Ukraine – Superleague Round 2: Avantazh-Polit. loses to VolinBasket

IvanTimoshuk There were only 2 rounds played so far and it’s still very beginning of the Regular Season in Superleague. There were many interesting games last round. The round ended with loss of the undefeated team and favorites losing the games.Avantazh-Polit. (0-1) recorded a loss in Kharkiv on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by VolinBasket (1-1) 78-68. The guests trailed by 3 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 12-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 78-68. VolinBasket outrebounded Avantazh-Polit. 41-19 including a 29-11 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was guard Ivan Timoshuk (191-91) who scored 19 points and 5 rebounds. Power forward Artem Chemiakin (208-84) chipped in 18 points and 7 rebounds. Power forward Anton Rochnyak (205-91) produced 15 points and 6 rebounds for the hosts. VolinBasket will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Avantazh-Polit. will play at home against Zaporizhya (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals. Another exciting game was played in Zaporozhye between Khimik and Zaporizhya where Khimik (2-0) beat Zaporizhya (1-1) on the road 96-83. Forward Oleksandr Antypov (203-95, agency: AproK Sports Group) orchestrated the victory by scoring 16 points and 5 rebounds. Olexandr Belikov contributed with 12 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The former international point guard Pavlo Burenko (184-90) replied with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists for Zaporizhya. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Khimik will play against Kryvbas (#3) in Kryvyi Rih in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Zaporizhya will play on the road against Avantazh-Polit. in Kharkiv to get more than just one victory in their record. Very important is a home loss of Mykolaiv (1-1) against Budivelnyk (1-1) on Sunday night. Host Mykolaiv was defeated by Budivelnyk in Mykolaiv 74-61. Henry Dugat scored 13 points and 9 assists to lead the charge for the winners. Oleksandr Kushnirov responded with 20 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Budivelnyk will meet at home Cherkasy (#9) in the next round where they are favorite. Mykolaiv will play against Bipa Basket (#11) in Odessa and hope to win that game. Very important is a home loss of Kryvbas (1-1) against Cherkasy (1-1) on Sunday night. Host Kryvbas were edged by Cherkasy in a tough game in Kryvyi Rih 71-72. Igor Chumakov notched a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds to lead the effort. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Cherkasy’s next round opponent will be Budivelnyk (#5) in Kyiv. Kryvbas will play on the road against Khimik in Yuzhny and it may be a tough game between close rivals. We should mention about the upset which took place in Dnepropetrovsk, where Bipa Basket (0-2) was outleveled in a road game by Dnipro (1-1) 79-49 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Stanislav Tymofeyenko who had a double-double by scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Dnipro will face Kremen in Kremenchuk in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Bipa Basket will play at home against Mykolaiv (#4) and hope to win that game. Avantazh-Polit. – VolinBasket 68-78Avantazh-Polit. (0-1) recorded a loss in Kharkiv on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by VolinBasket (1-1) 78-68. The guests trailed by 3 points after first quarter, but they rallied back to get the 12-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 78-68. VolinBasket outrebounded Avantazh-Polit. 41-19 including a 29-11 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners …

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