VTB United league 2017/2018
Kalev
Tallinn
VTB United League, Regular season
12.11.2017, 21:00 Su
Arena: Kalev Sports Hall (Tallinn)
83:73
Main time
22:17 23:19 21:19 17:18
Game number: RS-33
Spectators: 950
Astana
Astana

 «Astana» went to Estonia

11.11.2017, 10:00    Просмотров: 554
Источник: Press service
Автор: Almira Shakhaeva
Tomorrow, on November 12, the capital's basketball club will hold its sixth game in the framework of the VTB United League championship against BC «Kalev» (Estonia).
 
Less than a week after the game with «Parma» «Astana» in a difficult fight and in overtime won over the rival, and immediately upon arrival in Astana, Kostas Flevarakis' team began to prepare for the next trip to the capital of Estonia, the city of Tallinn.
 
Chronicle of past games:
The Estonian Champion plays in the VTB League since the very beginning of the tournament, since 2009. In different years, Estonians had different results, different coaches and different positions. As for personal meetings with «Astana», for the previous 6 seasons in the League, 10 matches have been played, 8 of which ended with the victory of «Astana», and 2 disappointing defeats were in the last season, at home and on the road.
 
Current situation:
For many seasons, the team is headed by Estonian specialist Alar Varrak. Varrak has been in charge of the team since 2012, and during this time he won three championship titles and had two victories in the Estonian Cup. In this season, «Kalev» is strengthened, the champion of Estonia extended the contract with the Serbian player Branko Mirkovich, who is familiar to our team by the game with «Tsmoki-Minsk» where in the season 2013/2014, he was one of the leaders. Also, the team is deepened by American forward Cedric Simmons for the second consecutive year, who has an average of 12 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
 
Standings:
Despite the good individual game of each player in the team, «Kalev» finds itself in the last place in the tournament of the League, out of five games played, none has yet finished in favour of Estonians. «Astana» holds the 10th place, with the result 1-4.
 
The comment of the head coach:
- In VTB United League there are no easy matches, especially on the road, we know this, and for us, the game with Kalev will be the fifth on the road. It will be very important to control the forces throughout the game and it will be very important to play very concentratedly against the shooters of this team. The game will require a good one-on-one defence. Also, we need to improve the percentage of hits, as we can judge by the previous game. We will try to create moments, as we did in the last matches.
 
Where and when?
Arena: Kalevi Spordihall
Timing: 18.00 Moscow time
Broadcast: VTB United League website, BC «Astana» website, «QazSport» TV channel (20.50 pm)

Another defeat of «Astana» on the road

13.11.2017, 09:00    Просмотров: 632
Источник: VTB United league
Автор:
The Estonian «Kalev»  on its home court won over Kazakhstan «Astana» — 83:73 (22:17, 23:19, 21:19, 17:18).

The hosts seized the initiative from the first minutes of the game. The Estonians were successful in the tactics with their «big» ones under the ring and had a good percentage of three-pointers (53% — 7 out of 13). A newcomer of «Kalev» Isaiah Briscoe had truly arrived in the game. The American made several successful takes and gave 5 passes. The guests, by tradition, made a bet on the individual skills of their foreign players. However, the heroism of Justin Carter (11 points in the first half) was not enough to keep the team afloat. Only a series of long-range hits from Anton Ponomarev and Leonidas Kaselakis in the end of the second quarter helped «Astana» leave for a big break, losing less than 10 points — 45:36.
 
In the key moment «Astana» tried to organize a chase, but on their way stood the restless Briscoe. The newcomer switched from the role of the point-guard to the shooting-guard mode. American player thanks to his individual skill ruined the defence of «Astana» over and over again. Two of his good passes in the beginning of the fourth 10-minute made the advantage of «Kalev» quite obvious — 73:55. In the remaining time, guests were able to bridge the gap to 10 points, but the inaccurate shots behind the arc, in the end, did not give them the opportunity to make a comeback.
 
The most effective:
  • Kalev: Isaiah Briscoe (20 + 5 rebounds + 6 assists), Bojan Subotic (18 + 5 rebounds), Branko Mirkovic (11 + 5 rebounds), Cedric Simmons (11 + 5 rebounds).
  • «Astana»: Justin Carter (21 + 6 rebounds + 5 assists + 3 steals), Leonidas Kaselakis (16), Larry Gordon (10), Ike Udano (6 + 10 rebounds).

Head coach of «Kalev» Alar Varrak:
- The first victory! And for the first time this season there was no moment when we would lose control of the game. In the last three games, such unpleasant episodes had happened regularly — we missed the opponent's 0:15 or 0:10 runs. Today we managed to avoid this. The new player  Isaiah Briscoe helped us a lot — now we are confident with the following matches.»
 
The head coach of «Astana» Kostas Fleavarakis:
- To be honest, it's very difficult to comment on today's game. For us, this is the fifth away game, which greatly affects the shape of the leading players. I have nothing more to say, I can only congratulate Kalev on the victory and the excellent atmosphere in the arena.
 
The next match «Astana» will hold at home, on November 18, the basketball players of Astana will host Krasnoyarsk «Yenisey» within the framework of the VTB United League Championship.

Information about the opponent

Established year: 1920 Team colors: white, blue
Country: Estonia Arena: Kalev Sports Hall
City: Tallinn Website: www.bckalev.ee

Description

«Kalev» is an Estonian professional men's basketball team from the city of Tallinn, founded in 1920. In addition to participating in VTB United League, the team is playing in the Estonian Championship.
  
Achievements:
  • Champion of the USSR — 1991
  • Winner of the Estonian Championship — 2000, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016-2019, 2021
  • Silver medalist of the Estonian Championship — 2015
  • Winner of the Estonian Cup — 2005-2008, 2016, 2017, 2020

Overall team photo

Kalev