This Sunday, on December 10, Astana basketball club will play a home game in the framework of the VTB United League championship against PBC «Lokomotiv-Kuban» (Krasnodar, Russia).

After the last game in the League against Krasnoyarsk «Yenisey» Astana had a small break in its schedule. Kazakhstan players as a part of the Kazakhstan National Team played two matches in the qualifying round of the 2019 World Cup, and had two victories over Iraq and Qatar. Later the whole team gathered in Lithuania, where they held a week-long training camp.

Chronicle of past games:
Basketball club from Krasnodar participates in the VTB League since 2011. During this period of time, «Loco» became a silver medalist of the VTB United League in 2012/2013 and a bronze medalist in 2014/2015. As for personal games with «Astana», the teams met six times on the court, «Astana» lost five times, but still  the Kazakh team grabbed one victory in the season 2014/2015 when it defeated «Locomotive» on its home court with a score 81-70.

Current situation:
For two seasons the team is headed by the famous Serbian specialist Sasha Obradovic. One of the leaders of the team, American shooting guard Mardi Collins, has remained in the club for the current season, and he has managed to significantly improve his statistics this season too. The newcomer Joe Ragland has also become one of the key players of the team, with an average of 12 points per game. This season, the former CSKA player Dmitriy Kulagin joined the team, as well as a center Frank Elegar, who is well known for the games for the Estonian «Kalev» and Krasnoyarsk «Yenisey.»

Standings:
The team from Krasnodar finds itself in the third place of the VTB League standings with the result of 6 wins and 1 defeat. Basketball players of «Astana» occupy the 9th place, with two wins. As for  «Loco» as for «Astana», this game will be the eighth in a row.

The comment of the head coach:
-We will play against one of the strongest teams in Europe, the team that is in a very good condition now. «Lokomotiv» has a lot of victories not only in the VTB League but also in the Eurocup. The club has an excellent roster and there are good performers on every position. Of course, we need to play well not only in the attack but also in defense. We have to help each other and create a good position for a teammate to attack. In the team of our rivals, there are very high players, who also strong physically, with whom we need to cope on a court. Of course, good one-on-one game against their leaders, and their players, who create dangerous situations in the game, is crucial for us.

Where, when, what time?
Arena: Republican cycle track «Saryarka»
Time: 15.00, time of Astana
Broadcast: VTB United League website, BC «Astana» website, «QazSport» TV channel

«Lokomotiv-Kuban» defeated «Astana» on its home court — 83:50 (19:16, 23:12, 21:17, 20: 5).

«Lokomotiv» could not immediately take the initiative. In the middle of the second quarter, the hosts were only one point ahead — 29:28. But after that, the attack of «Astana» stalled — until a long break, «Loko» shot 13 unanswered points. In the third period, Joe Ragland and Mardi Collins continued to test to the limit the defense of Kazakhstan team with their long throws, and at some point, the difference became 20 points — 63:43. Even with such an advantage, «Loko» did not slow down in defense: in the last quarter, «Astana» was able to score only 5 points.

The most effective:

• «Astana»: Justin Carter (17 + 9 rebounds), Anthony Clemmons (14)
• «Lokomotiv-Kuban»: Joe Ragland (16 + 7 assists), Brian Kwale (13 + 9 rebounds), Mardy Collins (12), Frank Ellegar (11)

The head coach of «Astana» Kostas Flevarakis:
- We had a big break. Not all players have played today. Rustam Ergali was absent due to illness, our new player Malcolm Grant also could not take part in the match — all these factors affected the result. We need to forget everything and start preparing for the next game.

Head coach of «Locomotiv-Kuban» Sasha Obradovic:
- After Berlin and Eurocup a game with «Astana» was a very important  for us. All the players were good in defense and in attack — I'm happy that we won here.

Astana will hold its next game on its court, on December 13 and 14. The basketball team will host Kostanay «Tobol» in the frame of the National League of Kazakhstan Championship.