A formidable opponent ahead

The regular season of the VTB United League continues, and this Sunday, «Astana» will host Krasnodar's «Lokomotiv,» currently sitting third in the league standings (9 wins, 3 losses), behind only CSKA and «Zenit.» Here's what to expect from this formidable opponent.

Defying the critics

One of the most talked-about stories in the offseason was the appointment of club president Andrey Vedischev as head coach of «Lokomotiv,» sparking widespread debate in sports media. Many skeptics claimed that the team’s chances were doomed and that the 2024/2025 season wouldn’t be worth following. The dismissal of Slovenian coach Alexander Sekulic was viewed by some as a disastrous move. However, these opinions were swiftly proven wrong when the season began, and the team from Krasnodar showcased impressive form. For someone with no prior coaching experience, Vedischev’s results have been phenomenal—securing nine straight wins to open the season. This achievement even surpassed the record held by «Avtodor» legend Vladimir Rodionov, who had seven consecutive wins as head coach.

The winning streak for «Lokomotiv» began with an 88-65 victory over «Enisey» and ended on October 27 in a nail-biting game against CSKA (91-92). They then suffered a loss to «Zenit» (71-77) and a disappointing defeat to «Parma» (79-81). In a post-game interview, Vedischev remarked that he had no regrets about the end of their winning streak, noting that such fortune would be more valuable during the playoffs in the spring.

Team play

Several key takeaways have emerged from «Lokomotiv’s» impressive start. First, the club management found an optimal blend of experienced international players and promising young Russian talent, an approach that’s not easy to execute. «Lokomotiv» has adhered to this philosophy for several years, creating a win-win situation for both team results and the development of basketball in Russia. Secondly, unlike last season, when Devion Akun-Purcell led the charge, this year’s squad under Vedischev lacks a single dominant player. The top scorers include Patrick Miller (14.2 points), Antonius Cleveland (11.9 points), and B.J. Johnson (11.1 points). Lastly, the team’s deep rotation could pose a challenge for their opponents. Players like Andrey Martyuk (18 minutes per game), Kirill Elatontsev (18 minutes), and Vladislav Emchenko (16 minutes) contribute significantly.

Head-to-head history

In VTB United League play, the teams have met 20 times, with «Lokomotiv» winning 14 games and «Astana» claiming victory in 6. In their previous encounter in the 2024/2025 season, «Lokomotiv» dominated with a score of 127-84.

Familiar faces in the opponent’s lineup?

Yes, this season, «Lokomotiv-Kuban» welcomed shooting guard Karvel Anderson, well-known to Kazakhstani fans. Last year, while playing for «Astana,» he logged significant court time (32 minutes per game), averaging 16.1 points and 2.8 assists.

Comment from Acting Head Coach of «Astana,
« Gleb Plotnikov: «Lokomotiv is the fastest team in the league. Their recent losses make them an even more formidable opponent, as they’ll arrive doubly motivated. First and foremost, we need to focus on our game, both offensively and defensively, and do everything in our power to put up a strong fight.»

Match details:

Teams: Astana vs. Lokomotiv-Kuban
Date and Time: November 10, 16:00
Venue: Astana, Saryarka Velodrome
Broadcast: PBK «Astana» website and VTB United League website
 

Holding off the rivals

«Astana» has had no trouble with strong starts this season, something that has become clear in the 2024/2025 games. From the first minutes, the team plays confidently, even against serious opponents. Krasnodar’s «Lokomotiv» was no exception, as «Astana» led 14:5 halfway through the first quarter. Vadim Shcherbak and Daniel Utomi set a pace in the attack. «Lokomotiv» only began to find their footing in the second half of the quarter with a 6-0 run, spurred by the substitution of guard Mikhail Vedischev, who pressured point guard Magzhan Sarsengaliyev. The quarter ended with «Astana» leading 15:13.

Struggled against Ishchenko

The second quarter kicked off with the same intensity. Daniel Utomi, the 27-year-old forward, was excellent on open shots and scored easy points whenever he had the chance.  Alexander Orazbekov also stepped up on offense, with his swift drives to the basket and 12 assists proving invaluable. Midway through the quarter, «Astana» held a 22:13 lead. However, the game took a turn, largely driven by the defensive efforts of Vsevolod Ishchenko. His steals enabled «Lokomotiv» to have a powerful comeback in the second quarter, taking the lead and maintaining control. The scoreboard read 28:45.

A Few three-pointers…

…from Danila Pokhodaev and five points from Vadim Shcherbak at the start of the third quarter helped «Astana» stay in the game. This quarter had many exciting moments, including an impressive behind-the-back pass from Orazbekov to Smith—a highlight-worthy play for the VTB United League. Midway through the quarter, «Astana» managed to cut the deficit to 12 points, but as their energy faded towards the end, «Lokomotiv» pulled away once more. The score before the final quarter stood at 47:65.

The final note…

…unfortunately, was not in our team’s favour. «Astana» tried to organise offense, aided by accurate free throws, three-pointers from Daniel Utomi, and slam dunks from Galin Smith, but it wasn’t enough to stage a comeback. «Lokomotiv» ultimately secured the victory with a score of 59:93.

Game summary

«Astana» — «Lokomotiv-Kuban» 59:93 (15:13, 13:32, 19:20, 12:28)
«Astana»: Daniel Utomi (15 points, 5 rebounds), Vadim Shcherbak (12 points), Alexander Orazbekov (7 points, 12 assists)
«Lokomotiv-Kuban»: Vsevolod Ishchenko (15 points, 6 steals), Patrick Miller (12 points), Dmitry Uzinsky (11 points, 6 rebounds)

Comments

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»: “We started well, and the third quarter was decent, too. However, we couldn’t keep up with the intensity they brought in the second and fourth quarters. Plus, you can’t win games with 26 turnovers. We have no choice but to keep working and improving. We’re waiting for Motovilov, and I hope he can help us soon. He’s still in recovery, but we’re counting on him.”

Magzhan Sarsengaliyev, Guard for «Astana»: “Of course, I’m disappointed we lost. Unfortunately, we made too many turnovers (26), but we’ll work on fixing these mistakes. The level of play in the VTB United League is very different from the Kazakhstan national championship—the pace is much faster.”

Andrey Vedischev, Head Coach of «Lokomotiv-Kuban»: “I’m pleased with the win. It was tough after three consecutive losses, so it was important for us to secure a victory today. We didn’t start the game well, but we played more as a team and intelligently as the game progressed, leading us to the win.”