Round 34 (Regular Season): #1 CSKA is defeated by UNICS

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 8 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked CSKA (27-3) in Kazan on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked UNICS (27-4) 86-80. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of CSKA. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. UNICS made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. UNICS outrebounded CSKA 43-28 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. UNICS looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Center Ruslan Abdulbasirov (211-1993) had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) to lead the charge for the winners and American swingman Ty Brewer (201-2000, college: UAB) chipped in 23 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Guyanese-French Livio Jean-Charles (205-1993) responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds. CSKA's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. UNICS maintains second position with 27-4 record having just one point less than leader CSKA. Defending Russian champion CSKA still keeps top place with three games lost. UNICS are looking forward to face Parma-Pari (#5) in Perm in the next round. CSKA will play on the road against Avtodor (#10) in Saratov and is hoping to win this game.
Eighth-ranked Enisey (12-19) gave a tough game to third ranked Zenit (23-9) in Krasnoyarsk. The visitors from Saint Petersburg managed to secure only three-point victory 74-71. However their fans expected much easier game. American guard Xavier Moon (188-1995, college: Morehead St.) notched 16 points and 4 assists to lead the effort and Luka Samanic supported him with 17 points. Even 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by American point guard Matt Coleman III (188-1998, college: Texas) did not help to save the game for Enisey. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zenit have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 23-9 record having two points less than leader CSKA. Enisey lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 19 games lost. Zenit will play against MBA Moscow (#7) on the road in the next round. Enisey will play against Samara and hopes to get back on the winning track.
One of the most interesting games of round 34 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Yekaterinburg where fifth ranked Parma-Pari won against host Uralmash (15-18) 87-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Uralmash. Americans were the main players on the court. Jalen Adams fired 36 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds for the winners. Octavius Ellis produced 19 points and 5 assists for lost side. Uralmash's coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Parma-Pari maintains fifth position with 18-15 record. Uralmash at the other side keeps the sixth place with 18 games lost. Parma-Pari will meet at home league's second-placed UNICS in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Uralmash will have a break next round.

In the last game of round 34 Avtodor lost to Lokomotiv on the opponent's court 69-87.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists by Alen Hadzibegovic of Lokomotiv.



Uralmash - Parma-Pari 79-87

One of the most interesting games of round 34 was a derby match between two teams from Russia. The game took place in Yekaterinburg where fifth ranked Parma-Pari won against host Uralmash (15-18) 87-79. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Uralmash. They outrebounded Uralmash 35-20 including a 27-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. Americans were the main players on the court. Jalen Adams (191-1995, college: UConn) fired 36 points (!!!) and 8 rebounds for the winners. Victor Sanders (196-1995, college: Idaho) chipped in 14 points, 5 assists and 5 steals. Four Parma-Pari players scored in double figures. Center Octavius Ellis (208-1993, college: Cincinnati) produced 19 points and 5 assists and Hayden Dalton (204-1996, college: Wyoming, agency: Slash Sports) added 13 points and 4 assists respectively for lost side. Uralmash's coach tested ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game. Parma-Pari maintains fifth position with 18-15 record. Uralmash at the other side keeps the sixth place with 18 games lost. Parma-Pari will meet at home league's second-placed UNICS in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Uralmash will have a break next round.
Top scorers:
Parma-Pari: A.Jalen 36+8reb+2ast, S.Victor 14+4reb+5ast, S.Alexandr 12+1reb+2ast, F.Gleb 11+4reb, C.Terrell 8+9reb+3ast, I.Stanislav 3+8reb+4ast
Uralmash: O.Ellis 19+2reb+5ast, G.Nevels 17+2reb, H.Dalton 13+3reb+4ast, K.Anton 9+1reb+4ast, T.Nelson 9+5reb+2ast, J.Douglas 6+2reb+1ast

