VTB United league 2016/2017
UNICS
Kazan
VTB United League, Regular season
13.04.2017, 22:00 Th
Arena: Basket Hall (Kazan)
83:78
Main time
25:18 23:19 14:21 21:20
Game number: RS/145
Spectators: 1372
Astana
Astana

«Astana» sets off for Kazan

11.04.2017, 20:00    Просмотров: 396
Источник: Press service
Автор: Almira Shakhaeva
After the game against «Nizhny Novgorod», Astana continues its tour. Immediately after the match, Astana left for the most athletic city of Russia — the city of Kazan, where on April 13 it will play with the local team, silver medalist of the championship of the VTB United League of the last season — BC «UNICS».
 
Astana basketball players, although they secured a place in the playoffs, are not going to relax even in the game against such a powerful opponent. The team of Evgeny Pashutin occupies the fifth line in the standings, with an asset of 14 wins and 8 defeats. The home match of «Astana» against «UNICS», which took place at the beginning of the season, was decided in favour of the guests with a score — 68:84.
 
Head coach of Astana, Ilias Papatheodorou, commented on preparations for the upcoming match:
- We will meet with the team from the top five of the VTB United League. We must be ready to confront the high-level players who are the stars of the league. We are close to getting into the playoff and we will fight for all we are worth!
 
The game will be held on Thursday, April 13 in Kazan. Broadcast of the match will be available online on the site of the VTB United League and live on the «KazSport» TV channel at 22:00 pm, time of Astana.

UNICS breaks «Astana» stride to playoff

14.04.2017, 09:00    Просмотров: 404
Источник: VTB United league
Автор:
Russian UNICS on its site defeated the Kazakhstan «Astana» — 83:78 (25:18, 23:19, 14:21, 21:20).
 
Continuing its struggle for the playoffs, «Astana» never let UNICS break away until the fourth quarter — in 8 minutes 32 seconds before the buzzer after Roderick Odom’s sharp throw, the advantage of Kazan was only 3 points (66:63). However, this very moment became a turning point in the whole game. UNICS gained pace: Latevius Williams' dunk, Keith Langford's three-pointer and «two with a foul» from Kochi Clark made the Kazan team the owners of the situation. In order to block the guard of yellow and blue Ian Miller, the club from Tatarstan made a successful coup with the help Joaquim Colom. The Russian team brought the game to victory, but «Astana» still ranks eighth and has a good chance of getting into the playoffs. Kazakhs need to win in the next match with Khimki or hope for a defeat of Avtodor.
 
The most effective:
 
UNICS: Keith Langford (19), Joaquim Colom (18 + 6 assists), Lathavius Williams (14 + 6 rebounds).
 
«Astana»: Ian Miller (23 + 5 assists), Robert Lowry (13), Leonidas Kaselakis (8 + 9 rebounds).
 
Head coach of UNICS Evgeny Pashutin:
- We have finished the regular championship with a victory. «Astana» team is uncompromising, it fought to the end. We have not been able to increase our score advantage. The guests did not allow us to make rapid breakthroughs. As a result, the best basketball we showed was in the last five minutes. It is very important to start the playoffs from a scratch. There we must play harder, as during these last 5 minutes against «Astana», then we will win.
 
Head coach of «Astana» Ilias Papatheodorou:
- We expected the game to be difficult and kept in mind that UNICS lost to Lokomotiv at home three days ago. But our teams have different levels. And yet we should not have played so weakly in the first half of the game. UNICS played basketball, and we just watched them playing. Therefore, the hosts scored 48 points in the first half. We all discussed this during a break in the locker room with the players. And, as a result, after a long break, we began to defend aggressively. Yes, we fouled a lot, but you can’t play otherwise against such players as Kino Colom and Keith Langford. However, the opponent scored just 35 points in the second half. So, we played much better, but it was not enough to beat such a team as UNICS. I wish Kazan success in the playoffs.
 
On April 17 «Astana» will hold its next and final match of the regular season on its home court. It will host the club from Khimki within the framework of the VTB United League.

Information about the opponent

Established year: 1991 Team colors: white, green
Country: Russia Arena: Basket Hall
City: Kazan Website: www.unics.ru

Description

UNICS - is a Russian professional men's basketball club from the city of Kazan, founded in 1991.
 
Achievements:
  • The silver prizewinner of the championship of Russia — 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2016, 2021
  • Bronze medalist of the Russian championship — 2000, 2003, 2005, 2009-2011, 2013/2014, 2018/2019, 2021/2022
  • Winner of the Cup of Russia — 2003, 2009, 2014
  • Champion of Euroleague FIBA — 2003/2004
  • Winner of the European Cup — 2010/2011
  • Finalist of the European Cup — 2013/2014
  • Champion NEBL — 2002/2003
  • Silver medalist of the VTB United League — 2009/2010, 2011/2012, 2015/2016, 2020/2021
  • Bronze medalist of the VTB United League — 2010/2011, 2018/2019, 2021/2022

Overall team photo

UNICS