There were only 2 rounds played so far and it’s still very beginning of the Regular Season in VTB United League. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
CSKA smashed Uralmash in Moscow 98-56. CSKA dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Uralmash‘s 30. CSKA had a 32-21 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Serbian guard Aleksa Avramovic (193-1994) scored 17 points and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Belarusian forward Anton Astapkovich (202-1994) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. American forward Javonte Douglas (203-1992, college: Montevallo) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 12 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Uralmash will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest in order to get back on the winning path. CSKA will try to continue on its current victory against Enisey in Krasnoyarsk.
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Avtodor in Saint Petersburg. Visitors were defeated by Zenit 103-86. American guard Xavier Moon (188-1995, college: Morehead St.) notched 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and Dwayne Bacon supported him with 23 points. Even 21 points and 4 assists by American guard Bryant Crawford (191-1997, college: Wake Forest) did not help to save the game for Avtodor. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zenit will play against UNICS in Kazan in the next round where they are favorite. Avtodor will play on the road against N.Novgorod in Nizhny Novgorod to get more than just one victory in their record.
One of the most interesting games of round 2 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Nizhny Novgorod where N.Novgorod outleveled visiting Parma-Pari 83-51. The best player for the winners was Aleksandr Chadov who had a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Grigoriy Tuchkov produced 13 points for the guests. 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. N.Novgorod will meet at home Avtodor in the next round. Parma-Pari will play against Astana and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
There were no shocking results in the other games in round 2: winless Astana lost to undefeated Lokomotiv on the opponent’s court 84-127. UNICS managed to outperform Samara in a home game 86-70. Enisey managed to beat MBA Moscow on the road 72-58.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 16 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists by Andrey Zubkov of MBA Moscow.
Zenit – Avtodor 103-86
The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Avtodor in Saint Petersburg. Visitors were defeated by Zenit 103-86. Avtodor was plagued by 28 personal fouls down the stretch. American guard Xavier Moon (188-1995, college: Morehead St.) notched 16 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists to lead the effort and the other American import Dwayne Bacon (201-1995, college: FSU) supported him with 23 points. Even 21 points and 4 assists by American guard Bryant Crawford (191-1997, college: Wake Forest) did not help to save the game for Avtodor. Israeli-Russian swingman Egor Koulechov (196-1994, college: Florida, agency: Avi Zilberman) added 14 points for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Zenit will play against UNICS in Kazan in the next round where they are favorite. Avtodor will play on the road against N.Novgorod in Nizhny Novgorod to get more than just one victory in their record.
Top scorers:
Avtodor: B.Crawford 21+3reb+4ast, E.Koulechov 14+2reb+1ast, A.Petenev 12+3reb+2ast, D.Beslac 12+5reb, J.Jones 8+1reb+1ast, D.Khaldeev 6+2reb+1ast
Zenit: D.Bacon 23+2reb+3ast, O.Spellman 21+3reb+1ast, G.Zhbanov 16+2reb, X.Moon 16+5reb+7ast, A.Poythress 12+3reb+1ast, V.Hunter 6+8reb+2ast
gschID: 1183648
N.Novgorod – Parma-Pari 83-51
One of the most interesting games of round 2 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Nizhny Novgorod where N.Novgorod outleveled visiting Parma-Pari 83-51. N.Novgorod dominated down low during the game scoring 52 of its points in the paint compared to Parma-Pari‘s 24. N.Novgorod forced 22 Parma-Pari turnovers. The best player for the winners was forward Aleksandr Chadov (202-2001) who had a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). American guard Zach Nutall (190-1999, college: SMU) chipped in 15 points and 4 assists. Guard Grigoriy Tuchkov (183-2003) produced 13 points and American center Royce Hamm Jr (206-1999, college: UNLV, agency: MSG) added 7 points and 7 rebounds respectively for the guests. 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. N.Novgorod will meet at home Avtodor in the next round. Parma-Pari will play against Astana and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Parma-Pari: G.Tuchkov 13+4reb+2ast, A.Zakharov 8+1reb, R.Hamm Jr. 7+7reb+2ast, T.Yakushin 6+2reb+1ast, D.Khalturin 5+2reb, S.Ilnitskiy 5+6reb+2ast
N.Novgorod: A.Dawkins 15+5reb, Z.Nutall 15+2reb+4ast, A.Chadov 12+11reb+2ast, K.Shepherd 9+1reb+1ast, N.Djurisic 7+3reb+1ast, D.Khvostov 7+1reb+4ast
