Astana played its final home game in the current United VTB League season, losing to Samara at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Palace of Martial Arts.
The guests started the game strong, and even though the capital club started reducing the gap in the final quarter, time was not enough: the final score was 73-92 in favor of Samara.
The leaders of the match for «Astana» were Markell Johnson (29 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and Rustam Murzagaliyev (12 points, 5 assists).
«We lost a tough game that we could have won in Perm. It was a difficult trip: the time difference and the second away game. We were afraid we wouldn't have enough energy, but we started with the right mindset. It is clear that Astana is missing players, but we were also in such a situation. The first half was excellent, but then we relaxed too much: we made the wrong decisions and allowed Johnson to score a lot. But overall, we are satisfied with the victory. It was difficult for everyone, but we managed to win with a convincing advantage. We continue to try to make it to the playoffs», — said the visiting team's head coach, Sergei Bazarevich, after the game.
The team was supported by the performer V $ X V PRiNCE, as well as Erkhat Kusainov, better known as Euro Union. In addition, this game had the status of an eco-match: every fan could attach used colored plastic caps to a special panel — a future picture that will gradually be filled at the matches of other teams of the United VTB League and at the end of the season will turn into a large-scale ecological art object.
Ahead of Oleg Kiselev's team is an away series against Avtodor (March 16), Enisey (March 19), PARMA-PARI (March 22), and Minsk (March 26).
Basketball will return to Astana on March 30-31 when Tobol will visit the team of Oleg Kiselev — matches within the framework of the National Basketball League of Kazakhstan will be held at the Saryarka Velodrome.
Detailed information about the tournament, standings, schedule, and match results are published in the Tournaments section.
