The Winline Basket Cup (WBC) organizers strive to transform the host venue beyond recognition for each game, taking the show to a new level. For example, here’s what the UNICS arena looked like during a intraseason cup game.
This is what the atmosphere was like at Zenit’s WBC home game.
The Basket Hall will also undergo a major makeover: the night before the game, work is in full swing to re-lay the playing court. The usual advertising video boards around the perimeter will be gone, but there will be new lighting all over the place. The show program will be greatly expanded, the highlight of which will be a performance by rapper PLC during the long break.
What is the tournament situation?
Belgrade’s Mega and PARMA (whose name doesn’t mention their betting sponsor in this tournament due to a conflict of interest) lead our Group A, with 2 wins and 1 loss. Next up is CSKA (1-1), followed by Lokomotiv Kuban (0-2). If we win, we’ll level with the Muscovites; if they win, they’ll join the two leaders. Each team will play 6 games in total, with the top 2 teams from each group advancing to the WBC semifinals.
You’ll no doubt remember that Lokomotiv played CSKA in Krasnodar less than a month ago, on December 5th. That game was truly epic: our team came back from “–15” to take the lead with 0.6 seconds left in the 4th quarter, but the opponent managed to tie the score and then won in overtime, 95:90.
Since then, Lokomotiv-Kuban has played 3 away games, losing to BETCITY PARMA (85:93) and Zenit (69:98), but snatched a victory against Pari NN (105:101).
CSKA has played 4 games during this period, sweeping off BETCITY PARMA (93:55), Samara (113:60), Uralmash (86:64), and MBA-MAI (97:58). Looks like the red-and-blue squad didn’t notice the loss of such a crucial frontline player as Tonye Jekiri.
December MVP Melo Trimble leads the Moscow team in most statistical metrics: 18.2 points, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals, 5.8 opponent fouls per game, and a plus/minus of +14.2. In the game against us on December 5, Trimble tied his VTB United League scoring record, which is 35 points.
If we count the Winline Basket Cup separately, then the best scorer for CSKA will be another point guard – Casper Ware: 17.0 points on 47.6% 3-pointers (he has incredible numbers here – 5.0 hits out of 10.5 attempts per game).
Shooting guard Antonius Cleveland‘s stats are also better in the intraseason cup than in the regular season: in the WBC, this player has 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.5 steals and 1.5 blocks.
Let’s also note the level that small forward Anton Astapkovich is showing in the Winline Basket Cup: 9.5 points (with 55.6% of 3-pointers – 2.5 out of 4.5), 3.0 rebounds, 0.5 blocks.
Serbian center Luka Mitrović is going to make his WBC debut. He has played 5 games in the VTB United League so far, leading CSKA in rebounds (6.4), being second in plus/minus (+12.4), and fouls drawn (3.8). His stats also include 7.4 points, 1.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.2 blocks.
Whoare Loko's leaders in Winline Basket Cup?
Based on the results of the 2 games that our team have already played in the intra-season cup, our leaders are:
– Patrick Miller (21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 9.0 opponent fouls);
– Kirill Temirov (13.0 points on 55.6% 3-pointers – 2.5 of 4.5, 3.0 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks);
– Anton Kvitkovskikh (9.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and the best plus-minus on the team, +8.5).
The game will begin at 8:00 PM, and the Basket Hall will open to fans at 6:30 PM. Please note that only Unlimited season tickets are valid for the intra-season cup.
See you in the arena! Let’s make it a party! Go, Loko!