The SuperCup 2024 has started! VTB Arena hosted 2 games on Wednesday – here are the most interesting events of the day.
UNICS starts with a win for the first time
The Kazan team has participated in all three SueprCups, and has always started the tournament with losses. Despite Louis Labeyrie and Aleksandr Platunov injuries, Velimir Perasovic said that this time UNICS was determined to break the unpleasant trend before the game against Besiktas. The first quarter equal, but in the second quarter UNICS turned on the ball movement, started making three-pointers and clearly began to enjoy the game.
DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell came out and scored 15 points on 3/4 long-range shots after 20 minutes, despite being questionable on participating in the game, with Marcos Knight backing him up with 12 points. Dusan Alimpijevic, who led the Turkish team with excitement in the opening quarter, went quiet, and UNICS led before halftime – 58:35. There were no fundamental changes in the next 2 quarters – the Kazan team won the first SuperCup game.
Dimitris Itoudis in Moscow
One of the notable guests at the SuperCup is Dimitris Itoudis, who led CSKA from 2014 to 2022. The Greek specialist remains the most winning coach in VTB League history, and the Moscow team won their first SuperCup with him.
The champion showed masterclass
CSKA and Lokomotiv Kuban have played twice before in the SuperCup. In 2021, the Moscow team won in the Semifinal (91:78), and last year the Krasnodar team got revenge in the Quarterfinal (100:98 OT), although Casper Ware tournament-high performance (44 points). This time everything was different. Loko played with high intensity, but CSKA handled the pressure, controlled the game, gradually got away and kept their opponent at the distance in the second half. The Moscow team was better in all key stats, especially their two-point shooting percentage (67.4%).
Just like last year, the game was intense, only this time CSKA beat Loko – 105:95.
Debut Day
The opening day brought several notable starts for players and coaches.
Andrey Vedischev
For the longtime Loko President, the game with CSKA was the first official as the Krasnodar team head coach – he is the second team President in VTB League history to become the team’s head coach. The first was Vladimir Rodionov, who headed Avtodor in March 2015.
Players tried to please the coach, but CSKA was ruthless. Of course, it’s too early to draw conclusions from one game.
Aleksa Avramovic
On Sunday, CSKA practiced without the Olympics bronze medalist – the guard went to Serbia for his brother’s wedding. The Moscow team newcomer proved to be a true professional. Just like in the friendly games at the training camp, he was one of the best in the team on Wednesday, this time demonstrating his playmaking skills. Aleksa had the ball a lot, not forgetting to score – 12 points and 8 assists in 20 minutes. The debut was a success.
Vsevolod Ischenko
Loko has 2 players in the roster who have not yet played for the main team in the VTB League – Mikhail Vedischev and Vsevolod Ishchenko. Ishchenko, who won a VTB Youth League bronze medal last season with Loko-2 and was named to the Final Four first team, unexpectedly made the starting lineup against CSKA, but was limited to only that. The 19-year-old played 2.5 minutes and didn’t score – all the fun is ahead.
Meeting
Amath M’Baye and Tony Taylor had played 3 seasons in Karsiyaka (2019-2022) and met in Moscow.
Quote
Ivan Ukhov turned 29 years on September 11. In the game against Loko, he had for 3 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists.
– Kurbanov said that you will get a cake.
– Yes, we’ll discuss what kind of cake. What kind of cake do I like? I like Napoleon. I guess we’ll do that.
Top Plays
The SuperCup 2024 Day 1 results
UNICS vs Besiktas – 97:69 (19:22, 39:13, 24:16, 15:18).
UNICS: Akoon-Purcell (24), Knight (23 + 5 assists + 5 assists), Reynolds (16 + 8 rebounds).
Besiktas: Conan (12 + 7 rebounds)
CSKA vs Lokomotiv Kuban – 105:95 (24:21,30:21, 25:19, 26:24)
CSKA: Trimble (19), Jekiri (17 + 9 rebounds), M’Baye (15), Jean-Charles (13 + 5 rebounds), Avramovic (12 + 8 assists).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Johnson (18), Miller (15 + 7 assists), Cleveland (14), Whaley (10 + 7 rebounds).
Day 2 Schedule
17:00 Zenit vs. Besiktas
20:00 CSKA vs Crvena Zvezda
