Zenit vs UNICS. Preview
Opponent
First of all, it’s worth mentioning the recent WINLINE Basket Cup Final Four. It turned out unsuccessfully for Zenit — two tough losses to CSKA and BETCITY PARMA resulted in a fourth-place finish. UNICS, meanwhile, lost to CSKA in the final and ended up with silver medals. Now both teams are focused solely on the VTB League and, of course, are aiming for the trophy.
In the regular season, the Kazan team has one more game left to play than the St. Petersburg side, but with three rounds remaining it is already known that UNICS will finish second and face the seventh-place team in the quarterfinals. Their opponent in the first playoff round will be either Uralmash or MBA-MAI.
Zenit, meanwhile, has not yet secured third place and needs at least one win to stay ahead of Lokomotiv Kuban, who are close behind. With a favorable outcome, Dejan Radonjić’s team will face the sixth-place team in the quarterfinals — which could again be either Uralmash or MBA-MAI. However, if Zenit finishes fourth, their opponent will certainly be the dangerous and relentless BETCITY PARMA.
Returning to the Kazan side, it should be noted that in early April they suffered an unexpected loss to Uralmash. It was in that game that UNICS lost Ty Brewer due to a shoulder injury. The American has already been removed from the roster, and Elijah Stewart was urgently signed as his replacement. Marcus Bingham and Paris Lee are also listed as injured. So the Kazan side is facing significant challenges. Nevertheless, UNICS remains a formidable opponent despite all these problems. Zenit desperately needs a victory in tomorrow’s game.
Head-to-head
The upcoming game will be the sixth head-to-head meeting between Zenit and UNICS this season. In the Cup, the teams exchanged away victories. In the VTB United League, however, UNICS currently leads 2-1. The overall history of their meetings in the tournament also favors the visitors — 22-26.
Direct speech
Zenit head coach Dejan Radonjić commented ahead of the home game:
Of course, great opponents, for sure it will be very tough game. First of all, what we need to play much, much more better than in the last game. We need to play with more energy, our focus must be totally different and of course it will be very important to play as a team.
Defensively it will be very important to be as I said a focus to do a lot of things: one-on-one defense, pick-and-roll defense, rebounds, of course. Offensively, it will be important for us to read the game and to share the ball.
Who. Where. When.
Opponent: UNICS
Location: CSC Arena, St. Petersburg
Date: April 15, 19:30 (local time)
Broadcast: Match! Strana, Match! Igra, VTB United League website, VK Video
