Three regular-season games will take place on Saturday.
Enisey (Krasnoyarsk Krai) vs. Dynamo (Vladivostok)
Time: 4:00 p.m. (12:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Krasnoyarsk, “Sever” Arena, KGAU RCSS
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Enisey: The Siberians suffered three heartbreaking losses in close games at the start of the season. These setbacks have dropped Enisey down to 10th place in the standings. If the Krasnoyarsk team plans to join the fight for a spot among the top six, they need to win this upcoming game. Dynamo is a direct rival for the hosts, so the stakes in this game will be very high for both teams.
Dynamo: The visitors have gotten off to a very strong start to the season. Their fast-paced, attacking style of play has already earned Vladivostok two wins. But they face a tough test in Krasnoyarsk. After all, the fastest pace in the League (Dynamo) is playing against the slowest (Enisey). Previously, the Siberians managed to slow down the fast-paced MBA and Lokomotiv. In this matchup, much will depend on whether the Primorye team can impose its pace on the opponent.
Enisey Head Coach Jovica Arsić: “All opponents are dangerous, and we want to beat every one of them. Dynamo plays an unconventional style, showcasing a fast-paced, mobile brand of basketball. Against an opponent like that, it’s important to stay focused for the entire 40 minutes. We need to play better defense to contain their attacks. It’s also very important to improve our rebounding under our own basket compared to the previous game, in which we had quite a few problems in that area. Confidence comes with wins. In three of our games, the outcome was decided by a single possession, but unfortunately, each time the situation didn’t go our way. I hope this time we’ll be able to secure the win earlier and avoid such a tense finish.”
Uralmash (Yekaterinburg) vs. MBA (Moscow)
Time: 4:00 p.m. (2:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Yekaterinburg, GAUSO “Palace of Game Sports”
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Uralmash: The home team had a rough start to the season. But they’re gradually finding their rhythm. Victories over Dynamo and Samara have allowed Uralmash to climb into the top six. Now the “Factory team” faces another tough test. Last season, they lost to MBA in all four games. And the upcoming matchup will give Anton Yudin’s squad a chance to break their long losing streak against the Moscow team.
MBA: For many years, the MBA basketball players have left no doubt about their fighting spirit. But with a group of experienced players sidelined due to injuries, the current roster doesn’t always show the necessary consistency. In the previous round, the Moscow team secured a spectacular victory in Krasnoyarsk, where they twice came back from the brink of defeat. This success has surely energized the young team and boosted their confidence, which they will try to channel into another victory on the court in Yekaterinburg.
MBA Head Coach Sergey Voznyuk: “I expect tomorrow’s game to be a hard-fought battle. We understand that it’s never easy to play in Yekaterinburg—Uralmash gets tremendous support from its fans. It’s extremely important for us to execute well the things we’ve agreed upon and worked on during our preparation for this game. First and foremost, concentration is key. We’re trying, game by game, to minimize the inconsistencies that have been present in our play and to show a more cohesive and stable performance, without the ups and downs. Our opponent is strong; Uralmash changed its roster over the summer, bringing in top-class basketball players. One of the key factors tomorrow will be the battle on our end of the court, and we absolutely cannot give ground in that area.”
Lokomotiv-Kuban (Krasnodar) vs. BETCITY PARMA (Perm Krai)
Time: 4:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. Moscow Time)
Venue: Russia, Krasnodar, “Basket-Hall” Sports Complex
Broadcast: Kinopoisk
Lokomotiv–Kuban: So far this season, the Krasnodar team has consistently delighted its fans at “Basket-Hall”—5 home wins in 5 games. However, neither impressive statistics nor a high position in the standings (2nd) guarantee the hosts success in the upcoming match. To beat PARMA, the Kuban team will have to give it their all. After all, the Ural team is known for punishing opponents for any lapse in concentration and has defeated Loko in Krasnodar more than once in their history.
BETCITY PARMA: From the very first games of the season, the Perm team has proven that they remain a threat to the favorites. Exciting, high-scoring basketball, dominance on the boards, and the individual skill of their leaders—these are the strengths that set PARMA apart in this year’s championship. However, the Ural team still lacks consistency. This is clearly reflected in the team’s results. Evgeny Pashutin’s squad is following a strictly black-and-white pattern, with wins alternating with losses. The match in Krasnodar is shaping up to be a tough one. But the visitors are unlikely to accept this outcome. And they’ll give it their all to kick off a full-fledged winning streak.
Tomislav Tomović, head coach of Lokomotiv-Kuban: BETCITY PARMA is a team with exceptional offensive talent. Many of their players have the ability to score a lot of points, their defenders are very creative, and their coach manages the game well. So, in my opinion, our opponent’s main strength lies in their offense.
That’s why it’s very important for us to maintain a high level of defense and physicality. Our previous game was very good in that regard. Maintaining that intensity isn’t easy, but it’s the coaching staff’s direct responsibility, and we intend to rise to the challenge.
I’ll be happy to see a big crowd in the stands, especially since the match is scheduled for a weekend day. Come with your families and friends, cheer us on—and we’ll fight to extend our winning streak and delight you with beautiful, selfless play.”
BETCITY PARMA Head Coach Evgeny Pashutin: “We’re fully prepared for the game against Lokomotiv. They’re a very strong team. Right now, the most important thing is to demonstrate the qualities we showed in our victory over Samara. We need to demonstrate smart and aggressive defense with teamwork, dedication, and energy. We need to control the boards, since our opponent has an athletic team; it’s also important to contain Lokomotiv’s fast breaks and play smart, team-oriented basketball. We need to stay focused for all 40 minutes of the game and remember that we’re traveling to Krasnodar to play to win.”
