CSKA — MBA-MAI, 15 December 2024

All that remains is to rise

Vasily Karasev's team was the only one that managed to beat the Red-Blues in the preseason. Perhaps this caused cautious optimism, but the start of the season for MBA-MAI did not go well.

Gradually, the citizens are finding themselves. Over the past month, they have not left the capital, played three home games, won two of them, and lost to Nizhny in the remaining one with a minimal difference.

Andrey Zubkov remains their undisputed leader, having probably the best season of his career. The veteran forward is first in the VTB League in efficiency (21.0), fourth in scoring (16.3) and third in rebounds (7.6). CSKA youth team graduate Makar Konovalov (11.1 points, 5.6 assists) is responsible for playmaking duties, while another experienced forward Vladislav Trushkin (10.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 41% three-pointers) adds a threat from the perimeter.

In a series of events

The pre-New Year period is always difficult for the Red-Blues in terms of organizing home games. This year, the New Year's shows have not yet started - they will begin a little later, and this week, a boxing match was squeezed in between the two games. This forced the technical services to clean and re-lay the parquet, and the players and coaches to train in Krylatskoye on Friday.

Today, CSKA again worked in Megasport in full force, having conducted a full-fledged preparation for the meeting with a difficult opponent.

“We have to manage the load of playing consecutive games at the moment,” CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis said. “Our opponent plays tough basketball and they played well against us in previous game. So we expect a difficult game and we hope for the help of our fans tomorrow.”

Past matchups

Win/Loss Ratio: 7-0

Game of the 2024-25 season:

06-Nov-2024. MBA – CSKA: 67-83 (+16)

Brief dossier

MBA Moscow

Founded: 2011
Colors: white, red
Home arena: Basket Hall Moscow (5,000 spectators)
President: Tatyana Kocharyan
Head coach: Vasily Karasev
Website: mbabasket.pro
Achievements: vice-champion of the Major League (2014)