I’m especially eager to see how our team responds. Above all, I expect aggressiveness on defense, physical readiness, and a fight for rebounds—all of which need to be at a completely different level than in the game against PARMA. Of course, we want to redeem ourselves for that loss with a victory. That’s exactly the mindset we’ll bring to the court, and I hope we’ll show our fans what we’re capable of.”
Dynamo Head Coach Sergei Kozin: “Our first game of the regular season—and it’s already a test. UNICS, last season’s finalist, is playing on its home court in Kazan. They play great at home, in front of their fans; it’s not easy to play on their court. The team has excellent players—both Russians and foreign players—and plenty of leaders. We’ve only recently assembled our full roster, but we’ll do our best to play our best basketball; that’s our goal.”
