Two regular-season games will take place on Sunday.
Lokomotiv-Kuban (Krasnodar) vs. Zenit (St. Petersburg)
Time: 2:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Krasnodar, SK “Basket Hall”
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Lokomotiv-Kuban: The “Railroaders” bounced back from their loss to CSKA and confidently defeated Avtodor at home. Marcos Knight made his season debut and immediately scored twenty points. His arrival comes at just the right time, as the team is set to face its archrival, Zenit. The teams are tied for third place in the standings with identical records: three wins and one loss. Lokomotiv, which relies heavily on its offense, will have to break through the St. Petersburg team’s aggressive defense.
Zenit: The St. Petersburg team is coming into the game on the heels of two straight wins. In their last match, like the Kuban team, they defeated Avtodor, but they did so a few days earlier, giving them more time to rest. The team’s leaders are gradually finding their form, and the trip to Krasnodar is an opportunity to demonstrate that. It’s important for Dusko Ivanovic’s players not to let the hosts dictate a fast pace in order to contain the high-scoring “Loko.”
Lokomotiv-Kuban Head Coach Tomislav Tomovic, : “Zenit is a team with a top-class coach and a well-rounded roster. They have many quality players with extensive experience, including in the VTB United League. I’d say the main characteristic of our opponent is that they play very aggressively, with an emphasis on physical contact. We need to respond to this correctly and not let them outplay us physically. Another important aspect of the upcoming game, in my view, is the battle for rebounds. Whoever wins the rebounds will dictate the flow of the game.”
Zenit Head Coach Duško Ivanović: “Lokomotiv is a young and athletic team that plays modern basketball. They transition quickly from defense to offense and look like a well-rounded squad. Our task is to stop those drives and play solid defense. That’s the key to success in the upcoming game. Of course, we need to pay closer attention to their leaders—Miller and Queen. It’s also worth noting the experienced Knight. They do a great job on offensive rebounds, and their big men know how to get open on the perimeter.”
Avtodor (Saratov) vs. MBA (Moscow)
Time: 5:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Saratov, “Kristall” Sports Palace
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Avtodor: The Saratov team has lost its last two road games and is returning home determined to win. Avtodor will be without its captain, Alexander Evseev, for the upcoming games due to an injury. Nevertheless, in their games against Zenit and Lokomotiv, Rostislav Vergun’s team showed flashes of competitive basketball. To win, they’ll need to maintain a high level of play throughout the game, and with the support of their fans, that will be easier to do.
MBA: The Moscow team secured its first win of the season in the last round. They defeated PARMA in a game where they came back from a 21-point deficit, showing real grit. The capital city team lacks a clear-cut leader, which makes their play less predictable. They’ll try to extend their winning streak in Saratov. Moreover, history is on the visitors’ side: MBA has won ten out of fifteen matches against Avtodor.
Avtodor Head Coach Rostislav Vergun: “Unfortunately, we won’t be able to count on Sasha Evseev. He’s an excellent leader and a true fighter. I’d like to wish him a speedy recovery. This is a significant loss for us, so everyone—without exception—will have to play not only for themselves but also for our captain.
MBA is looking very strong at the start of the season, despite their roster issues. This demonstrates their high level of potential and ambition, backed by hard work and strong teamwork. We’re preparing to play at our absolute best, and we’re confident that with the home support of “Kristall,” we can handle any challenge.”
MBA Head Coach Sergey Voznyuk: “We put a lot of effort—both physical and emotional—into our victory against BETCITY PARMA, but that game is in the past; we’re not looking back—all our focus is on preparing for Avtodor. They’re a strong opponent—a team that plays particularly well at home. With the arrival of their new head coach, the Volga team has been showing a slightly different style. The Saratov team wants to play fast-paced basketball with aggressive defense. We, on the other hand, need to showcase our strengths.
First and foremost, we need to be focused and concentrated in the opening quarter and avoid the kind of mistakes we made in the game against Perm. We know that “Kristall” always draws a big crowd of fans coming to support their team, but we’re ready to put up a fight. Our day started at half past four this morning, and on top of that, our flight to Saratov was delayed by five hours, so it was a long trip. Fortunately, we’re here now and fully focused on preparing for the game so we can show what we’re capable of tomorrow.”
