UNICS vs Zenit. Game 5 preview. Series decider

Zenit heads to Kazan for the seventh, decisive game of the 2025/26 VTB United League semifinals. There is no room to retreat: to reach the tournament final, the Blue-White-Sky Blues need nothing except a win in tomorrow's match against UNICS.

Opponent

Velimir Perasović's squad has done a tremendous job and managed to tie the series after trailing 1-3. In Game 5 in the capital of Tatarstan, the greens turned the game around in the second half, confidently taking control of the closing stretch. Game 6 in St. Petersburg followed a different script. The teams took turns putting together scoring runs: UNICS built a double-digit lead, then Zenit cut into the deficit but still trailed — and so it went several times. In the end, it all led to a tense finish, where the lead changed hands back and forth, but the clutch moments went to the visitors: Marcus Bingham's three-pointer decided the outcome and sent us to Game 7.

Once again, turnovers were a key factor on the court. This time, both teams committed plenty: 21 for Zenit and 19 for UNICS.

Kazan's top scorers in the previous game were Bingham (20 points) and Reynolds (14). For our team, Roberson recorded 15 points, while Moon added 15 points and 11 assists for a double-double. Who will step up as the leader and lead their club to the finals? We'll find out tomorrow.

Head-to-head

The overall history of matchups between the teams in the VTB United League favors UNICS — 29 wins against 26 for Zenit. The semifinal series is tied 3-3. Looking at the entire 2025/26 season, this will be the 14th meeting across all tournaments — the Kondrashin and Belov Cup, the VTB United League, and the WINLINE Basket Cup. Game results:

89:71 — (H), KBC

77:104 — (H), VTB UL

72:91 — (H), WBC

88:75 — (A), VTB UL

75:82 — (A), VTB UL

77:85 — (A), WBC

86:69 — (H), VTB UL

107:104 — (A), VTB UL

69:78 — (A), VTB UL

103:74 — (H), VTB UL

81:77 — (H), VTB UL

83:66 — (A), VTB UL

73:78 — (H), VTB UL

Direct speech

Comment from Zenit head coach Dejan Radonjić ahead of the decisive semifinal game:

It is a Game 7. We need to go Kazan and to be ready to do everything what we need to win this game. What will be crucial? We need to do so many good things on both ends for the required result. 

Who. Where. When.

Opponent: UNICS

Location: Basket Hall, Kazan

Date: May 28, 19:00 St. Petersburg time

Broadcast: Okko Sport, Match! Strana, VTB United League website, VK Video, Start