Tightly contested race
Zenit currently sits in second place in the VTB United League standings, with 27 wins and 5 losses—identical to CSKA’s record, making the battle for the top spot in the remaining games of the season even more intense. The St. Petersburg team enters the spring phase of the tournament on an impressive eight-game winning streak, with victories over: UNICS (92:83), Parma (58:74), Enisey (83:76), CSKA (66:79), MBA-MAI (73:50), Samara (106:73), Avtodor (60:79), Pari NN (94:79)
Pascual’s secret weapon?
One of the biggest headlines of the 2024/25 season was the return of Russian basketball star Alexey Shved from China. The Shanxi Loongs, his former team, excluded him from their roster, with reports stating that their coach opted for another player, leaving Shved without a single appearance this season. In the 2023/24 CBA season, he averaged 15.9 points, 9.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds.
After much speculation, Shved officially signed with Zenit on January 18. He has already played five games, averaging 10.2 points and 4.6 assists. Many believe he is set to fill the void left by injured guard Xavier Moon, who was averaging 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists.
Second chance
Zenit’s roster has undergone several changes. Igor Volkhin (loaned to Pari NN) and Lebanese forward Omari Spellman (reportedly struggling with the VTB League’s fast pace) have left the squad. However, there is a new addition—American forward Okaro White (203 cm), who previously played for Lokomotiv-Kuban and averaged 15.3 points and 6.0 rebounds in the 2023/24 season.
Asian Cup qualifiers
On the international front, the Kazakhstan national team recently played in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, facing Qatar and Iran—two strong opponents who came out on top in these matches. Astana players Rustam Murzagaliev, Askar Maydekin, Ruslan Aitkali, and Vadim Shcherbak were part of the national squad.
Head-to-head history
Zenit and Astana have met 21 times in the VTB United League, with 16 wins for Zenit and 5 victories for Astana. The last time Astana defeated the St. Petersburg club was on October 4, 2021, with a 69:83 scoreline.
Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:
«We are looking forward to this matchup against Zenit after a long break. We will do our best to put on a strong performance and challenge one of the league’s top teams.»
Match Details:
Date & Time: March 1, 16:00
Venue: KSK Arena, St. Petersburg
Broadcast: Club website
