Astana’s January tour continues with a stop in Kazan, where they’ll face UNICS. The opposition is in stellar form, having gone undefeated since December 4. Along with defeating Astana in their last encounter, UNICS has overcome Avtodor (68:86), Pari Nizhny Novgorod (102:66), Zenit twice (76:79, 75:71), MBA-MAI (71:117), Parma (103:92), and Uralmash (94:71). Their nine-game winning streak highlights their dominance this season, with their second-place standing in the league (20-5) reflecting their strong position.

Jalen Reynolds has been a standout for UNICS, delivering impressive performances in recent games against Enisey and Uralmash, where he averaged 11.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, earning him a spot in the VTB League’s Team of the Week (January 6–12). The previous week, Marcos Knight made his mark with 18 points and 9 rebounds in a key win over Zenit. UNICS currently ranks second in the league for rebounds (37.9 per game) and leads in assists with an average of 489 per game.

Astana and UNICS have faced off 25 times in the VTB United League, with UNICS winning 23 of those matchups. Astana’s last victory came on March 14, 2015, with a score of 87:67.


Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov comment:

«Playing against a team like UNICS gives us a chance to test ourselves against some of the best players in the VTB League. We’re still struggling with depth in our roster, which is critical given our demanding schedule.»

Game Details:

Match: UNICS vs. Astana
Date & Time: January 15, 22:00
Venue: Basket Hall, Kazan
Broadcast: Club website

UNICS opened the game with a flurry of three-pointers, but Astana responded with a determined effort in the first quarter.  Murzagaliev found his range from three, Motovilov delivered spot-on passes, and Andrei Desyatnikov threw down some impressive dunks. Ruslan Aitkali nailed his mid-range shots, cutting the deficit to five points. Dealing with Jalen Reynolds was a challenge, but there was a silver lining when a technical foul against him gave Vladislav Isaenko his first points of the game. The quarter ended 27-16 in favour of UNICS.

In the second quarter, Kazan ramped up their intensity on both ends of the court. Despite the pressure, Astana put together some strong plays, including a standout dunk by Desyatnikov over Sergey Toropov, which kept the team briefly in the fight. However, UNICS, under Velimir Perasovic’s leadership, found their groove and began pulling away. Daniel Utomi stood out late in the half with step-back jumpers and effective pick-and-rolls with Desyatnikov. By halftime, the score had stretched to 56-28 in favour of the home team.

After the break, Astana came out determined to chip away at the lead, but UNICS maintained their defensive intensity while continuing to attack aggressively. Starting the third quarter with a 13-6 run, the hosts widened their lead further. Grigory Motovilov struggled to break through Marcos Knight’s tough defense, but Sardal Abashidze brought energy on offense, especially in the latter stages of the quarter. UNICS closed the period with a commanding 78-40 lead.

In the final quarter, Astana concentrated on narrowing the gap. The Kazakh lineup—Murzagaliev, Isaenko, Maidyakin, Orazbekov, and Abashidze—delivered some notable moments. Maidyakin stood out, scoring 7 points in just two minutes, a commendable effort. However, UNICS remained in control, closing out the game with a commanding win.

Final Score: UNICS – Astana 104:57 (27:16, 29:12, 22:12, 26:17)
Astana’s Top Performers: Daniel Utomi (16 points), Askar Maidyakin (14 points).

Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

«Congratulations to UNICS on the win. Playing against them always means facing an incredible level of athleticism and physicality. Despite the scoreline, there were positive moments—Alexander Orazbekov is making great progress as a playmaker, Askar Maidyakin delivered a solid performance, and Daniel Utomi continues to give his all every game.»