Fifth Place Contenders

This season, Uralmash is fighting for the status of a solid mid-table team, and so far, Rostislav Vergun’s squad has managed to stay in the game. They resumed play after the February break with an impressive 81:79 victory over Lokomotiv-Kuban, but just three days later, suffered a heavy defeat against CSKA (109:65). Currently sitting in fifth place in the VTB United League standings with 18 wins and 16 losses, Uralmash has the potential to climb higher. Underestimating them would be a mistake.

The Yekaterinburg team has welcomed back Jeremiah Martin and Octavius Ellis, both returning from injury. Hayden Dalton, a recent addition from Samara, has quickly emerged as a key player. In the game against Lokomotiv, he delivered 22 points, 6 rebounds, and a +26 efficiency rating, earning a spot in the VTB United League Team of the Week. Additionally, Javonte Douglas had a strong performance in that match with 17 points and 9 rebounds. In February, Uralmash further strengthened their roster with the addition of center Ilya Popov, who also arrived from Samara and has been averaging 11.9 points and 5.7 rebounds this season.

For more details on Uralmash’s roster changes, check out our previous preview:
https://pbcastana.kz/ru/news/?id=5798

He's Back

T.J. Starks has sprung back to action and has already played two games since recovering from injury. His comeback came against Zenit, where he looked solid, and in his second game—at home against Pari NN—he was the standout performer. Starks is regaining his form, and we anticipate another strong performance from him against Uralmash.

Head-to-Head History

Astana and Uralmash have faced off seven times in the VTB United League, with six victories for Uralmash and just one win for Astana. That victory came in the first game between the two teams last season, where Astana won 80:72.

Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

«Uralmash is a team with a well-balanced roster. Their recent loss to CSKA does not reflect their true potential. We have been playing solid basketball lately. Our focus must be on reducing turnovers and executing our game plan. I invite all fans to attend the match—we need your support.»

Match Details:
Match: Astana vs. Uralmash
Date & Time: March 8, 14:00
Venue: Saryarka Velodrome, Astana
Broadcast: Club website

The opening quarter was controlled by Uralmash. A series of accurate three-pointers from Hayden Dalton, quick drives from Pynko, and Octavius Ellis’s dominance in the paint helped the visitors establish an early lead at 18:7. However, a well-timed timeout by the coaching staff helped Astana regain composure. Magzhan Sarsengaliyev knocked down two three-pointers, while Daniel Utomi accelerated the pace with assertive drives, cutting the deficit to just three points. Unfortunately, Astana couldn’t sustain this momentum, as the opponents continued to excel from beyond the arc, converting 5/7 three-pointers compared to 3/8 from our team. The first quarter concluded at 21:29.

The second quarter also began in Uralmash’s favor, as they went on an 11:3 run. Both teams sought to exploit fast-break opportunities, but the visitors were more precise in their execution. Danila Pokhodyaev had an impressive stretch, scoring seven points in just a few minutes, injecting energy into the team. T.J. Starks and Galin Smith displayed strong chemistry, while Vladislav Isayenko capped off the first half with a three-pointer, bringing the score to 41:56.

The fast pace carried over into the second half, with both teams capitalizing on transition opportunities. T.J. Starks made his presence felt with deep shots, while Daniel Utomi confidently finished plays. However, narrowing the gap remained a challenge, and by the end of the third quarter, Astana trailed 55:79.

The final quarter was the most challenging, as Uralmash increased the pressure and went on a 15:2 run. Fatigue became a factor, and the absence of Rustam Murzagaliev, Grigory Motovilov, and Alexander Orazbekov was evident. Despite the difficult game, Magzhan Sarsengaliyev continues to show promise in his rookie season in the VTB United League.

Final Score:
Astana – Uralmash 66:106 (21:29, 20:27, 14:23, 11:27)

Top Performers:
Astana: Daniel Utomi (18 points), T.J. Starks (13 points, 7 assists), Magzhan Sarsengaliyev (9 points), Askar Maydekin (7 points), Danila Pokhodyaev (7 points).

Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of Astana:

«Congratulations to Uralmash on their victory. They dominated us today, and the numbers, especially their field goal percentage, reflect that. Unfortunately, we had roster issues. We really missed Grigory Motovilov, who suffered an unexpected injury in training. We were left with only one point guard, Magzhan Sarsengaliyev, a player from our second team. It’s tough to rely on him as a main rotation player at this level. Today, we were simply weaker than Uralmash. We lacked the necessary depth.»