An important away victory over a competitor

Main team news

05.11.2023

UNICS continued its victorious pace in the VTB United League, defeating Zenit, one of the main favorites of the season, with a double-digit difference of 93:83 in St. Petersburg.

Shortly before the end of the 3rd quarter, our team's leadership reached its maximum «+13» (67:54), however, the hosts managed to get back into the game 6 minutes before the final siren with Karasev and Fraser's «three» – 74:74. The teams entered the clutch with the score 86:83 in favor of UNICS. However, the magnificent defense, coupled with an impeccable attack, helped the white-green finish the match with 7 unanswered points and win an important victory. Our guys crushed Zenit under the baskets (36 against 22 on rebounds) and finished off formidable opponents with a high percentage of long–range shots - 53% three-pointers (9/17).

Five basketball players in the UNICS team showed double digits in the points scored column – Marcos KNIGHT (22 + 6 rebounds + 4 steals), Neno DIMITRIJEVIC (16 + 7 assists + 6 rebounds), Ismael BAKO (16 + 7 rebounds), Dmitry KULAGIN (13 + 5 assists + 4 rebounds) and Louis LABEYRIE (12 + 5 rebounds).

The victory in St. Petersburg over the VTB United League champion of 2022 was the sixth for Velimir PERASOVIC's team in seven opening matches of the season. UNICS is second in the table, coming on the heels of the leading CSKA.

On Thursday, November 9, UNICS will host the ambitious debutant of the Runa league, which closes the top 3, on the home floor of the Basket Hall.

Zenit (Saint Petersburg) – UNICS (Kazan) – 83:93 (26:29, 18:22, 18:21, 21:21).
UNICS: Knight (22+6 rebounds+4 steals), Bako (16+7 rebounds), Dimitrijevic (16+7 assists +6 rebounds), Kulagin (13+5 assists+4 rebounds+2 steals).
Zenit: Hunter (19+3 rebounds+2 assists+2 steals), Kuric (16+2 assists), Frazer (15+8 assists+ 2 rebounds), Zubkov (9+7 rebounds).

POST-MATCH COMMENTS:

Velimir PERASOVIC, BC UNICS head coach:

«It's always very difficult to play in St. Petersburg. We have lost four previous matches here. That's why I'm happy that we finally managed to find a way to beat Zenit away.

We know that two important players were missing in their team. Despite this, the match turned out to be very persistent. We controlled the course of the game for almost all 40 minutes, with the exception of the segment at the beginning of the final quarter. I think we showed very good basketball and deserved to win».

Neno DIMITRIJEVIC, BC UNICS guard:

«A great victory over a strong opponent away. I think we did a good job in defense and managed to close their snipers. We played solidly at key moments and deserved to win. Congratulations to our fans».