UNICS vs Zenit. Preview

This Sunday, Xavi Pascual’s team will have their first away game of the season. The blue-whites are heading to the capital of Tatarstan to face UNICS for the third time in a month, now within the framework of the VTB United League. Here's a detailed look at the upcoming match.

Context

UNICS started their season with two consecutive games against CSKA Moscow. First, they faced off in the Super Cup final, and on September 20th they opened the regular season of the VTB United League with a game in Moscow. CSKA won both games. In second league match UNICS played at home and comfortably defeated Samara 86:70. In that game their standout player was newcomer DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell who scored 18 points and made 6 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 block.

Zenit, on the other hand, comes into the game against UNICS after two home victories over MBA and Avtodor. In both games our team scored over 100 points. However, the upcoming match is a new challenge, and Zenit is ready to approach it fully prepared.

Connections

During this off-season, UNICS’ roster was strengthened by former Zenit center Sergey Toropov, who left Saint Petersburg just this summer. In Kazan he joined Dmitry Kulagin and Jalen Reynolds, the latter of whom began his VTB United League career with Zenit. Additionally, UNICS forward Alexander Stulenkov previously played for Zenit’s farm team.

Head-to-head

The history of the teams' rivalry in the VTB United League includes 41 games. UNICS currently leads with 22 victories, while Zenit has 19.

This off-season the teams met twice. First, Zenit won the Kondrashin and Belov Cup final (63:50), while UNICS emerged victorious during the group stage of the Super Cup (78:72). This makes it all the more interesting to see what the head coaches have prepared for the first official game of the season.

Quotes

Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual shared his thoughts ahead of the game in Kazan:

First of all, it's a derby and we know what is it one kind of games. If we want to win, we have to play almost perfect. They are an excellent team with excellent players, coaches, players with big experience. So we know how difficult it's going to be this game. But on the other side, we are ready. We have to make one step more in our game in order to have possibilities to win.

Who. Where. When. 

Opponent: UNICS

Location: Basket-Hall, Kazan

Date: September 29, 14:00 (Saint Petersburg time)

Broadcast: Match TV, VTB United League website, Okko Sport, Start