Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow will host first Play-In games on Wednesday.
Play-in schedule
Game #1: Pari Nizhny Novgorod vs PARMA
The team that wins the game between Pari Nizhny Novgorod and PARMA (April 16 in Nizhny Novgorod) takes 7th place in the regular season standings and will face CSKA in the Playoffs.
Game #2: MBA-MAI vs Enisey
The team that lost in the game between MBA-MAI and Enisey (April 16 in Moscow) will finish the season.
Game #3:
The team that lost in Game #1 and the team that won in Game #2 will play (April 19 at home of the team that lost in Game #1).
The team that wins Game 3 will finish 8th in the regular season and will face Zenit in the Playoffs.
Gameday preview
Game #1: Pari Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod) vs PARMA (Perm Region)
Time: 19:00 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Nizhny Novgorod, KRK Nagorny
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: The team had poor performance at the end of the regular season with losing 7 of 9 games and lost place in the Top 6. However, the Volga team fans have good reason for optimism and hope for a success in a single game. In the season series with PARMA, Sergey Kozin team is playing its best this season and unstoppable (4-0), including Saturday win in sold-out UDS Molot. Alex Hamilton came out against his former team with special motivation and had a great game (13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 24 eff. points). Pari NN has favourite status, the winner of the game will clinch the Playoffs.
PARMA: For the Perm team, losing home court advantage is especially important, as PARMA won 52% of the games at UDS Molot, and only 31% on the road. Following Saturday’s loss to Pari NN, the coach noted his team’s lack of energy, which resulted poor rebounding. It’s no secret that Pashutin is able to adjust his players at the right time, so the regular-season results, including a 0-4 series and important road game, shouldn’t scare Perm team fans so much. Anything can happen in the Play-In.
Game #2: MBA-MAI (Moscow) vs Enisey (Krasnoyarsk Region)
Time: 19:30 (Moscow time)
Place: Russia, Moscow, Basket Hall Moscow
MBA-MAI: The Moscow team won the Play-In rehearsal – MBA beat Enisey and earned the status of hosts for Game #2. Vasily Karasev team ties the season series with the Siberian team (2-2). A great momentum ahead of another clash with Enisey guarantees nothing on Wednesday. In the final game of the regular season, the hosts had good three-point shooting percentage – 13 of 28 (46.4%). Will the team be able to do it again in the Play-In? MBA-MAI coach also noted that the team was somewhat relaxed at the end of Sunday’s game. The team have been unstable this season, so the right attitude will be the key in the second game with the Siberian team in Moscow.
Enisey: At the end of the season, the Krasnoyarsk team lost Victor Sanders and Aleksa Stepanovic. After that, the Siberian team gave CSKA a fight and scored a 100 against Samara, but then lost in Moscow. Jovica Arsic team is much more confident at home this season than on the road, and this factor could play an important role. The Serbian coach also blamed the injuries that prevented to properly prepare for Sunday’s game. The players’ health and rotation are seen as determining factors for the Siberian team.
