UNICS is the sole leader of the standings!

Main team news

05.03.2024

The Kazan team won the second consecutive and most important victory from a tournament point of view over CSKA Moscow (84:78), becoming the sole leader of the VTB United League standings and extending its winning streak to 7 matches.

Success was largely made possible thanks to the benefit of UNICS guard Neno DIMITRIJEVIC, who set a personal career record in performance (38 points) and repeated the season record in efficiency (KPI = 48). Marcos KNIGHT and Erick GREEN also scored 23 points and 6 rebounds for two.

At the junction of the first and second quarters, Kazan created a 9-point lead after a three-point shot by Erick GREEN (32:23), but the subsequent 12-1 spurt of home team leveled the efforts of the white-greens. The teams went to the big break at 42:38 on the scoreboard in favor of the army club. 8 unanswered points at the start of the second half created a comfortable advantage for CSKA - 56:47. However, UNICS showed a champion character, powerfully joined the fight and regained the lead after an and one from Neno DIMITRIJEVIC in the opening of the final period (62:60). At the end of the quarter, the Macedonian guard created a double–digit advantage for UNICS for the first time - 79:69. The most titled Russian club desperately rushed in pursuit, managing to return the intrigue with the heroic efforts of Melo TRIMBLE and reducing the difference to two possessions – 75:79. But the reigning VTB United League champion did not allow the owners of the court to do more that evening.

CSKA Moscow – UNICS (Kazan) - 78:84 (15:22, 27:16, 16:18, 20:28).
CSKA: Trimble (17 + 4 assists), Jean-Charles (16 + 5 rebounds + 2 assists), M'Baye (11 + 3 rebounds + 2 assists), Astapkovich (10 + 6 assists + 4 rebounds).
UNICS: Dimitrijevic (38 + 5 assists + 3 rebounds), Knight (12 + 3 rebounds), Green (11 + 3 rebounds), Reynolds (8 + 10 assists), Labeyrie (5 + 9 rebounds).

POST-MATCH COMMENTS:

Velimir PERASOVIC, BC UNICS head coach:

«The game turned out to be very typical for UNICS and CSKA. Compared to our last match with them on February, we started well, but soon stopped, and the hosts took the advantage. It became even more difficult in the second half. But our team showed more toughness. We entered the last quarter with the score almost even and we knew that if we forced CSKA to lose concentration, it would be easier. The excellent game of Neno Dimitrijevic in the end helped us to win this game».

Neno DIMITRIJEVIC, BC UNICS guard:

«When we went to Moscow, we understood that a difficult match was waiting for us. A month ago, UNICS beat CSKA away, so we were preparing for the fact that the opponent would appear overly motivated. I think we reacted well. Our task was to control the board, which we managed, with the exception of only a segment in the second quarter. I think each of the guys did a great job today and contributed to this important victory».

Emil RAJKOVIC, PBK CSKA head coach:

«Congratulations to UNICS and especially to Dimitrijevic, who was unstoppable today. We used different types of defense, defended differently on pick-and-rolls, tried to double up, but each time he found a continuation of the attack, effectively played one-on-one. We had moments when we took the lead and controlled the match. But at key moments, UNICS and especially Dimitrijevic played better. We have to find a way to act tough. In addition, we constantly miss opportunities to make easy baskets».