Champion vs leader
Our team will play its first game of the season at its familiar Megasport Arena against a dangerous opponent – UNICS, who started the season undefeated…
New leaders don't disappoint
The upcoming game is one of the most crucial at the start of the season. Firstly, for Kazan, who lost to the Muscovites in the previous two playoffs. Secondly, for CSKA, who unexpectedly lost at home on Wednesday to the young Serbian team Mega.
UNICS made a serious bid for favorite status from the start of the regular season. The team from the capital of Tatarstan won six of six games, proving that their summer rebuilding was a success. So much so that the departure of last year's leaders, especially Marcos Knight, Devon Akoon-Purcell, and Ismael Bako, is practically unmissable.
Paris Lee (14.8 points, 7.3 assists), a EuroLeague star for the past four years, took control of the game. Marcus Bingham (16.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 55.6% three-point shooting), who arrived from Hapoel Tel Aviv, was a real revelation. C.J. Brice (11.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists) and Deshawn Pierre (11.0 points, 37.5% three-point shooting) were also a hit. Plus, at his normal level, Jalen Reynolds (16.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 steals in 18.5 minutes) is making a significant impact in his limited time.
We need another 20 percent
"There's no need to talk about motivation before these kinds of games," said CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "It should already be at 100 percent. We need to somehow find another 20 percent, because we need at least 120 percent to win games like this, given that our opponents are playing strong and aggressively this season. They built their roster perfectly last summer and are playing excellent basketball so far, in keeping with their head coach's recognizable style. It's always tough against UNICS."
Before their game against Kazan, the red-and-blues held just one full-strength practice on the Megasport court on Friday afternoon. And, of course, they analyzed their own mistakes and their opponent's performance on video. Afterward, they headed to the hotel: before top games, the team trains in mini-camp mode.
Past matchups
Wins-losses: 96-28
CSKA biggest margin of victory: 102-54 (+48) (1997-98 Russian Championship. Quarterfinal)
UNICS biggest margin of victory: 113-77 (-36) (2000-01 Russian Superleague. Regular season. 2nd stage)
Games of 2024-25 VTB League Season:
Regular season
21-Oct-2024. CSKA – UNICS: 71-55 (+16)
09-Nov-2024. UNICS – CSKA: 73-80 (+7)
01-Mar-2025. CSKA – UNICS: 97-86 (+11)
13-Apr-2025. UNICS – CSKA: 86-78 (-8)
Semifinals
06-May-2025. CSKA – UNICS: 67-56 (+11)
08-May-2025. CSKA – UNICS: 95-87 (+8)
12-May-2025. UNICS – CSKA: 86-90 (+4)
14-May-2025. UNICS – CSKA: 64-76 (+8)
Brief dossier
UNICS Kazan
Founded: 1991
Color: green, black, white
Home court: Basket Hall (7,500)
President: Evgeny Bogachev
Head coach: Velimir Perasovic
Website: www.unics.ru
Trophy case:
- EuroCup winner (2011);
- FIBA Europe League winner (2004);
- VTB League and Russian champion (2023);
- 9-time Russian League runner-up (2001, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024),
- 8-time Russian League bronze winner (2000, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2022, 2025),
- NEBL champion (2003),
- 3-time Russian Cup winner (2003, 2009, 2014),
- 3-Russian Cup runner-up (2005, 2007, 2010),
- 5-time VTB United League runner-up (2010, 2012, 2016, 2021, 2024)
- 3- time VTB United League bronze winner (2014, 2022, 2025)
