VTB United league 2024/2025
CSKA (MSK)
Moscow
VTB United League, Regular season
13.02.2025, 21:30 Th
Arena: Megasport (Moscow)
118:77
Main time
37:11 27:18 28:20 26:28
Game number:
Spectators: 2467
Astana
Astana

Match Preview: CSKA vs. Astana

12.02.2025, 16:00    Просмотров: 83
Источник: Press service
Автор:

We’re heading to Moscow for another showdown against the reigning VTB United League champions. Read on to find out what to expect from our opponent.
 

Second in the Standings
 

Since Astana’s last encounter with CSKA on January 5, 2025, the Army club has dropped to second place in the VTB United League standings, boasting 26 wins and 5 losses. In their last five games, CSKA has secured four victories and suffered just one defeat. They triumphed over Pari Nizhny Novgorod (86:94), dominated Samara with a commanding 44:102 win, defeated Uralmash in Yekaterinburg (67:94), and overpowered Avtodor Saratov (108:83). Their only loss in this stretch came against Zenit in February (66:97).
 

Key Players
 

We’ve previously covered CSKA’s top scorers—feel free to revisit our breakdown here.

One notable trend is that CSKA consistently has at least one player featured in the Team of the Week. Last week (February 3-9), that honour went to Casper Ware, who averaged 18.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 22.0 efficiency rating over the last two games.
 

All-Star Representatives
 

CSKA will be well-represented at the VTB United League All-Star Game:

• Nikita Kurbanov (4.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG) and Anton Astapkovich (7.8 PPG, 3.3 RPG) will play for Team Hosts.

• Aleksa Avramović (13.6 PPG, 3.5 APG) and Melo Trimble (14.6 PPG, 4.0 APG) will take the court for Team Guests, coached by Andreas Pistiolis.
 

Head-to-Head History
 

Astana and CSKA have faced off 31 times in the VTB United League, with CSKA winning every encounter. The closest Astana has come to victory was on December 15, 2019, when the game ended 104:91 in favour of CSKA.
 

Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:
 

“As always, we have our own goals to pursue. We’re heading into this away game with an incomplete roster, giving our young players more court time and an opportunity to prove themselves. We’ll do our best to put up a fight and enjoy the game.”
 

Match Details:

Date & Time: February 13, 21:30

Venue: Megasport, Moscow

Broadcast: Club website, VTB United League website

A Strong Finish Against the League Leader

14.02.2025, 12:30    Просмотров: 89
Источник: Press service
Автор:
The game started at a fast pace, with Astana striving to find their rhythm early on. However, CSKA quickly seized the initiative, using their speed in offense to gain control. Within the first two minutes, the hosts had already put up 14 points, while Daniel Utomi opened Astana’s scoring with a three-pointer. Additional contributions from Danila Pokhodyaev, Grigory Motovilov, and Utomi followed, but the first quarter firmly belonged to CSKA – 37:11.

In the second quarter, Astana played more confidently and put up a fight (27:18). Danila Pokhodyaev continued his efforts from beyond the arc (4/14, 29%), with Askar Maydekin and Vladislav Isayenko also contributing. Additionally, Valery Simonov, a Kazakh graduate of Astana’s system, made his VTB United League debut.

Astana kept up the intensity in the third quarter, putting up a strong fight (28:20). Seventeen-year-old forward Ilya Pestov made his debut, delivering the best first game by a Kazakh player in VTB United League history. He contributed 4 points, 3 steals, and 1 rebound, becoming just the third Astana player this season (after Askar Maydekin and Rustam Murzagaliev) to record three steals in a single game. Pestov made an immediate impact, intercepting a pass from Alexander Gankevich. However, as the quarter neared its end, CSKA reasserted control – 92:49.

Astana owned the final ten minutes. The team started with an 8-0 run, thanks to accurate shots from Utomi, Pestov, and Motovilov, finishing the match on a strong note.

CSKA – Astana 118:77 (37:11, 27:18, 28:20, 26:28)

Astana Top Performers:
Daniel Utomi (21 points + 3 assists)
Grigory Motovilov (13 points + 7 assists)
Danila Pokhodyaev (11 points + 5 rebounds)

Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

«A game lost on defense, especially in the first quarter, where CSKA dictated the pace and executed their game plan without resistance… It felt like we simply weren’t present on the court. Offensively, considering the lineup I had at my disposal today, I believe we performed reasonably well, perhaps even successfully. Unfortunately, for various reasons, Rustam Murzagaliev and Vadim Shcherbak were unable to travel with us. Additionally, Alexander Orazbekov, our backup point guard, sustained an injury. As a result, I had just one point guard available—one who primarily operates in pick-and-roll situations—so I had to adapt and improvise.»

Information about the opponent

Established year: 1923 Team colors: red, dark blue
Country: Russia Arena: USC CSKA
City: Moscow Website: www.cskabasket.com

Description

CSKA - is a Russian professional men's basketball club from the city of Moscow, founded in 1923.

Achievements:
  • Champion of the USSR — 1945, 1960-1962, 1964-1966, 1969-1974, 1976-1984, 1988, 1990
  • Champion of Russia — 1992-2000, 2003-2019
  • USSR Cup Winner — 1972, 1973, 1982
  • Winner of the European Cup of Champions — 1960/1961, 1962/1963, 1968/1969, 1970/1971
  • Champion of Euroleague — 2005/2006, 2007/2008, 2015/2016
  • Champion of NEBL — 1999/2000
  • Champion of VTB United League — 2009/2010, 2011/2012-2018/19, 2020/21
  • Silver medallist of the VTB United League — 2010/2011, 2021/2022
  • Neva Cup Winner — 2020
  • Gomelsky Cup Winner — 2020