“Astana” heads to Saratov for another showdown against “Avtodor” as part of the VTB United League Championship. What’s the outlook for the upcoming match? What should the team keep in mind against this opponent? Read on for details.
Eighth Place
Currently, “Avtodor” sits in 8th place in the VTB United League standings with 9 wins and 14 losses. Over their last five games, they’ve managed just two victories—against “Pari Nizhny Novgorod” (94:83) and “Samara” (81:75)—while falling to “Enisey” (81:75), CSKA (65:112), and “Uralmash” (79:60).
The team’s top performers this season are Bryant Crawford (15.6 PPG), Kerem Kanter (12.7 PPG), and Dusan Beslach (12.2 PPG). Caleb Ogada, a Canadian player of Nigerian descent, stands out as the team’s X-factor with 6.5 assists and 5.7 rebounds per game. Dmitry Khaldeev and Alexander Petenev have also been significant contributors, with both averaging substantial minutes on the court (20 and 25 minutes per game, respectively).
For more details about the team’s roster changes ahead of the 2024/2025 season, check out one of our previous previews.
How is “Astana” doing in the Kazakh National League?
In the Kazakh National League, “Astana” is currently 6th in the standings (6-11). Just a few days ago, the team faced the league leader, “Irbis Alatau” from Almaty, managing to secure one win out of two games. The first match ended in a close 73:77 loss, while the second was a 99:82 victory for “Astana.” Key performances came from core players like Andrei Desyatnikov (18 points, 10 rebounds), Vadim Shcherbak (15 points), and Sardal Abashidze (12 points). Their strong showing gives hope for a solid fight in the upcoming VTB United League matches.
Head-to-Head History
Out of 25 previous games, “Avtodor” has claimed 17 victories, while “Astana” has won 8. The last time “Astana” defeated “Avtodor” was on December 13, 2022, in a nail-biting 70:69 victory.
Gleb Plotnikov, Acting Head Coach of BC “Astana”:
“We’re still dealing with injuries and a limited roster, and our trip to Saratov has been far from easy. We’ll need to come together, show resilience, and demonstrate our character to put up a strong fight against ‘Avtodor.’”
Comment from acting head coach Gleb Plotnikov:
“We continue to have problems with injuries and the fullness of the squad, plus our trip to Saratov was, to put it mildly, difficult. We will need to mobilize and demonstrate fortitude and fortitude in order to put up a worthy fight against Avtodor.“
Grigory Motovilov, Point Guard for “Astana”:
“The team is in good shape right now. We’ve just played and won in the National League, which is helping us build momentum. I believe we’ll be ready for the game against ‘Avtodor.’
‘Avtodor’ is a well-coached, well-organized team with clear leaders. Hopefully, we’ll handle them well. Strong defense will be key, and through that, we can secure the win.”
Rustam Murzagaliyev, Shooting Guard for “Astana”:
“We have a tight schedule, including games in the National League, but the match against ‘Irbis’ was a good one. It helped us a lot because it was intense, both on and off the court. Huge thanks to our fans—it was great to play at the ‘Academy.’
‘Avtodor’ is a strong opponent, especially at home. While they may have some difficulties on the road, they generally perform well. It’ll all come down to us—how we approach the game, how we prepare mentally, and especially how we start the match.”
Match Details:
Game: “Avtodor” vs. “Astana”
Date & Time: January 12, 5:00 PM
Venue: Saratov, Kristall Sports Palace
Broadcast: Available on the club’s website
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