Game 1. May 11, 19:00 (Moscow Time), Kazan, Basket-Hall
Game 2. May 13, 19:00 (Moscow Time), Kazan, Basket-Hall
Game 3. May 17, 13:00 (Moscow Time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena
Game 4. May 19, 19:30 (Moscow Time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena
Game 5. May 22, 19:00 (Moscow Time), Kazan, Basket Hall*
Game 6. May 25, 19:30 (Moscow Time), St. Petersburg, CSC Arena*
Game 7. May 28, 19:00 (Moscow Time), Kazan, Basket Hall*
* – if necessary
Regular Season
UNICS: 2nd place (33 wins and 7 losses)
Zenit: 3rd place (28 wins and 12 losses)
Season rivalry
The teams finished the regular season next to each other in the standings. However, none of head-to-heads were close. Only once was the score difference was less than 10 points. In the other games, one side held a significant advantage.
The first two games ended with the Kazan team wins. At the start of the season on October 4 in St. Petersburg, the game was equal for the first 2 quarters, but after halftime, UNICS completely took control. Aggressive defense and a quick transition from defense to offense brought Velimir Perasovic team a convincing win – 104:77.
The game in Kazan on December 20 unfolded along similar lines. Equal battle in the first half and a noticeable advantage for UNICS after halftime. The result was a convincing win by hosts – 88:75. DyShawn Pierre was the hero of that game. The Volga team forward made 10 of 15 field goals, scored 24 points, and was the most efficient player (26).
The St. Petersburg team managed to change trend with Dejan Radonjic arrival. On March 7 in Kazan, Zenit snapped UNICS’s unique home winning streak (25 in a row). The third quarter had turning point of the game, which the St. Petersburg club won by an 18 points – 31-13. This lead was enough for the guests to hold on to the winning score – 82-75.
The teams’ last clash took place toward the end of the regular season on April 15 in St. Petersburg. And here, there was no real contest from the very start. Already in the first quarter, the hosts had built a double-digit lead. By halftime, Zenit’s lead stood at 18 points – 52-34. In the end, Dejan Radonjic team secured win – 86-69.
Why could UNICS win?
UNICS has been plagued by injuries all season. Despite this, the Kazan team became the only squad that truly managed to give CSKA tough fight in the regular season. This is largely due to Velimir Perasovic. The head coach has been one of the strongest in the VTB League over the past few years. And this season has been yet another confirmation of that. So in the upcoming Semifinal series, the Croatian specialist’s class and experience should help his players break Zenit’s resistance.
UNICS’s main offensive force in this matchup should be the duo of Bingham and Reynolds. The Kazan team frontcourt has been the key to the team’s success throughout the season. In the battle against Zenit, they must demonstrate power and become the key factor that will bring the Volga team win in the entire series.
However, aside from Bingham and Reynolds, UNICS has plenty of experienced players, who have already been through a lot. In key Playoffs games, it is often a combination of experience and skill that makes the difference. And here the Kazan team has the edge over the younger Zenit squad too. Most of the Volga team’s key players are already over 30 and have a considerable history.
Zenit has been inconsistent all season. And it can’t be said that the team has fully found its game heading into the Playoffs. Still, the quality of players and the depth of its roster ensure that the St. Petersburg team remains one of the strongest teams in the League.
And it is precisely that depth that is one of the key component that could bring win to Zenit in this series. Like Kazan, the St. Petersburg team has struggled with players all season. But unlike UNICS, Dejan Radonjic team still features more players who have proven at the VTB League level.
When it comes to specific players, however, the St. Petersburg team is relying more on youth than the Kazan team. Trent Frazier, Xavier Moon and Johnny Juzang are top-tier players capable of leading Zenit to win in games and the entire series. Their shooting talent and ability to make the most difficult shots will serve as an excellent usage to UNICS’s strong defense.
In addition, another interesting point emerged specifically in the matchups against the Kazan team. Including the Winline Basket Cup, the St. Petersburg team has won its last 3 games against UNICS. And in all of those wins, the team managed to put together one dominant quarter that gave a solid lead and effectively guaranteed the win. This ability to completely overwhelm the opponent during a specific stretch of the game is a significant advantage. With it, Dejan Radonjic team can secure the spot in Finals.
X-Factor
The previous Quarterfinal series showed that offensive basketball is unlikely in the UNICS vs. Zenit matchup. Quite the opposite. Both teams demonstrated excellent defensive skills, which earned their spots in the Semifinals. In the upcoming series, defense will once again be the key factor in determining the winner.
One of the most important factors will be the resources of each head coach. Both teams entered the Playoffs in a state that has become familiar this season, where numerous injuries make it difficult to predict the lineup for the next game. The between rounds surely pleased both sides. It was a chance to heal injuries, give the veteran leaders a rest, and bring someone back. There will be no more breaks. In the intense battle ahead, the players’ physical condition and their numbers could become the very X-factor that decides the fate of the entire series.
Rivlary history score: 26-23, UNICS leads.
This season, the teams have faced off 6 times in the VTB League and WINLINE Basket Cup. UNICS won the first 3 games, while Zenit won the next 3.
In the teams’ first matchup of the season, UNICS defeated Zenit on the roadby 27 points—104-77. This was the Kazan team’s biggest win at CSC Arena in VTB League history.
Each team has just one player who hasn’t missed a single game this season—Marcus Bingham for UNICS and Andrey Vorontsevich for Zenit. Vorontsevich streak of consecutive games played has now reached 141 (it began on March 15, 2024).
UNICS was the best rebounding team in the first round of the Playoffs (46.7). Zenit ranked only sixth. The St. Petersburg team averaged 11.9 fewer rebounds than the upcoming opponent (34.8).
UNICS ranked second in the first round of the Playoffs in three-pointers made (27.3 per game). However, the team had the worst three-point shooting percentage among all Quarterfinal teams (25.6%). Zenit has the second-highest three-point shooting percentage at 39.0% (10.3 of 26.3).
UNICS was the best defensive team in the first round of the Playoffs (62.7 points allowed per game). Its rival in last round MBA-MAI wasn’t able to score more than 63 points. Zenit ranked third (68.8 points allowed per game).
Following the Quarterfinals, the most effective on both teams were the frontcourt players—Jalen Reynolds (24.3), Mikhail Belenitskii (18.0), and Marcus Bingham (15.7) for UNICS, as well as Andre Roberson (16.5) and Andrei Martiuk (15.0) for Zenit.
