UNICS-2 took over the winner of the regular season at home

Youth team news

04.04.2023

Kazan youth team on the home court of the UTC Vasilevo snatched a victory from the winner of the regular season of the VTB United Youth League Moscow MBA-2 with a score of 71:66 and led in the quarterfinal series to two wins – 1-0.

VTB United Youth League. Playoffs. Quarterfinals. The first match.
UNICS 2 – MBA 2 – 71:66 (14:15, 22:21, 15:16, 20:14).
UNICS-2: Polstyanov (16+2 assists), Kizilov (16+4 assists+2 rebounds), Pinchuk (13+4 rebounds+2 assists), Naumov (10+7 rebounds)
MBA-2: Zimin (14), Ismailov (10+6 rebounds), Savchenko (9+8 rebounds).
Score in the series: 1-0.

For 30 minutes there was an equal fight on the floor. By the big break, an equal score was established on the scoreboard – 36:36, and the guests left for the final quarter with a minimal advantage (51:52). Our guys started the 4th quarter with a powerful spurt of 17:7, achieving the maximum +9 - 68:59 after Pinchuk's effective pass and Baranov's free throws.

Less than a minute before the buzzer, the Muscovites managed to get back into the game, getting close to the throw distance – 68:66. But Pinchuk's decisive points set the final figures on the scoreboard 71:66 in favor of the hosts.

Sergey POLSTYANOV (16 points), Artem KIZILOV (16+4 assists) and Anatoly GUNTER (19+5 assists+4 rebounds+3 steals) became the most productive in UNICS-2. The white-greens outperformed their opponents on the boards, taking 45 rebounds against 38 from the guests.

UNICS-2 led the series to two wins with a score of 1-0. Now the teams are moving to Moscow, where on April 7 at 12:00 they will meet again on the parquet of Basket Hall Moscow. If a third game is needed to determine the semifinalist, it will be held at the capital arena on April 8 at 20:00.

POSTGAME COMMENTS:

Andrey KIBENKO, UNICS-2 head coach:

«The match was held in an equal struggle. For most of the meeting, there were "swings" on the parquet. Fortunately, at the end of the final quarter we managed to play more accurately. I think the factor of the home court affected. We hope that we will be able to play a good match in Moscow. We are starting to prepare for it».

Sergey POLSTYANOV, BC UNICS guard:

«I'm very proud of the guys! Today our team fought for all 40 minutes and demonstrated real energy. At the same time, we understand that this is only the first match. We are sure that we can surprise the opponent in Moscow. We plan to fight on the floor for every ball just like today. Act with a cold head, but a burning heart!»