Kirill Yelatontsev and Aleksandr Gudumak were training without restrictions, so it is quite possible that we will see them both in the game. Several players of the reserve team, ORSS-Loko, also held several training sessions with the main team. Of them, the best chance to play against MBA-MAI is for point guard Artyom Chevarenkov (by the way, he is the one pictured in the main photo of the preview). Our coaches will likely let Kirill Temirov rest, for his not quite well-being after a collision with two opponents from Astana.
Loko has no tournament goals for this game, but they do have reputational ones – the team needs to confirm their status as a one that plays to win every single game. Another goal is to give a playing chance to players who usually do not get much time.
As for MBA-MAI, they definitely have a tournament goal: to finish higher than Yenisei in order to get a court advantage over then in the first round of the play-in. But in this pair, everything will be decided on April 13, when MBA-MAI and Yenisei play each other in Moscow – regardless of the result of today’s game in Krasnodar.
Perhaps this is why Vasily Karasev decided not to take his two leaders on a tiring trip to Krasnodar – both Andrei Zubkov (season average – 14.6 points and 7.5 rebounds, as well as 7 selections for the team of the week) and Makar Konovalov (10.3 points and 5.0 assists) stayed in Moscow.
But we should see Vladislav Trushkin – a forward who is in the Top-3 in MBA-MAI in all five key statistical indicators: 8.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.6 blocks.
The game against Lokomotiv is a chance to regain his former confidence for Daniil Kasatkin. One of the most recognizable players in the VTB United League was irreplaceable in MBA formations previous season, was regularly called up to the Russian national team. But this season he plays less than 19 minutes, contenting himself with statistics of 6.0 points and 2.4 assists.
In the absence of Pasha Ismailov, MBA-MAI’s main young star is power forward Danil Pevnev. He averages 6.0 points plus 2.4 rebounds and regularly makes it into the weekly highlights from the VTB United League.
Our opponent also has the oldest player in the league, Yevgeny Voronov, who will turn 39 in early May. The shooting guard began his career at Lokomotiv when we were still based in Mineralnye Vody, and now plays an average of 20 minutes, earns 7.4 points, makes 1.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.0 steals (in steals, he is the best in MBA-MAI).
The Muscovites’ main center is Yevgeny Minchenko. This bearded man scores 5.8 points plus 4.9 rebounds.
Underestimating MBA-MAI cost Zenit two overtimes a week ago. We hope that Lokomotiv will have no such problems, and that the game still will be entertaining.
We are waiting for you in the stands of Basket Hall! The live broadcast will be held on the Krasnodar, Start and Match! Game TV channels.