This Saturday, January 6th, capital basketball club will play its first home match in VTB United League in the new year against «Nizhny Novgorod» from the city with the same name.
Chronicle of past:
Basketball club from Nizhny Novgorod has been a participant of VTB United League, like “Astana”, since 2011. During this time, «Nizhny Novgorod» made more than one sensation in the League. In the 2013/2014 season, «Nizhny» sensationally became a silver medalist of VTB United League, when he won three games out of four in the semi-final with “Lietuvos Rytas”, and lost his final with CSKA Moscow. However, the main thing for them was not only the silver medals of the tournament, but also a ticket to Euroleague.
As for personal meetings with «Astana», the teams met on the basketball court 10 times, three of which won «Astana».
Current situation:
In March 2017 the ex-coach Zoran Lukic, one of the authors of the successes of the 2013/2014 season, returned to Nizhny Novgorod. In previous season, he held position of sports director, but at the end of May was declare as new head coach. Also a few young players from the Super League and the VTB United League became part of the team. After a three-year absence, experienced player Vadim Panin returned to Nizhny Novgorod. Ivan Strebkov and Petr Gubanov are still the leaders of Nizhny Novgorod team.
Standings:
Basketball club «Nizhny Novgorod» now in the ninth place of the VTB League standings with the result — 2 wins, 6 losses. «Astana» is on the twelfth place, with 2 wins and 8 losses.
Commentary of the head coach:
The results of «Nizhny Novgorod» in European tournaments show their high potential. The team has good «big» players who play well not only under the ring, but also they can be threat from long distances. A good pocket discipline — the main characteristics of our opponent. To succeed in this match, we need to maintain a good level of energy in defense, and also to have organized work in the offense.
Where, when, at what time?
Venue: Republican velotrack «Saryarka»
Time: 15.00 Astana time
Broadcast: VTB United League website, BC «Astana» website, «QazSport» TV channel
