Closer to the finish line

A motivated opponent

The Perm team is currently in a very fighting mood. Firstly, they continue to fight for a direct spot in the playoffs: the Urals team is currently in seventh place, only one win behind sixth-placed Pari NN. Secondly, Evgeny Pashutin's players lost to Enisey recently, and will now play with a desire not only to improve their standings, but also to rehabilitate themselves.

After the sudden farewell to Stanley Whittaker, Parma now has three foreigners, and all of them lead the list of the most productive players on their team – Garrett Nevels (16.7 points, 3.8 assists), Royce Hamm (15.9 points, 8.5 rebounds) and Alex Hamilton (11.9 points, 4.2 assists). Next comes Samson Ruzhentsev, who was loaned from CSKA (11.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.7 assists) and missed the start of the season due to injury. This game is special for Sam for two reasons – because of his club affiliation and his unsuccessful performance in Krasnoyarsk, where he scored only two points.

The situation is not ideal

At the end of the regular championship, our team begins to enter a mode close to the playoffs. This is evident both in the desire and in the intensity of training, the struggle in which is not inferior to the level of most official games. It is important that all the red-and-blues are in the lineup, which allows the coaching staff to constantly arrange serious internal battles between the three fives. There is no clear average winner or loser in these battles.

"Once again, we need to leave behind the memories of previous games," says CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "It is important to take this game seriously. Parma has proven during the season that it is capable of causing problems to those who go against it without due seriousness. I understand that the game in Krylatskoye is not an ideal situation for our fans, but I still count on their support. I hope that the stands will be filled, and we will try to thank them with a good game."

Past matchups

Win/loss ratio: 20-3

VTB League game of the 2024-25 season:

20-Oct-2024. Parma – CSKA: 82-95 (+13)
28-Nov-2024. CSKA - Parma: 110-91 (+19)
11-Jan-2025. Parma – CSKA: 64-101 (+37)

Brief dossier

PARMA Perm

Founded: 2012
Colors: blue, white
Home court: UDS Molot (7,000 spectators)
CEO: Alexander Bashminov
Head coach: Evgeny Pashutin
Website: parmabasket.ru
Achievements: 2-time Russian Cup winner (2016, 19), SuperLeague 1 bronze medalist (2016)