Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked CSKA (23-4) in Moscow on Sunday night. Hosts were edged by fourth ranked Lokomotiv (20-6) 106-104. Lokomotiv shot 61.3 percent from the field. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Lokomotiv made 7 blocks. 26 personal fouls committed by CSKA helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of Andrei Martiuk who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 27 points and 10 rebounds (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field) and American guard Patrick Miller (185-1992, college: Tennessee St., agency: Slash Sports) who added 16 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists during the contest. At the losing side American guard Melo Trimble (190-1995, college: Maryland, agency: Pensack Sports) responded with 35 points (!!!). Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Lokomotiv have a solid three-game winning streak. They maintain fourth position with 20-6 record. CSKA at the other side still keeps top place with four games lost. Lokomotiv are looking forward to face Enisey (#9) in Krasnoyarsk in the next round where they are favorite. CSKA will play on the road against Uralmash (#5) in Yekaterinburg and is hoping to win this game.
One of the most interesting games of round 28 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Saratov where third ranked Zenit outleveled host Avtodor (10-17) 79-60. The winners were led by American guard Trent Frazier (188-1998, college: Illinois) who scored that evening 18 points and 5 assists and Andrey Vorontsevich supported him with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Even a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists by Nigerian-Canadian Caleb Agada (196-1994, college: Ottawa, agency: Pensack Sports) did not help to save the game for Avtodor. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Russian champion maintains third position with 21-5 record having just three points less than leader CSKA. Avtodor lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Enisey. Zenit will play against Samara (#11) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Avtodor will play against Parma-Pari and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
One of the most interesting games of round 28 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Kazan where second ranked UNICS outleveled visiting Samara (7-19) 94-59. Marcos Knight fired 21 points, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners. Mikhail Kulagin produced 16 points for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. UNICS (22-5) have an impressive 11-game winning streak. They maintain second position behind leader CSKA. Samara lost ninth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 19 games lost. UNICS will meet MBA Moscow (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Samara will play against Zenit and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 28 Enisey won against Astana on the opponent’s court 78-63. CSKA outscored Avtodor in a home game 108-83.

Avtodor – Zenit 60-79

One of the most interesting games of round 28 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Saratov where third ranked Zenit outleveled host Avtodor (10-17) 79-60. Avtodor was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. The winners were led by American guard Trent Frazier (188-1998, college: Illinois) who scored that evening 18 points and 5 assists and Andrey Vorontsevich (207-1987) supported him with 16 points and 7 rebounds. Even a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists by Nigerian-Canadian Caleb Agada (196-1994, college: Ottawa, agency: Pensack Sports) did not help to save the game for Avtodor. Forward Aleksandr Petenev (197-2000) added 17 points for lost side. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Defending Russian champion maintains third position with 21-5 record having just three points less than leader CSKA. Avtodor lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Enisey. Zenit will play against Samara (#11) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Avtodor will play against Parma-Pari and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Zenit: T.Frazier 18+3reb+5ast, A.Vorontsevich 16+7reb+2ast, D.Bacon 9+5reb+2ast, G.Zhbanov 8+3reb+1ast, S.Karasev 8+2reb+4ast, V.Hunter 7+3reb
Avtodor: A.Petenev 17+3reb+1ast, C.Agada 15+10reb+6ast, A.Klimenko 7+4reb, K.Kanter 7+2reb, D.Beslac 6+4reb, J.Jones 4+3reb+2ast

