«Astana» played its final match of the United League VTB in 2023, an away game in Saratov, where they faced «Avtodor».
It was a highly tense game: no quarter ended with a significant advantage for either team — 17:21, 19:14, 19:17, 29:23. The final score was 84:75 in favor of «Avtodor.» A key factor was the absence of Karvel Anderson, who missed the game due to an injury sustained in Saint Petersburg a few days earlier.
In the «Astana» lineup, great performances were given by Royce Hamm (21 points, 6 rebounds), Markell Johnson (21 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists), Devin Davis (12 points, 3 steals), and Rustam Murzagaliyev (10 points).
«This is an important victory for us. We knew we were playing against a strong team and a tough opponent. We respect how they play and the system they have built. I am pleased with the game, but not in every aspect… In some matches, you need to rely on energy and toughness. We talked about this before facing «Astana», and we had that energy. I'm glad that we continue to achieve our goals. We play in honor of our president, wanting him to be as proud of us as possible. I hope this winning streak continues», - said Milenko Bogicevic, the head coach of the hosts.
The team now faces a short break. «Astana» will play its next match on January 5th, an away game against «Lokomotiv-Kuban.»
