6 regular season games will be played from Thursday to Monday.
October 1, Thursday
Time: 19:30 (15:30 MSK)
Venue: Arena Sever, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
Broadcast: TV Start
Enisey face roster troubles. On the game date, Enisey announced three players’ postive COVID tests: Mikhail Kulagin, Aleksandr Gudumak and Timofey Yakushin. The American guard Kerron Johnson made health complaunts half a day before the game. Morover, another new signing Leyton Hammonds won’t help the hosts due to injury. Therefore, Drazen Anzulovic will have only 7 main players against Tsmoki. Two youngsters Artem Shlegel and Ivan Vaschenko are sent to help the main team.
Tsmoki-Minsk will make a debut in VTB League season with a trip to Krasnoyarsk. However, their season actually started weeks ago when Tsmoki won 2019/20 Belarusian league which was resumed in Final Four. Last week, the Dragons qualified for Champions League group stage for the first time in history after beating Balkan (Bulgaria) and Neptunas (Lithuania). It should be noted that Tsmoki’s roster is renewed, most of the last year leaders like Branko Mirkovic left the team. Recent signings like Will Clyburn’s brother Chris will try to beat the Curse of Krasnoyarks (The Dragons haven’t beaten Enisey since 2015).
October 3, Saturday
Time: 18:00 (18:00 MSK)
Venue: Basket hall, Kazan, Russia
Broadcast: Match! Strana
UNICS will start United League regular season with a home game against Astana. But their season has already started in Italy where they were beaten by Venezia (78:85) in Eurocup. The brightest UNICS player was not one of the recent signings (Isaiah Canaan or Jordan Morgan), but Jamar Smith, the one beloved by Kazan fans. He scored 25 points and it seems like he’s going to replace Errick McCollum as a team leader.
Astana have already started the season, but couldn’t do much against CSKA. They’ll try to grab a win against UNICS, but that’s a tough task. In 15 games betwen the two, Astana have only 2 victories. However, this time Emil Rajkovikj’s side will be in better shape: newcomers should get used to the new environment, unlike the previous game when Martins Meiers had to step on court the next day after arrival to Kazakhstan.
October 4, Sunday
Time: 13:00 (13:00 MSK)
Venue: USH CSKA, Moscow, Russia
Broadcast: Match TV
CSKA will face the Railway club in the Game of the Week. CSKA will be motivated to make amends after a sensational loss from PARMA. Their fitness will decide a lot in this game. We should note that CSKA’s trump card Tornike Shengelia was injured in game vs Astana and is still recovering. Shape of Nikola Milutinov and Janis Strelnieks is still a question. They both miss Euroleague opener against Barcelona, but can be ready to meet Loko.
Lokomotiv-Kuban started with two wins beating Zielona Gora in United League and Belgian Antwerp in Eurocup. Alan Williams looked great in both games, chances are he will replace Johnny O’Bryant as a team leader. Loko’s transfer no.1 Jordan Crawford, showed big time in Eurocup. His performance against Zielona Gora was not the brightest with only 10 points and 3/12 field goals, however 21 points against Antwerp were top result in that game.
Time: 16:00 (17:00 MSK)
Venue: SH Kristal, Saratov, Russia
Broadcast: TV Start
Avtodor: this game mean a lot to Saratov as it’s going to be new head coach Gordie Herbert debut. Even though the stands will show great support, the game will be difficult. Saratov did a great job in the offseason (take for example Drew Gordon, one of the best big guys of the Leauge, or Ben Emelogu – both signed from Poland), but newcomers have to fit in team’s and coach’s philosophy. PARMA meanwhile have a stable roster and chemistry which they proved against CSKA.
PARMA probably made no.1 sensation of the season in the first round. They smashed top club after trailing by 22. This game should have boosted PARMA’s ambition. Avtodor vs PARMA rivalry usually brings bright, high scoring games. Most likely, we’ll see attacking basketball with lots of distance shots, PARMA’s weapon no.1 in last game. Ural team made 14 of 25 three-pointers against CSKA which was the key factor to their victory,
Time: 17:00 (17:00 MSK)
Venue: SC Yubileyny, Saint Petersbrug, Russia
Broadcast: TV Start
Zenit have the best start since 2016. They have three wins (including Khimki) and yet to come. After beating the Dragons, Xavi Pascual’s side extend the ranking gap and repeat 2016’s success when they won 4 first games in a row. And this is not the limit, as one year earlier they won 7 starting games.
Tsmoki-Minsk have a tough challenge to pass. A trip to St. Petersburg is only three days after journey to Siberia. Tsmoki’s recovering process will be decisive in this game. However, Zenit’s fitness will also be tested: since September 20, they’ve played 3 games in United League and 1 away Euroleague game in Istanbul. The question is whether Minsk can take advantage of the hosts’ fatigue.
October 5, Monday
Time: 20:00 (20:00 MSK)
Venue: BCMO, Khimki, Russia
Broadcast: League site
Khimki are suffering extremely bad start as they’ve opened the season with two straight losses for the first time in history. This can be partly justified by injuries: Rimas Kurtinaitis was left without back court (Alexey Shved, Stefan Jovic, Errick McCollum and Egor Vialtsev). Khimki managed to turn the tables meeting Enisey, but the real challenge will be Euroleague opener on October 2, when Khimki will face Panathinaikos.
Kalev: Khimki’s roster will be a huge factor in this game. The Tallinners, however will try to rule their own fate: Nizhny Novgorod’s experience shows that a frightening opponent can be beaten despite the different level of players. Kalev showed well organized game against Zenit. Only explosive run helped the League leaders overcome stubborn Tallinn. Therefore, this time the guests will try to repeat the 2.5-year old sensation when Kalev gained the first and only victory against Khimki in 18 games.
