«Astana» wraps up the year against «Enisey»

The game kicked off with an electrifying back-and-forth. Forward Daniel Utomi set the pace with a sharp three-pointer, promptly answered by «Enisey.» Captain Rustam Murzagaliev sank a corner shot, only for Victor Sanders to level the score. The first quarter was fiercely contested, with «Astana» briefly holding a 5-point lead before the hosts rallied to end the period with a slim advantage, 24-20.

In the second quarter, Krasnoyarsk shifted into high gear with their long-range shooting, sparking an 18-4 run. However, center Andrey Desyatnikov snapped «Astana’s» scoring drought. Galin Smith provided defensive support, while Grigory Motovilov fearlessly drove to the basket, and Utomi hit a couple of clutch three-pointers. These efforts helped «Astana» stay within striking distance, though «Enisey» led at halftime, 47-32.

The third quarter turned into a showcase duel between Daniel Utomi and Victor Sanders. Utomi finished with an impressive 23 points, hitting 6 of 8 three-pointers and outscoring Sanders, who posted 22 points. Rustam Murzagaliev and Grigory Motovilov also made their presence felt during this stretch. However, «Enisey» excelled in ball movement and shot accuracy. Struggles on the boards (28 rebounds to 22) hindered any significant comeback, and the quarter ended with «Enisey» leading 70-49.

The final quarter delivered a flurry of three-point action, with Utomi and Gerasimov exchanging blows from beyond the arc. «Enisey» shifted momentum with a decisive 12-5 run, but «Astana» regrouped after a timeout, tightening their defense. The zone press began to yield results, highlighted by impactful plays from Ruslan Aitkali and Askar Maidyakin, who punctuated a drive with a powerful dunk. Despite the late-game surge and commendable effort, the deficit remained insurmountable.

Final Score
«Enisey» – «Astana» 90:73 (24:20, 23:12, 23:17, 20:24)

Top Performers
«Astana»: Daniel Utomi (23 points), Rustam Murzagaliev (12 points), Grigory Motovilov (11 points).

Acting Head Coach Gleb Plotnikov:

“Congratulations to Krasnoyarsk on their well-deserved win. Their shooting was exceptional, particularly from beyond the arc, and they capitalised on every mistake we made. We started strong in the first quarter, but faltered as the game progressed, leaving us to play catch-up in the fourth. To compete effectively, we need to sustain the intensity and quality we showed early on throughout the entire game. Unfortunately, at the moment, we’re lacking the depth and resources to achieve that.”