Last exam before Barcelona: UNICS copes with Enisey

Two wins in two matches

After the pre-season tournament called Gomelsky Cup where UNICS lost in both matches, the Kazan players have not been defeated any more. They won two victories in the first two matches of the new season of the VTB United League.

At first UNICS was defeated by Nizhny Novgorod 104-81 in Kazan. Anton Pankrashov and Artyom Parakhovsky gained 15 points each. Another new player among the Kazan players Coty Clarke earned 13 points. The main star and hope of UNICS Keith Langford also won 12 points. The Kazan players were just walloping their rival in the first three quarters. But they relaxed in the fourth one.

UNICS played its second match with Ak Bars in Astana. It was a day when several Kazan teams won on the same day. Initially, our hockey players defeated Barys, then UNICS won against Astana 68-84. And the Kazan basketball players relaxed in the fourth quarter again. Langford was the best player who gained 20 points. Colom had 15 points and 6 rebounds under his belt. Clarke had 13+13, while Parakhovsky got 13 points and 6 rebounds. Fire.

Enisey played its first and only game with CSKA from Moscow and lost 84-97. Photo: basket-enisey.ru

Without titles but almost defeated CSKA

The professional basketball club in Krasnoyarsk was created in 1981. Enisey did not reach great success. They won their only trophy in 2007 when the team became the winner of the Superleague B. They also won silver medals of the tournament in 2004-2005 and 2005-2006. We can also add a bronze medal in the Russian Cup in 2001.

Enisey played its first and only game with CSKA from Moscow and lost 84-97. What is more, the Siberian players won the first and fourth quarters with the same score 27-19.

Right off the bat

Pavel Antipov, Artyom Parakhovsky, Keith Langford, Anton Pankrashov and Coty Clarke expectedly appeared in the first team of UNICS. These guys ran ahead from the kick-off. Parakhovsky was remarkable because he had 8 points in the first five minutes. Then Enisey pressed them, but the class of the teams was noticeable. After when Latavious Williams appeared on the court, he started to put on a show with Colom.

The second quarter started actively as the first one. The Kazan players took the lead, while Colom and Williams performed miracles. A new player of UNICS Clarke distinguished himself as a performer of a beautiful slam dunk. But UNICS a bit relaxed by the middle of the quarter and gave Enisey a chance to change their state of affairs. UNICS started to make more mistakes in assists and shots. Meanwhile, attacks of CSKA became more fruitful. However, UNICS started to attack better. So the teams reached 56-34 by the half-time break.

Coty Clarke got 14 points. Photo: unics.ru

On the way to the second hundred

UNICS won 6 points during the first three minutes after the break. Then the head coach of Enisey took time out. And it helped but not the guests. The Kazan players got carried out and doubled the margin. But the Krasnoyarsk players managed to gain only 7 points. UNICS felt the 'smack of blood' and started to play beautifully, in different ways and effectively, which is the most important thing. Joaquim Colom's shot, which was not counted, at the end of the quarter was the bitterest thing for UNICS. But the Kazan players were glad about the score – 75-43.

The final ten minutes started even. But it was seen that UNICS was playing half-heartedly and saving its strength before Barcelona. However, it did not help Enisey. The Krasnoyarsk players failed their shots from incredible positions, even out of the hoop at times. And the guests hit fouls in defence and allowed the Kazan players to score free throws. The fans got inspired very much when UNICS pupil Azat Tukmakov appeared on the court. The defender joined the game quickly and participated in several successful attacks. 100-56 is the final score of the match.

Defender Keith Langford who scored 17 points was the best players of UNICS. Coty Clarke got 14 points. 13 points were given to Joaquim Colom. Artyom Parakhovsky had 12 points.

Will Voronov tell how to win over Barcelona?

UNICS will play its next match in Euroleague. One of the favourites of the competition – Spanish Barcelona – will be its opponent. On the one hand, it is good because Evgeny Pashutin's players will check their strength with such a strong opponent, while the Kazan fans will be glad to see Barcelona, though not the football one, in the capital of Tatarstan.

In general, the basketball Barça doesn't have many titles and it is not as strong as its football brother. However, in 2009, the team played in the Final Four of Euroleague and won it in 2010. Barcelona has two titles of the main European competition – another one was won in 2003. The Catalonian players have room for growth, compared to Real, as well as the Kazan players have enough room for improvement, compared to the royal football club.

There is a question: will UNICS be able to oppose Georgios Bartzokas' players? Photo: eurohoops.net

Barcelona reached the final series during ten seasons of the Spanish Basketball Championship in a row. It won four of them. Sure, the Spanish basketball competition looks like a 'championship of two teams' in comparison with the football one. But the environment is also frenetic.

There is a question: will UNICS be able to oppose Georgios Bartzokas' players? Kazan players have won Barcelona once, of course. But it seems UNICS will start this Euroleague season with a defeat.

In the game against Barcelona, the Kazan players will have to be focused during the whole game, which has not been done successfully in this season. And the class of the players is different. All in all, Langford is not Huertas, and Parakhovsky is not Tomić. But Voronov can tell how to win against Barcelona. It should be reminded Lokomotiv from Krasnodar where the defender played reached the Final Four and defeated Barça in the last Euroleague season. Those matches were very hot. The match on 14 October in Basket Hall is also going to be hot.