On Sunday and Monday 3 regular season games will take place.
October 25, Sunday
UNICS (Russia) vs Enisey (Russia)
Time: 13:00 (13:00 MSK)
Place: Russia, Kazan, Basket Hall
Broadcast: Match TV
UNICS: Kazan have played the fewest number of games this season yet comparing to other teams, on October 3 they beat Astana at home. Thus, for UNICS the season is just beginning. However, it can’t be said that Kazan was lacking game experience, they played successfully in EuroCup snatching the victory in a tight one against Bahcesehir and destroying Partizan. By the way, Isaiah Canaan proved himself in the latest game scoring 23 points. It is becoming a signature for UNICS guard, in the debut game vs Astana he scored 23 points too.
Enisey: The beginning of the season for Siberians, just like for many other teams, was spoiled by coronavirus. There were only 7 players on the roster in the game against Tsmoki. The situation is even worse if the fact of home losses in considered; in the neartime Drazen Anzulovich team will have difficult road tour that includes games vs UNICS, CSKA and PARMA, and that means that Krasnoyarsk have to work harder to prevent the standings disaster. Moreover, head coach couldn’t go with the team because of COVID-19 complications, so for unknown period of time Sergey Vasiliev and Pavel Dergachev will head Enisey.
Zielona Gora (Poland) vs Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia)
Time: 20:00 (22:00 MSK)
Place: Poland, Zielona Gora, CRS Hala Zielona Góra
Broadcast: Match! Strana
Zielona Gora: Zan Tabak team started this season unsuccessfully, three losses in three games. On the one hand all the games were on the road, from the other one Zielona Gora have a status of away team (last season they won 5 on the road games out of 10 and played at home worse). It’s interesting that the last game against Loko the Polish squad played only month ago, in that game Kuban beat Zielona Gora and extended winning streak up to 5 games. One more news of the Polish team is signing forward Kris Richard from Oradea.
Lokomotiv-Kuban: After losing to CSKA Kuban managed to get back to contender status. However, game vs Kalev was won technically but the game against strongly started Nizhny Novgorod was more illustrative. Lokomotiv managed to show famous Pashutin defense defusing opponent’s snipers, and Alan Williams really proved himself as new team’s leader collecting 26+17 rebounds. They had a success in the EuroCup either beating Andorra with 15-point advantage.
October 26, Monday
Avtodor (Russia) vs Khimki (Russia)
Time: 19:00 (18:00 MSK)
Place: Russia, Saratov, Crystal SP
Broadcast: Match! Strana
Avtodor: Both teams met with Astana this week and if for Khimki the result was shocking then Avtodor spent their best game this season. Shooting 36 first quarter points Saratov easily took significant victory setting scoring season-high – 107 points. Indeed, Khimki is a different level rival but considering all the team’s problems Avtodor can rely on win, Khimki’s shortened bench may not get into the rhythm that was shown by Saratov in a game vs Kazakhstan. Perhaps, Volga newcomer Puerto rican Gian Clavell may participate in the game (18,7 points in Turkish championship last season).
Khimki: Moscow team still have to fight on two fronts with cut roster. On Friday, Khimki lost to Maccabi in Euroleague with 8 players on the roster in fact. However, Rimas Kurtinaitis has reasons to be optimistic. Players gradually recover and contribute to team’s game. Although Khimki have problems Israel team hardly beat them in overtime and Alexey Shved proved that he can’t be underrated, because he became the first player in 4 years in Euroleague to score 30 points + 10 assists. Even in lost game to Astana Alexey Shved had 19+12 assists stat line.
