Saratov will host the regular season game on Saturday.
Avtodor (Saratov, Russia) vs. CSKA (Moscow, Russia)
Time: 17:00 (16:00 Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Saratov, DS Kristall
Broadcast: Match! Igra , TV Start, League website
Avtodor: The Saratov team didn’t start the season quite as they had hoped – three losses in four games. The last one was especially frustrating, when the Volga team lost after game-winning layup by Enisey star Xavier Rathan-Mayes. Milenko Bogicevic is trying not to be discouraged: «There is one thing I am definitely happy about, though, and that is that our players are showing their character on the court». This important factor will not be out of place for Avtodor now: in the next seven rounds, the team will face CSKA, UNICS, Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Zenit and Loko.
CSKA: Major roster changes didn’t prevent CSKA from starting the season with four wins – together with UNICS, they are the only undefeated teams of the new season. Despite the 100% result, there are still mistakes. «This will be a lesson for us: we need to work in defense better for the entire 40 minutes, focus more on what we discussed to before the game», Emil Rajkovic said after the game against PARMA. The Army team snatched win in the end, trailing by 4 points with a 1.5 minute left. As Avtodor’s traditionally high game pace and its energized fans in the games against CSKA, should be expected another round of principled rivalry.
