Match Preview: Astana vs. Uralmash
Injury Woes for Uralmash
Currently sixth in the VTB United League standings (8 wins, 10 losses), «Uralmash» has had a challenging season. Head coach Rostislav Vergun is still searching for the right combination to recapture last season’s winning form, but injuries have made this an uphill battle.
The team continues to wait for the return of their star, Octavius Ellis, with speculation that fans might see him back in action by the end of December. The roster has also been hit by the loss of key forward Javonte Douglas, who was sidelined for at least a month after foot surgery, and starter Tyrell Nelson, who recently underwent elbow arthroscopy.
In response to these setbacks, «Uralmash» moved quickly to strengthen their squad, signing American Hayden Dalton from «Samara.» Dalton is expected to shoulder much of the workload at power forward. On a positive note, captain and point guard Anton Glazunov has returned to action, known for his clutch three-pointers in critical moments.
Offensively, the «orange-black-green» team relies heavily on shooting guard Jeremiah Martin, who averaged 18.6 points in November, leading the league in scoring. His backcourt partner, Stanley Whittaker, is close behind with an average of 17.0 points.
Despite these strong individual performances, «Uralmash» comes into this game on a two-game losing streak, falling to «Lokomotiv» at home (83:90) and narrowly losing to «Parma» on the road (88:85).
Head-to-Head History
The teams have met five times in the VTB United League, with «Uralmash» winning four of those encounters. «Astana» secured their sole victory in the first matchup between the teams last season, winning 80:72.
Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of «Astana»:
«Since joining the VTB League, 'Uralmash' has established itself as a team that plays quality basketball. Due to various challenges, we’re facing rotation issues and are having to experiment with new player combinations on the court.
I don’t view players by their nationality; what matters to me is their contribution and effectiveness on the court. If it happens that five Kazakh players are on the court, that’s fine. One thing is sure: we need to improve from game to game and keep striving to get better.»
Andrey Desyatnikov, Center for «Astana»:
«We’re up against a solid and well-balanced team in 'Uralmash,' featuring strong players in every position. Preparation time has been limited since we’ve just returned from away games, but we’ll use practice to study the opponent and be ready to deliver a strong performance. We hope to make our fans proud. To all our supporters, your presence in the stands means so much to us. We’re grateful to every fan who comes to cheer us on.»
Match: Astana vs. Uralmash
Date and Time: December 14, 14:00
Venue: Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace (Kabambai Batyr, 43)
Broadcast: Club website, VTB United League website
Want to help us in defence? Cheer from the stands, and give the team your support! See you tomorrow!
