PARMA head coach Evgeny Pashutin presented the renewed team.
«Aleksandr Platunov – the leader of the team, our main player – stayed with us. Now he is in good shape, we believe in him and expect an even brighter game. Vladislav Perevalov is also one of the team’s old players, and he should reach a new level this season.
Platunov and Perevalov cement the team with their experience playing in the Perm team, but we also have some strong newcomers joining us. Stanislav Ilnitsky is a very experienced, smart and team player, he played in the Russian national team and was captain at many clubs, he is a good defender and rebounder, he can add to the team chemistry and reliability and will help us with his experience both on and off the court. Dmitriy Khalturin is a young and promising center. He played in the CSKA youth team, is powerful, athletic and agile. Signing with PARMA will be a challenge for him. He works hard and we believe in him. Ruslan Abdulbasirov is a talented man, mobile and motivated player with a good shot. He is fast, light and tough. He has something to prove this season.
As for our foreigners, we are expecting their arrival just a few days from now. Isaiah Reese, a versatile player with a high basketball IQ and a winning personality, stayed with us this season. He can play for the team, rebound, make assists and score difficult shots. A true point guard who controls the game and plays to win. We believe he will add more to his game next year. The team needs such a high-class player and a decent person who always wants to win. Also joining us are American guard C.J. Bryce, an attacking player who can create great situations for teammates on the floor or play individually, experienced American forward B.J. Johnson and athletic American center Richard Solomon.
In the preseason we will play a lot of games with strong opponents, we will play Loko, Samara, CSKA and other VTB League and Superleague 1 teams. There will be a high level of contact and pressure at the games, and it will be great practice for the team. We must approach the season in full strength. We need these games to improve the quality of our defence and for the coaching staff to gather more information. The preseason helps in establishing team chemistry and gives us an opportunity to work on schemes. Naturally, playing against each other in training will not be as beneficial as games against real opponents in conditions that are as close to combat as possible. We believe in the team and we really want our guys to establish themselves in the core and together with experienced players and foreigners to achieve the necessary result. We want this symbiosis of youth, enthusiasm, ambition and energy to work so that we can play fast and beautiful basketball.
Perm is the most basketball city in Russia, our fans have proved it many times with their support and understanding of the best ball game. For our part, we will do our best to please them in the new season with a beautiful, energetic and bright game. Together we will win.»