gschID: 1183795

UNICS – Samara 94-59

One of the most interesting games of round 28 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Kazan where second ranked UNICS outleveled visiting Samara (7-19) 94-59. UNICS dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to Samara‘s 20. UNICS forced 19 Samara turnovers and outrebounded them 42-24 including 28 on the defensive glass. UNICS looked well-organized offensively handing out 32 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Samara‘s players. American guard Marcos Knight (191-1989, college: MTSU, agency: Slash Sports) fired 21 points, 6 assists and 4 steals for the winners. The other American import center Jalen Reynolds (208-1992, college: Xavier) chipped in 18 points and 8 rebounds. Guard Mikhail Kulagin (191-1994) produced 16 points and center Ilia Popov (210-1995, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) added 12 points respectively for lost side. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. UNICS (22-5) have an impressive 11-game winning streak. They maintain second position behind leader CSKA. Samara lost ninth consecutive game. They keep the eleventh place with 19 games lost. UNICS will meet MBA Moscow (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Samara will play against Zenit and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
UNICS: M.Knight 21+3reb+6ast, D.Akoon-Purcell 20+1reb, J.Reynolds 18+8reb+2ast, A.Komolov 9+4reb+1ast, I.Bako 8+4reb+2ast, S.Toropov 5+6reb+4ast
Samara: M.Kulagin 16+4reb+1ast, I.Popov 12+3ast, A.Kardanakhishvili 9+3reb+1ast, G.Goldyrev 9+3reb+1ast, A.Sopin 5+1reb+3ast, N.Zverev 5+2reb+1ast

gschID: 1183796

CSKA – Lokomotiv 104-106

gschID: 1183797

Astana – Enisey 63-78

Rather expected game in Nur-Sultan where bottom-ranked Kazakhstan Astana (0-26) was defeated by ninth ranked Russian Enisey (10-17) 78-63 on Tuesday. Enisey looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Center Sergey Balashov (206-1996, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) fired a double-double by scoring 16 points, 12 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. Timofey Gerasimov (197-1997, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Five Enisey players scored in double figures. American-Nigerian guard Daniel Utomi (198-1997, college: USC) produced 15 points and 5 rebounds and Russian center Andrey Desiatnikov (220-1994, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) added 8 points and 10 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Enisey moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Avtodor. Loser Astana still closes the standings. Enisey will meet higher ranked Lokomotiv (#4) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Astana will play against N.Novgorod (#7) in Nizhny Novgorod and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Enisey: V.Sanders 18+3reb+1ast, S.Balashov 16+12reb+6ast, T.Gerasimov 14+7reb+7ast, U.Blizniuk 14+1reb+4ast, A.Stepanovic 11+7reb+2ast, V.Odinokov 3+1reb
Astana: D.Utomi 15+5reb+1ast, R.Murzagaliyev 11+2ast, D.Pokhodiaev 10+6reb+1ast, A.Desiatnikov 8+10reb+2ast, A.Maydekin 7+2reb+2ast, V.Chsherbak 5+3reb+2ast

gschID: 1183798

CSKA – Avtodor 108-83

Very predictable result in Moscow where first ranked CSKA (23-4) smashed 8th ranked Avtodor (10-17) 108-83 on Wednesday. CSKA made 23-of-26 free shots (88.5 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. American guard Melo Trimble (190-1995, college: Maryland, agency: Pensack Sports) fired 29 points and 4 steals (made all of his nine free throws !!!) for the winners. Guyanese-French Livio Jean-Charles (205-1993) chipped in 17 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Turkish power forward Kerem Kanter (208-1995, college: Xavier) produced a double-double by scoring 22 points and 11 rebounds and Serbian Dusan Beslac (205-1998) added 16 points and 5 rebounds respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. CSKA maintains first position with 23-4 record. Avtodor lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Enisey. CSKA will meet Uralmash (#5) in the next round. Avtodor will play against Parma-Pari and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
CSKA: M.Trimble 29+3reb+3ast, L.Jean-Charles 17+6reb+4ast, C.Ware 14+4reb+1ast, T.Jekiri 12+5reb+2ast, A.M’Baye 7+1ast, A.Avramovic 7+3reb+1ast
Avtodor: K.Kanter 22+11reb, D.Beslac 16+5reb, C.Agada 12+4reb+3ast, B.Crawford 11+5reb+4ast, J.Jones 9+2reb+2ast, A.Klimenko 6+1reb