Once More to Saratov
Our team travels to play Avtodor for the second time this season…
One in double-digits
The trip to Saratov will be the last of the regular season, but theoretically it could be more. To catch the last train to the playoffs, the Volga team needs to have a near-perfect finish, starting with a win over the league leader.
Naturally, this won't be easy. The Black-and-Whites have experienced many upheavals during the season, changing their head coach (former assistant Stipe Kulis is now in charge), losing Terrence Edwards, and sending Alen Hadzibegovic to Krasnodar. Furthermore, the hosts will miss Dusan Beslac (14.0 points, 5.2 rebounds), who is ailing with a knee problem.
American Malik Newman, who remains fit, is currently the team's leading scorer, averaging 18.1 points. No one else is averaging double-digit points. Key players include Igor Volkhin (9.6 points, 5.1 rebounds), Pavel Zemsky (9.5 points, 4.3 rebounds), Grigory Motovilov (9.2 points, 3.4 assists), and Vitalius Pranauskis (7.6 points, 3.7 assists).
To recover
The loss in Kazan on Sunday allowed the coaching staff to conduct a serious video analysis of team’s mistakes, which will certainly help them throughout the rest of the season. The team held two days of practice at Basket Hall and departed for the road today after morning practice. Ivan Zaitsev, who is recovering from an ankle injury, is still out with the team.
"Saratov is always a difficult trip to play," noted CSKA head coach Andreas Pistiolis. "We have to recover after our recent defeat and play high-level basketball.”
Past matchups
Wins/losses: 73-16
Games of 2025-26 VTB League season:
08-Nov-2025. Avtodor – CSKA: 82-86 (+4)
04-Jan-2026. CSKA - Avtodor: 94-49 (+45)
08-Feb-2026. CSKA - Avtodor: 95-60 (+35)
Brief dossier
Avtodor Saratov
Founded: 1960
Colors: black, white
Home court: Kristall Ice Palace (5,500)
President: Oleg Rodionov
Head coach: Stipe Kulis
Website: www.avtodor.ru
Trophy case: 4-time Russian League runner-up (1994, 97, 98, 99), 2-time Russian League bronze winner (1992, 96), EuroCup semifinalist (1998), Superleague A champion (1997, 98), Superleague B champion (2009), Superleague champion (2013/14)