Enisey - Zenit 71-74

Eighth-ranked Enisey (12-19) gave a tough game to third ranked Zenit (23-9) in Krasnoyarsk. The visitors from Saint Petersburg managed to secure only three-point victory 74-71. However their fans expected much easier game. American guard Xavier Moon (188-1995, college: Morehead St.) notched 16 points and 4 assists to lead the effort and Croatian center Luka Samanic (208-2000) supported him with 17 points. Even 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists by American point guard Matt Coleman III (188-1998, college: Texas) did not help to save the game for Enisey. American-Kosovan guard Dominic Artis (190-1993, college: UTEP) added 6 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists for lost side. Four Enisey players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zenit have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 23-9 record having two points less than leader CSKA. Enisey lost third consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 19 games lost. Zenit will play against MBA Moscow (#7) on the road in the next round. Enisey will play against Samara and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Zenit: S.Luka 17+3reb, M.Xavier 16+3reb+4ast, Z.Georgy 13+3reb, M.Andrey 6+8reb+1ast, F.Trent 6+1reb+10ast, R.Andre 5+4reb
Enisey: M.Coleman III 19+6reb+4ast, R.Egor 12+8reb, D.Sonko 10+1reb, D.Tasic 10+5reb+3ast, K.Daniil 6+2reb+2ast, D.Artis 6+5reb+9ast

UNICS - CSKA 86-80

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked CSKA (27-3) in Kazan on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked UNICS (27-4) 86-80. It ended at the same time the 18-game winning streak of CSKA. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. UNICS made 17-of-20 free shots (85.0 percent) during the game. UNICS outrebounded CSKA 43-28 including a 29-16 advantage in defensive rebounds. UNICS looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Center Ruslan Abdulbasirov (211-1993) had a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!) to lead the charge for the winners and American swingman Ty Brewer (201-2000, college: UAB) chipped in 23 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side Guyanese-French Livio Jean-Charles (205-1993) responded with 18 points and 9 rebounds and point guard Ivan Ukhov (193-1995, agency: BIG) scored 22 points and 6 rebounds. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. CSKA's coach rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. UNICS maintains second position with 27-4 record having just one point less than leader CSKA. Defending Russian champion CSKA still keeps top place with three games lost. UNICS are looking forward to face Parma-Pari (#5) in Perm in the next round. CSKA will play on the road against Avtodor (#10) in Saratov and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
UNICS: B.Ty 23+5reb+1ast, R.Abdulbasirov 19+10reb+3ast, P.Dyshawn 13+3reb+2ast, L.Paris 11+6ast, K.Dmitriy 11+8reb+9ast, B.Marcus 9+8reb+2ast
CSKA: I.Ukhov 22+6reb+1ast, L.Jean-Charles 18+9reb+3ast, C.Ware 11+7ast, M.Trimble 10+1reb+2ast, S.Antonov 6+1reb, S.Ruzhentsev 3+2reb

Lokomotiv - Avtodor 87-69

Very expected game in Krasnodar where 10th ranked Avtodor (6-26) was defeated by fourth ranked Lokomotiv (21-11) 87-69 on Sunday. Lokomotiv looked well-organized offensively handing out 27 assists comparing to just 12 passes made by Avtodor's players. Montenegrin-Qatari Alen Hadzibegovic (208-1999) fired 19 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists for the winners. American point guard Jeremiah Martin (189-1996, college: Memphis, agency: Slash Sports) chipped in a double-double by scoring 12 points and 11 assists. Lokomotiv's coach used an eleven-player rotation which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Forward Igor Volkhin (200-1997) produced 16 points and 7 rebounds and American guard Malik Newman (190-1997, college: Kansas, agency: Slash Sports) added 17 points respectively for lost side. Five Lokomotiv and four Avtodor players scored in double figures. Lokomotiv maintains fourth position with 21-11 record. Loser Avtodor keeps the tenth place with 26 games lost. Lokomotiv will meet at home N.Novgorod (#9) in the next round where they are favorite. Avtodor will play against the league's leader CSKA and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Lokomotiv: H.Alen 19+9reb+6ast, I.Vsevolod 15+2reb+2ast, K.Anton 14+9reb+2ast, T.Kirill 12+1ast, M.Jeremiah 12+4reb+11ast, H.Vincent 4+5reb
Avtodor: M.Newman 17+2reb+1ast, I.Volkhin 16+7reb+1ast, P.Zemskiy 14+5reb+1ast, G.Motovilov 11+1reb+2ast, V.Pranauskis 4+4ast, A.Klimenko 3+2reb