gschID: 1183649
Lokomotiv – Astana 127-84
Rather expected game in Krasnodar where Kazakhstan Astana was crushed by Russian Lokomotiv 127-84 on Wednesday. Lokomotiv made 27-of-33 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. Lokomotiv looked well-organized offensively handing out 34 assists comparing to just 14 passes made by Astana‘s players. The best player for the winners was American guard Antonius Cleveland (196-1994, college: SEMO) who scored 16 points and 6 assists. The other American import Karvel Anderson (188-1991, college: RMU) chipped in 19 points. American guard TJ Starks (188-1998, college: CSUN) produced 22 points and 5 assists and American-Nigerian guard Daniel Utomi (198-1997, college: USC) added 20 points respectively for the guests. Five Lokomotiv and four Astana players 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 get some rest. Lokomotiv will meet MBA Moscow on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Astana will play against Parma-Pari in Perm and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Astana: T.Starks 22+4reb+5ast, D.Utomi 20+4reb, J.Murray-Boyles 18+1reb+1ast, D.Pokhodiaev 15+7reb+2ast, G.Motovilov 5+4reb+5ast, A.Maydekin 4+2reb+1ast
Lokomotiv: K.Anderson 19+3reb, A.Cleveland 16+3reb+6ast, A.Martyuk 14+5reb+1ast, K.Elatontsev 14+4reb, K.Temirov 11+3reb+3ast, V.Emchenko 9+3reb+3ast
gschID: 1183650
CSKA – Uralmash 98-56
CSKA smashed Uralmash in Moscow 98-56. CSKA dominated down low during the game scoring 50 of its points in the paint compared to Uralmash‘s 30. CSKA had a 32-21 advantage in offensive rebounds. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Serbian guard Aleksa Avramovic (193-1994) scored 17 points and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Belarusian forward Anton Astapkovich (202-1994) chipped in 15 points and 9 rebounds during the contest. American forward Javonte Douglas (203-1992, college: Montevallo) responded with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 12 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Tyrell Nelson (205-1995, college: Gardner-Webb) scored 13 points. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Uralmash will have a break next week, which should allow them to rest in order to get back on the winning path. CSKA will try to continue on its current victory against Enisey in Krasnoyarsk.
Top scorers:
Uralmash: T.Nelson 13+1reb+1ast, J.Douglas 10+12reb+3ast, J.Martin 9+2reb+2ast, I.Novikov 8+1ast, S.Whittaker 6+4reb+3ast, K.Pisklov 5+2reb+1ast
CSKA: A.Avramovic 17+3reb+9ast, A.Astapkovich 15+9reb, V.Karpenko 9, A.M’Baye 9+3reb+1ast, M.Trimble 9+1reb+2ast, I.Ukhov 9+6reb+3ast
gschID: 1183651
UNICS – Samara 86-70
UNICS used a home court advantage and defeated the opponent from Samara 86-70 on Thursday night. UNICS looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. The best player for the winners was Trinidad and Tobago-American swingman Devaughn Akoon-Purcell (196-1993, college: Illinois St.) who scored 18 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. American center Jalen Reynolds (208-1992, college: Xavier) chipped in 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. American Hayden Dalton (204-1996, college: Wyoming, agency: Slash Sports) produced 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and guard Mikhail Kulagin (191-1994) added 18 points respectively for the guests. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. UNICS will meet at home Zenit in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Samara will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Samara: M.Kulagin 18+1reb+2ast, H.Dalton 15+7reb+4ast, A.Kardanakhishvili 12+2reb+2ast, I.Popov 11+6reb+1ast, R.Harrell Jr. 10+7reb+3ast, B.Adams 4+2ast
UNICS: D.Akoon-Purcell 18+6reb+8ast, J.Reynolds 15+7reb+4ast, M.Belenitskiy 14+5reb+1ast, I.Bako 12+5reb+1ast, T.Taylor 10+2reb+6ast, A.Lopatin 8+4reb
gschID: 1183652
MBA Moscow – Enisey 58-72
But MBA Moscow was not able to use a home court advantage and was defeated by the opponent from Krasnoyarsk 72-58 on Thursday night. The best player for the winners was Serbian Aleksa Stepanovic (206-1998) who scored 16 points and 8 rebounds. Timofey Gerasimov (197-1997, agency: Stanislav Ryzhov) chipped in 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Andrey Zubkov (206-1991) produced a double-double by scoring 16 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists and guard Evgeny Voronov (194-1986) added 16 points respectively for the hosts. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to get some rest. Enisey will meet at home CSKA in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. MBA Moscow will play against Lokomotiv and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
MBA Moscow: E.Voronov 16+2ast, A.Zubkov 16+16reb+5ast, M.Konovalov 7+3reb+4ast, V.Trushkin 6+5reb+3ast, P.Ismailov 5+5reb, E.Minchenko 2+1reb
Enisey: V.Sanders 19+4reb, A.Stepanovic 16+8reb+3ast, T.Gerasimov 13+6reb+4ast, U.Blizniuk 8+1reb+5ast, S.Dolinin 6+11reb+1ast, R.Zagretdinov 4+2reb
gschID: 1183653
