Chasing the Championship

«Zenit» is making a strong case for the title this season, sitting in second place in the VTB United League standings (15 wins, 2 losses), neck-and-neck with league leaders CSKA Moscow (15 wins, 2 losses). On December 7, «Zenit» snapped CSKA’s 11-game winning streak with a hard-fought 82:78 victory at home in the KSK Arena, avenging their earlier 83:77 loss to the Moscow side in October. Aside from that defeat and an October stumble against «Lokomotiv-Kuban» (76:83), «Zenit» has dominated every other opponent this season.

A Star-Studded Roster

It’s safe to say head coach Xavi Pascual isn’t aiming for anything less than gold. Their recent win over CSKA showed flashes of the championship form that brought «Zenit» glory in 2021/2022. With the talent on their roster, a title run is well within reach.

Point guard Xavier Munford is a standout this season, posting an average of 14.4 points and an efficiency rating of 24 in their last game. Lebanese star Omari Spellman, fresh off leading his national team to an Asia Cup berth, has been consistent with 11.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Alex Poythress, back in St. Petersburg after a stint in Europe, continues to dominate in the paint with 4.4 rebounds per game. Veterans like Georgy Zhbanov and Vince Hunter bring toughness to defence, though Hunter’s availability is uncertain after an injury against CSKA. Add to that the sharpshooting of Russian legends Sergey Karasev and Andrey Vorontsevich, and «Zenit» is a team packed with threats from all angles.

Why You Can’t Miss It

Games against top teams are always worth watching. Facing a powerhouse like «Zenit» is both a test and a learning opportunity for «Astana» as they continue to develop and improve.

Head-to-Head History

The teams have met 20 times in the VTB United League. «Zenit» holds the edge with 15 wins, while «Astana» has won 5. The last victory for «Astana» came on October 4, 2021, with a score of 83:69.

Match Details:

Match: Zenit vs. Astana
Date and Time: December 11, 19:30 (MSK)
Venue: KSK Arena, St. Petersburg
Broadcast: Club website, VTB United League website

Player Comments

Ruslan Aitkali, Forward for «Astana»:

«Zenit is one of the top teams in the league, but we’re ready to fight in every game. We’ll give it our best and aim to deliver exciting basketball. It’s a tough stretch for us, but the team is staying positive and supporting one another.»

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»:

«We’re up against a strong opponent, and we need to step up in terms of organisation, play consistently throughout the game, and make the most of the open opportunities we create.»

Setting the Pace

From the opening tip, it was clear that Gleb Plotnikov’s team came ready to compete, determined to stay focused against such a team as «Zenit.» The game began with a highlight-worthy putback by Galin Smith, who scored «Astana’s» first points. Smith was a force in the paint, turning tough passes from Vadim Shcherbak into spectacular finishes. Pokhodaev’s free throws even gave «Astana» an early 9-6 lead. Vladislav Isaenko added his contribution to the scoreboard, but «Zenit» caught fire toward the end of the quarter, using sharp three-point shooting to take a 26:15 lead.

Fighting Through the Second Quarter

The second quarter brought challenges for «Astana,» with a scoring drought allowing «Zenit» to go on a run. Magzhan Sarsengaliyev broke the dry spell with free throws after an unsportsmanlike foul, but it was Daniel Utomi who reignited the team. His precise shooting from mid-range and beyond the arc helped narrow the gap, though «Zenit» responded with authority to end the half ahead, 43:27.

Holding Ground in the Third

The third quarter saw «Astana» continue to battle while «Zenit» maintained their control. Galin Smith delivered strong plays under the basket, and Pokhodaev hit from deep to keep the fight alive. However, «Zenit» found their rhythm from beyond the arc, stretching the lead and making a comeback difficult. By the end of the quarter, the score stood at 74:49.
The Final Push

The fourth quarter proved too much for «Astana,» as fatigue and «Zenit’s» relentless pressure widened the gap. Despite struggles with execution early in the quarter, «Astana» closed the game with an all-Kazakh lineup, showcasing the young players and building for the future.

Final Score:

Zenit — Astana 96:59 (26:15, 17:12, 31:22, 22:10)

Top Performers:

Zenit: Denis Zakharov (17 points, 4 rebounds), Omari Spellman (14 points), Trent Frazier (14 points).
Astana: Galin Smith (12 points, 6 rebounds), Danila Pokhodaev (12 points, 6 rebounds), Daniel Utomi (10 points, 6 rebounds).

Postgame Comments

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»:

«Congratulations to 'Zenit' on their win. We had some good stretches, but we need to close the gap between our highs and lows. The roster challenges are no secret—I’m working with two point guards from the second team, so expecting top-tier offensive organisation is a tall order. Still, games like this are invaluable experience for our players.»

Danila Pokhodaev, Forward for «Astana»:

«Props to 'Zenit' on their win. It was a great game against one of the league’s best, and we came prepared. There were moments where we played well, but the 11 turnovers in the fourth quarter were costly. That’s something we need to keep working on.»