A Battle at the Bottom of the Table

In the VTB United League standings, MBA-MAI sits in 11th place (4 wins, 13 losses), and like «Astana,» their 2024/2025 season has been far from smooth. Since late September, Vasily Karasev’s team has managed to gain four wins, including victories over «Uralmash» (85:68), «Avtodor» (68:76, 88:81), and, unfortunately for us, «Astana» (63:76).

However, MBA-MAI is by no means an easy opponent. The red-and-white squad is known for their ability to fight until the final buzzer. This was evident in their recent game against «Pari Nizhny Novgorod,» where they narrowly lost in the final minute (88:89). Similarly, their November clashes with Krasnoyarsk’s «Enisey» (78:76) and Perm’s «Parma» (58:63) were intense and closely contested.

A Blend of Youth and Experience

The phrase perfectly describes this team. In the backcourt, Makhar Konovalov (10.9 points on average) has shown significant improvement this season, while captain and Russian basketball legend Evgeny Voronov (7.6 points) leads by example, inspiring younger players with energy and determination.

In the frontcourt, Andrey Zubkov (16.7 points, 7 rebounds) has been a standout after swapping his Zenit jersey for MBA-MAI’s colours, demonstrating he may have deserved more playing time in St. Petersburg. Vladislav Trushkin has impressed this season, especially from beyond the arc (16.7 points). While center Evgeny Minchenko has been less visible recently, his ability to dominate under the basket remains a threat.

Head-to-Head History

In the VTB United League, the teams have faced each other seven times, with MBA-MAI winning six games. «Astana» claimed their sole victory on January 20, 2024, with a score of 80:71.

Why This Match Matters

Until recently, MBA-MAI was the only team in the VTB United League playing without foreign players. However, a recent change in «Samara» has left them without any international players, meaning both teams now share this distinction. This development adds more intensity to the fight at the bottom of the standings heading into the new year—a chance for «Astana» to make a move.

In the previous game, «Astana» introduced another promising player to the VTB United League—forward Sardal Abashidze. In just nine minutes on the court, he scored 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Fans will be eager to see if he can shine again in this matchup. Additionally, the continued development of young players like Orazbekov, Isaenko, and Sarsengaliyev will be worth watching. Let’s wish them luck!

Comments

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»:
«MBA-MAI is a strong team, combining youth and experience. We need to avoid repeating the same mistakes, stay united, and stick to the game plan to put up a strong fight.»

Askar Maidyakin, Center for «Astana»:
«We started our preparations for the MBA-MAI game by analysing the mistakes from our last match. We’re not giving up and will continue working hard. Our goal is to play our best basketball and bring home a win for our fans!»

Match Details:

Match: MBA-MAI vs. Astana
Date and Time: December 8, 18:00
Venue: Basket Hall, Moscow
Broadcast: On our website
 

Strong Start

The first quarter was tightly contested, with «Astana» showing determination to take on their opponent. Point guard Rustam Murzagaliev set the tone early, opening the scoring with a three-pointer and going on to sink three triples in the quarter to keep the game close. Meanwhile, the hosts struggled from long range, shooting just 11%, with only Evgeny Voronov finding the mark from deep. By the end of the quarter, «Astana» was down by just two points, 19-17.

Second Quarter Struggles

The second quarter was a tough stretch for «Astana.» MBA-MAI opened with an 8-0 run, prompting acting head coach Gleb Plotnikov to call a timeout to reassess the game plan. Scoring was scarce for «Astana» throughout much of the quarter, but a 2+1 play from Utomi, a smooth connection between Orazbekov and Desyatnikov, and Maidyakin’s work under the basket helped end the scoring drought. Despite these efforts, «Astana» struggled on the boards (17-27), and MBA-MAI seized the momentum, extending their lead to 37-25 at halftime.

Fighting Back in the Third

The halftime break allowed «Astana» to regroup, and they opened the third quarter with more focus. After a balanced start (5-6), MBA-MAI’s Vladislav Trushkin found his rhythm, adding 5 points to push the lead to +15. «Astana» answered with a hook shot in the paint from Pokhodaev and an impressive block by Galin Smith on Danila Kasatkin—a highlight-worthy moment. Despite these efforts, MBA-MAI maintained control, leading 51-38 at the end of the quarter.

Fourth Quarter Highlights but No Comeback

Daniel Utomi was a standout in the final quarter. He started by turning a strong pass from the captain into points under the basket, followed it up with fearless drives reminiscent of Kobe Bryant, and even nailed a three-pointer. However, the team needed additional offensive contributions from Pokhodaev and Shcherbak, as well as more defensive pressure in the paint from Maidyakin, to mount a comeback. MBA-MAI capitalised on these shortcomings to seal the win.

On a brighter note, it was encouraging to see young Kazakh players Sardal Abashidze and Magzhan Sarsengaliyev on the court in the final minutes, gaining valuable experience.

Final Score:

MBA-MAI — Astana 73:49 (19:17, 18:8, 14:13, 22:11)

Top Performers:

MBA-MAI: Makhar Konovalov (15 points, 7 assists), Ivan Belousov (11 points), Vladislav Trushkin (10 points, 7 rebounds).

Astana: Daniel Utomi (16 points, 4 rebounds), Rustam Murzagaliev (11 points, 5 rebounds), Andrey Desyatnikov (7 points, 5 rebounds).
Coach Comments

Vasily Karasev, Head Coach of MBA-MAI:

«The key takeaway is that we came out focused and got the job done, despite some mistakes along the way. Defensively, we performed well overall. Offensively, however, we need to improve—our three-point shooting was poor, even on open looks, and we missed too many easy chances under the basket. That said, we achieved our main objectives: securing the win and giving more minutes to players who typically see less time on the court.»

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»:

«Defensively, we had a decent game but gave up too many rebounds. We’re still working on our issues—turnovers, organisation, and shooting efficiency. Overall, though, if you set aside the offence, I’d say we performed well defensively.»