Outmatched by a heavyweight

The game began with an 8–0 run from the visitors, prompting an early timeout from Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov. The break worked: point guard T.J. Starks took charge, scoring 11 points in the first quarter. His chemistry with Ruslan Aitkali—who knocked down two three-pointers—helped narrow the gap to just two points. But UNICS quickly responded with a run of their own, ending the opening period ahead 26:19.

Young player Ilya Pestov opened the second quarter with a clean three-pointer, keeping Astana’s perfect shooting from deep intact at 5/5. However, UNICS ramped up their defensive pressure, building a double-digit lead that only continued to grow.

In the third quarter, Starks and Grigory Motovilov kept pushing inside, while Danila Pokhodyaev hit several solid shots from mid-range. Despite their efforts, UNICS’s tight defense limited any chance of a comeback.

The final quarter saw more minutes for the younger players, with Sardal Abashidze, Magzhan Sarsengaliyev, and Ilya Pestov all stepping onto the court and gaining valuable experience.

Fun facts:

• T.J. Starks matched his season scoring high with 23 points
• Danila Pokhodyaev is just 10 points away from reaching 300 this season
• Askar Maidekin needs just 2 more rebounds to hit 100 this season

Final score: Astana – UNICS 65:105 (19:26, 16:38, 19:20, 11:21)

Astana top performers: T.J. Starks (23 points, 4 assists), Askar Maidekin (10 points), Ruslan Aitkali (9 points), Galin Smith (6 points)

Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:
- We knew we’d be facing serious pressure—UNICS has made it their trademark this season. As I’ve said in previous press conferences, I’d love to watch one of Coach Perasovic’s practices to see how he motivates his players to stay so engaged —even against teams at the bottom of the table. Overall, I’m glad we could distribute minutes well, especially with our packed schedule—another VTB game is coming, followed by the National League quarterfinal. Our young players need to play with more confidence. It’s in the games like this you really learn about yourself as a team.

Ilya Pestov, forward, Astana:
- Overall, it wasn’t too bad. I got a lot of minutes tonight, and it’s a great experience playing against a team like UNICS, especially on our home court.

Don’t miss our season finale!

Astana wraps up its VTB United League season this Friday, April 12 at 15:00, facing one of the league’s powerhouses—Zenit St. Petersburg.

Come cheer on the team and help us finish the season on a high note! See you in the stands!