Top-8 Contender

Parma currently shares 7th and 8th place in the VTB United League standings with Avtodor, both holding a 14-21 record, while MBA-MAI (13-22) closely follows in 9th place. Since returning from the February break, Evgeny Pashutin's team has played three games, losing to Pari NN (88:81), securing a win over Avtodor (79:73), and loosing to UNICS (89:71).

Roster Changes

Parma has seen some notable roster changes. In a move that surprised many fans, Stanley Whittaker joined the team from Uralmash, where he averaged 13.3 points and 3.9 assists. In his game against Pari NN, he made an immediate impact, scoring 27 points and making 8 assists. Meanwhile, the team recently parted ways with Alex Hamilton (11.9 points, 4.1 assists). Many speculate that Hamilton’s departure was directly tied to Whittaker’s arrival and the changing dynamics within the squad. However, demand for Hamilton in the VTB United League was high, and soon after, Pari Nizhny Novgorod announced his signing for the remainder of the season.

Did You Know?

Parma gained significant attention during the VTB United League All-Star Game, as point guard Garrett Nevels dominated the three-point contest, while young talent Lev Svinin participated in the dunk contest.
The win over Avtodor marked Evgeny Pashutin’s 50th career victory as Parma's head coach.
Sports media outlet «Championat» ranked Parma’s Egor Amosov among the top young players of the season, placing 10th behind Danil Sheyanov (Lokomotiv-Kuban). Recently, Amosov has been getting more playing time, particularly in matches against teams like UNICS and Zenit.

Head-to-Head History

Astana and Parma have faced off 19 times in the VTB United League, with Astana winning 7 games and Parma claiming 12 victories. The last time Astana defeated Parma was on October 13, 2022, with a score of 84:72.

Comment from Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

«Parma is a team that can create problems even for the league's top contenders. For us, it's crucial to maintain consistency in executing our game plan throughout the match and to play for each other.»

Match Details:
Match: Parma vs. Astana
Date & Time: March 11, 19:30
Venue: DS Molot, Perm
Broadcast: Club website

From the very start, both teams played at a high pace, keeping the game evenly contested. T.J. Starks and Danila Pokhodyaev were effective from beyond the arc, while Andrey Desyatnikov secured key rebounds and provided solid defensive support. The first quarter concluded 21:18, with the hosts holding a slight edge.

The second quarter saw offensive struggles for both teams, resulting in a low-scoring start (5-5). However, Parma soon found their rhythm, making the most of their three-point opportunities. By halftime, the gap had widened, with Parma leading 42:29.

The third quarter turned into the highest-scoring stretch of the game (32:24). Astana opened with a three-pointer from Alexander Orazbekov and a fast-break finish by T.J. Starks. However, the opponent quickly responded with a run of their own, extending their lead. Astana fought back, with Starks driving to the basket and setting up teammates, but containing Parma’s offensive momentum proved difficult.

In the final quarter, Parma maintained their comfortable lead, but Astana continued to battle until the final buzzer. Contributions from Sardal Abashidze, Vadim Shcherbak, and Vladislav Isayenko added valuable points to the team’s effort.

Game Highlights

Daniel Utomi remained 100% accurate from the free-throw line (8/8) and extended his streak to 16 consecutive games with at least one three-pointer.
Astana set a new club record for offensive rebounds (23).

Final Score:
Parma – Astana 106:73 (21:18, 21:11, 32:24, 32:20)

Top Performers:
Astana: Daniel Utomi (19 points), T.J. Starks (17 points, 6 assists), Danila Pokhodyaev (10 points, 8 rebounds), Galin Smith (10 points, 7 rebounds).


Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of Astana:

«Congratulations to Parma on their win. They had an incredible shooting percentage today. For us, the first half was relatively balanced. Unfortunately, in the second quarter, we missed too many open shots near the rim, and Parma immediately punished us for it. They found their rhythm, and from that point on, it was tough to slow them down. Every defensive mistake we made was immediately exploited.»