Parma plays in Moscow for the first time, Khimki looks to slow down high-flying Enisey, and more in a busy Sunday in the VTB United League.
Sunday, November 13
CSKA (Russia) – Parma (Russia)
Time: 2:00 PM (2:00 MSK)
Place: USH CSKA, Moscow, Russia
TV: Match TV, VTB-League.com
CSKA: CSKA is the only undefeated remaining in both the VTB United League and Euroleague. The Army Men took down Real Madrid in Moscow on Friday night, led by Nando De Colo’s 28 points and six rebounds.
Despite having less than 48 hours to prepare for Parma, CSKA’s depth makes life much easier for Dimitris Itoudis. The team has 12 men averaging 13 minutes or more in the VTB United League and five different players in double figures.
CSKA is also averaging 99.5 points per game in the League. A big win against visiting Perm could push that number above 100 through five games.
Parma: The League’s newest member has yet to pick up a win. Parma lost last week in Krasnodar, 86-61, to drop to 0-4.
Danilo Andjusic leads the team in points (17.8), assists (4.5), and steals (1.5). The 25-year-old Serbian guard scored a season-high 21 against Lokomotiv.
Captain Sergei Chernov is still recovering from an injury. He’s doubtful for Sunday’s game in Moscow.
VEF (Latvia) – Avtodor (Russia)
Time: 5:00 PM (6:00 MSK)
Place: Olimpic Sport Center
TV: VTB-League.com
VEF: Back-to-back wins (82-74 over LU in the Latvian League and 88-85 over Tsmoki-Minsk in the VTB) have VEF on a roll entering Sunday’s game.
Forward Arnas Labuckas, who’s averaging 4.0 ppg in the League, scored a team-high 15 against LU.
Overall, Riga is 2-2 in the League and 5-0 in Latvia. In addition to the Tsmoki win, VEF defeated Khimki to open the season and almost toppled Astana on the road.
Latvian veteran Janis Blums is first on the team in scoring at 18.8 ppg, good for 4th in the VTB United League.
Avtodor: Saratov lost a heart-breaker in the FIBA Champions League on Tuesday, falling 76-74 to Pinar Karsiyaka on a last-second layup.
Despite the disappointing outcome, Nick Minnerath had another outstanding game, finishing with 28 points and eight rebounds. The American big man is 1st in the VTB United League in scoring (23.8) and 2nd in the Champions League (19.5).
NBA legend John Stockton, father of Avtodor point guard Michael Stockton, attended Tuesday’s game in Saratov.
1-4 in the VTB United League, Sergei Mokin’s men are desperate for a win in Riga. With losses to Tsmoki-Minsk and Astana already, Avtodor cannot afford another setback against a fellow playoff hopeful.
Khimki (Russia) – Enisey (Russia)
Time: 5:00 PM (5:00 MSK)
Place: BCMO, Khimki, Russia
TV: VTB-League.com
Khimki: Moscow Region is starting to click. Dusko Ivanovic’s club recorded convincing wins over Lokomotiv-Kuban and UNICS in recent weeks and moved into 1st place in its Eurocup group with a victory over Bilbao on Wednesday.
Alexey Shved scored 23 in the Eurocup win, while guard Markel Brown made his debut, recording six points, two rebounds, and three assists in only eight minutes on the court.
Moscow Region is very dangerous on the perimeter, leading the VTB United League at a 43.6% clip, while holding opponents to a measly 29.9%.
Enisey: Krasnoyarsk is riding a seven-game winning streak (including four wins in the Europe Cup) and would love to add Khimki to its growing list of victims.
Enisey already defeated Lokomotiv-Kuban on the road, so an upset in Moscow Region isn’t out of the question.
The team is led by Tony Taylor and Frank Elegar, who’ve combined for 29 points and nine rebounds per game in the League. Enisey also has a very strong Russian contingent, highlighted by the young Vladislav Trushkin (8.8 pts, 4.4 reb) and veterans Vasily Zavoruev and Alexey Vzdykhalkin.
Keep an eye on Vzdykhalkin on Sunday. He scored 21 points (5-10 beyond the arc) in the Europe Cup on Wednesday and could help stretch Khimki’s defense if he stays hot.
Tsmoki-Minsk (Belarus) – Lokomotiv-Kuban (Russia)
Time: 6:00 PM (6:00 MSK)
Place: Minsk Arena, Minsk, Belarus
TV: VTB-League.com
Tsmoki-Minsk: Tsmoki preserved its perfect record in the FIBA Europe Cup, blowing by Siauliai on Wednesday, 90-77. Dru Joyce and Nemanja Milosevic combined for 52 points in the win.
The Belarusians haven’t had as much luck in the VTB United League. After a 2-1 start, the club dropped two in a row, including last week’s overtime loss to VEF.
The team did get some good news on Thursday. Guard Justin Gray, who injured his ankle in the overtime period against VEF, could be back for Sunday’s game. He’s been a big part of Tsmoki’s success this season and is second on the team in scoring.
Lokomotiv-Kuban: Krasnodar parted ways with head coach Fotios Katsikaris on Friday. The Railwaymen are 2-2 in the VTB United League and could miss out on the next round of the Eurocup after Wednesday’s loss to Valencia dropped the team to 1-3.
It will be interesting to see how the team responds against a talented Minsk team. Against Valencia, Lokomotiv struggled to share the ball (seven assists) and had only 11 free-throw attempts to 32 for the visitors.
Better ball movement and a more aggressive approach on offense will be key.
Zenit (Russia) – Nizhny Novgorod (Russia)
Time: 8:00 PM (8:00 MSK)
Place: SK Yubileyniy, St. Petersburg, Russia
TV: Match! Nash sport, VTB-League.com
Zenit: Vasily Karasev’s men are 0-2 since Sunday, losing to CSKA in the VTB United League and Unicaja in the Eurocup. Zenit was without leading scorers Janis Timma and Sergey Karasev, both of whom are dealing with injuries.
With Karasav and Timma unavailable, Ryan Toolson has had to carry the offense. He dropped 35 points on Unicaja, including seven 3-pointers.
Defense is perhaps Zenit’s biggest concern at the moment. The club gave up 105 points to CSKA and 93 to Unicaja.
Nizhny Novgorod: Nizhny also lost in the Eurocup on Wednesday, falling 92-77 to Cedevita Zagreb. On the bright side, Arturs Stalbergs’s club finally picked up its first win in the VTB United League earlier in the week, defeating Kalev, 102-81.
It’s been a tough start to the season, but Nizhny has been much improved in recent weeks, winning three of its last five. A positive result in St. Petersburg could do wonders for the team’s confidence.
25-year-old Russian guard Ivan Strebkov continues to impress. He poured in 24 against Kalev and added 21 in the loss to Cedevita. Strebkov is currently 2nd on the team in scoring in the VTB United League (15.6).
