Astana started strong at home, dominating the first half, but couldn’t sustain their momentum after halftime. Enisey capitalised on a strong second half to take control and secure the win.
Astana came out firing, showing great team chemistry. Captain Rustam Murzagaliev hit a corner three-pointer to put the team ahead early (9-6). Daniel Utomi added 6 points, Vadim Shcherbak chipped in 5, and Andrei Desyatnikov recorded two blocks, rattling Enisey’s key players, Gerasimov and Sanders. The hosts ended the first quarter with a 20-14 lead.
In the second quarter, Astana kept up their fight, although the pace of their attacks slowed. Enisey used this to cut the gap to 25-21, but Astana held their ground. Murzagaliev continued to score from deep, while the Orazbekov-Desyatnikov connection added important points. Contributions from Danila Pokhodaev and Daniel Utomi helped maintain the lead. By halftime, Astana was still in control, leading 42-33.
The second half, however, was a different story. Enisey opened the third quarter with a 9-4 run, and while Orazbekov briefly broke their momentum with a timely basket, Enisey kept pressing. Vladislav Bliznyuk’s three consecutive triples flipped the script, turning Astana’s 9-point lead into a 7-point deficit. Enisey took control, heading into the final quarter up 55-48.
In the fourth quarter, Astana battled to close the gap. They stayed within 3-5 points early on, with Pokhodaev, Murzagaliev, and Utomi providing key baskets to spark hope of a comeback. But Enisey regrouped in the closing minutes, regaining control and widening the lead. Despite Astana’s effort, the deficit proved too much to overcome.
Final Score: Astana 63 – Enisey 78
(20:14, 22:19, 6:22, 15:23)
Astana’s Top Performers:
Daniel Utomi: 15 points, 5 rebounds
Rustam Murzagaliev: 11 points
Danila Pokhodaev: 10 points, 6 rebounds
Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:
“We played well in the first half, sticking to our game plan and moving the ball effectively. At halftime, we knew Enisey would increase their pressure, but unfortunately, we couldn’t handle it. In the fourth quarter, giving up 10 extra possessions made it nearly impossible to win, especially in the VTB United League. I also feel the players lack belief in their ability to win. That said, the atmosphere in the arena was fantastic today. It’s great to see the fans supporting us despite the results, and I hope they keep believing in us.”
Forward Danila Pokhodaev:
“First of all, it’s great to be back after my injury, though I wish it had been under better circumstances. I think we showed we can compete with anyone, but we let the third quarter get away from us and gave up too many rebounds in the fourth. We’ll keep working. We’ve got a tough away game against Nizhny ahead, and we’ll focus on fixing our mistakes.”
