Preview: Uralmash vs. Astana

05.02.2025, 18:00 Просмотров: 92
Источник: Press service
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Astana has headed to Yekaterinburg for the next match in the VTB United League. This time, our opponent is once again Uralmash. Read on for details about our preparations for the match.

In our previous game on November 4 in Yekaterinburg, we managed to compete and lost by only 10 points (72:62). There’s every reason to believe we can fight hard in the upcoming match too, though we’ll need to account for several new factors that our opponent has faced.

New Roster Experiments?

Head coach Rostislav Vergun and his squad are still dealing with injury issues. In their January game against Pari NN, one of Uralmash’s key scorers, Jeremiah Martin, suffered a calf injury—expected to keep him out for several weeks. That wasn’t the only setback; in the same game, Uralmash’s point guard, Stanley Whittaker, injured his hamstring and is expected to miss about four weeks.

Moreover, there’s a chance we might not see their point guard in the orange jersey any longer. Today, Uralmash President Viktor Vladimirovich Ganiyenko confirmed in an interview with Match TV that the club is parting ways with forward Nikita Balashov and Stanley Whittaker. They will be replaced by Anton Kardanakhishvili from Samara (averaging 10.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds) and Ivan Pynko, who is returning to the club (averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds).

Uralmash’s last five games have been very challenging. Recently, they played a tight game against Enisey, which they won (86:90). They lost the local derby to Parma (88:84), suffered a nerve-wracking defeat against CSKA (67:94), lost to Pari NN (74:79), and then secured a predictable victory over Avtodor (67:76).

It’s clear that Hayden Dalton has integrated well into the team; in recent games, he’s been averaging 27 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists, earning him a spot in the VTB United League’s Team of the Week. In contrast, Octavius Ellis, who recently recovered from an injury, has been performing rather modestly—he managed just 2 points in Uralmash’s previous game against Enisey.

Head-to-Head History

In the VTB United League, these teams have met 6 times, with Uralmash winning 5 of those encounters and Astana winning once (an 80:72 victory, which was the first matchup between the two teams last season).

Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

“We’re set to face a tough team that, according to recent news, has bolstered its backcourt with two Russian players. Due to certain circumstances, we didn’t have enough time to prepare with our optimal lineup, but despite that, we’ll do everything we can to challenge our opponents from Ural.”

Match Details:

Fixture: Uralmash vs. Astana
Date & Time: February 6, 20:00
Venue: Yekaterinburg, DIVS
Broadcast: On the club’s website and the VTB United League website

A Tough Match in Yekaterinburg

07.02.2025, 15:30 Просмотров: 108
Источник: Press service
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The game kicked off at a high tempo, with both teams trading quick three-pointers early in the first quarter. For our team, Daniel Utomi and Danila Pokhodyaev stood out. On the opponent’s side, Tyrell Nelson caused us serious trouble—he was essentially the one who pulled the Astana team into this battle. Additionally, Vyacheslav Zaitsev was accurate from beyond the arc. This shooting efficiency allowed Uralmash to make a small run. The second half of the first quarter slowed down, with the game becoming more defensive, which helped us close the gap slightly—26:13.

The second quarter posed significant challenges for us. Despite our players’ attempts to maintain a 10-point gap—bolstered by Murzagaliev’s three-pointers and Motovilov’s drives—Uralmash steadily extended their lead. Astana struggled offensively, enduring a scoring drought for several minutes, while Yekaterinburg’s well-executed plays proved highly effective. 57:29 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Gleb Plotnikov’s players showing more energy, but Uralmash team had no intention of giving up their lead. Astana focused on individual plays, which paid off—precise three-pointers from Utomi and Pokhodyaev, along with tough defense in the paint from Maydekin. 80:46 in favor of Uralmash.

The final ten minutes (19:12) followed the same pattern as the rest of the match. Utomi, Smith, and Motovilov tried to challenge the opponent and bring back some intrigue, but it wasn’t enough. The difference in game pace, dynamics, and shooting percentage was too significant.

Uralmash – Astana – 99:58 (26:13, 31:16, 23:17, 19:12)

Top performers:

• Daniel Utomi (16 points + 9 rebounds)

• Grigory Motovilov (14 points + 6 assists)

• Danila Pokhodyaev (13 points + 4 rebounds)

Acting Head Coach of Astana, Gleb Plotnikov:

“Congratulations to Uralmash on the victory. 26 turnovers—we couldn’t handle the pressure. Uralmash is in excellent physical shape. Additionally, as I mentioned in my pre-game interview, I didn’t have the opportunity to prepare with the optimal lineup, but we are not looking for excuses. We will analyze this game and move forward.”