The best stories from around the League this week.
VEF almost scores upset… Valiev’s block saves Zenit
There’s been lots of talk about Zenit’s rash of injuries to open the season, but VEF also had some challenges to overcome. After going to the playoffs in 2017, Riga had to start fresh this summer. Blowout losses to Khimki and Nizhny Novgorod demonstrated VEF won’t have it easy returning to the postseason with the new additions struggling to fill the shoes left behind by last season’s stars.
Sunday’s game in St. Petersburg provided the first glimmer of hope. VEF led by eight entering the 4th quarter and had a chance to win it in the final seconds. Rolands Freimanis could see his shot dropping through the basket… but it wasn’t meant to be. Zenit forward Evgeny Valiev rose to the occasion, swatting Freimanis’ shot to preserve another hard-fought St. Petersburg win.
Record in Krasnoyarsk as Enisey wins 1st game
“We scored 90 and still lost, which doesn’t happen often,” – Zoran Lukic said after the game.
You also don’t see a team knock down 39 free throws very often (39-41, 95%). Enisey set a new League record at the line on Sunday! Those freebies had a huge impact as Krasnoyarsk eeked out a win at home against a fellow playoff hopeful.
Parma scores 1st win of the season, 2nd-ever in the League
Parma won, needing only three games to break into the win column after waiting until April 2 last season to record its first victory. Kalev was the victim, failing to protect its home court against the motivated, hungry visitors.
This was Parma’s 2nd-ever victory in the League. Surprisingly, both wins have come on the road.
Showtime in Moscow: Avtodor flashes speed, CSKA wins with depth
Sunday’s game against Avtodor was meant to be redemption for Thursday’s setback vs. Madrid in the EuroLeague. Saratov, however, had other plans. Avtodor has always played the Army Men tough and kept the score close for the first 20 minutes in Moscow. The visitors were everywhere on the court, pushing the tempo and scoring on fast breaks.
The tide shifted in the second half. CSKA cut down on turnovers, shored up the defense and quickly surged to a double-digit lead. Even with the game out of reach, both teams put on a show for the fans with Cory Higgins and Micah Downs especially impressing down the stretch.
UNICS takes down another Top-5 team… this time in Krasnodar
When the White-Greens went five minutes without scoring in the 3rd quarter, falling behind by double digits, it looked for all the world like Kazan’s unbeaten streak was headed for an abrupt end. But Dimitrios Priftis and his men didn’t give up so easily.
Melvin Ejim’s triple got the visitors going with Kazan cutting the deficit to five entering the 4th. The final period was a masterpiece of UNICS defense as the Tatar club held Loko to a measly four points. Krasnodar center Frank Elegar even missed a wide-open dunk in the final minutes, symbolizing Loko’s frustration on offense in the quarter. UNICS went on to win by 10 points, 77-67, and deal the home team its first defeat of the season.
“Games against Loko have meant a little more in recent years. We usually play each other hard. This time, Krasnodar was better for three quarters, but we showed what the new UNICS is all about in the final period. We’re winning because of our team play,” said Anton Ponkrashov.
UNICS is the only top teams to play two other contenders. First Zenit, now Loko. Kazan is making an early bid for a top seed in the postseason.
