VTB United League – Round 5: Lokomotiv records their first victory

IanVougioukas After 5 rounds played we can already see who rules in the VTB United League and who belongs to weaker ones. There was no lack of interesting games this round. The round ended with games ending by tiny margin and even winless team recording their first victory.Lokomotiv has registered their first victory this season after two consecutive losses. The win is especially important as it came on the road game in Nizhny Novgorod, where they outplayed BC Nizhny Novgorod (0-4) 93-66 on Saturday. The game without a history. Lokomotiv led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to BC Nizhny Novgorod’s 16 and made 24-of-31 free shots (77.4 percent) during the game. They outrebounded BC Nizhny Novgorod 36-24 including 24 on the defensive glass. Lokomotiv looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Greek power forward Ian Vougioukas (212-85, college: St.Louis) stepped up and scored 18 points and 5 rebounds (perfect from the field making all six shots) for the winners and American Kenny Gabriel (209-89, college: Auburn) chipped in 12 points and 9 rebounds. point guard Ivan Strebkov (192-91) responded with 17 points and 4 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. Lokomotiv (1-2) left bottom position moving up to ninth place, which they share with VEF Riga. It was BC Nizhny Novgorod’s fourth loss in a row. They still close the standings with four games lost. Lokomotiv is looking forward to face Parma (#12) in Perm in the next round. BC Nizhny Novgorod will play at home against Kalev/Cramo and hopes to get finally their first victory.VTB United League top team – Russia Unics Kazan (5-0) had no problems winning another game. This time they crushed fifth ranked Belarusian Tsmoki-Minsk (2-2) 98-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Tsmoki-Minsk. American Keith Langford (193-83, college: Kansas) nailed 42 points (!!!), 5 rebounds and 6 assists (was perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line !!!) for the winning side and Joaquin Colom accounted for 5 points and 12 assists. Forward Aliaksandr Semianiuk (207-93) came up with 19 points and 5 rebounds for Tsmoki-Minsk in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Undefeated Unics Kazan have an impressive series of five victories in a row. They maintain first place with 5-0 record. Defending Belarusian champion Tsmoki-Minsk keeps the fifth position with two games lost. They share it with Kalev/Cramo. Unics Kazan will play against Khimky (#8) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Tsmoki-Minsk will play against VEF Riga and hopes to get back on the winning track. Bottom-ranked Parma (0-3) is still winless. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their third consecutive match to sixth ranked Enisey (3-2) 81-79 on Saturday evening. The best player for the winners was Tony Taylor who scored 25 points. Enisey’s coach used an eleven-player rotation in such tough game. Danilo Andjusic produced 19 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists for the hosts. The victory was the third consecutive win for Enisey. They moved-up to fourth place. Parma lost their third game in a row. Newly promoted team still closes the standings with three games lost. Enisey will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Parma will play against Lokomotiv (#10) in Kuban and looks forward to get finally their first victory.The game in Tallinn supposed to be also worth to mention about. 6th ranked Kazakhstan Astana (2-3) played at the court of eighth ranked Estonia Kalev/Cramo (2-2). Kalev/Cramo did not have too big problems ending evening with a very confident victory 84-67. Mark Tollefsen orchestrated the victory by scoring 17 points and 6 rebounds. Defending Estonia champion moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Tsmoki-Minsk. Astana at the other side dropped to the seventh position with three games lost. Kalev/Cramo’s next round opponent will be bottom-ranked BC Nizhny Novgorod (#13) on the road and are hoping to win another game. Important game to mention about took place in Saratov. Leader CSKA (3-0) saved a 1-point victory on the road edging 11th ranked Avtodor (1-4) 104-103 on Sunday evening. Guest team only slightly avoided a big embarassment. Milos Teodosic stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points, 11 rebounds and 8 assists (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) for the winners. CSKA’s coach allowed to play the deep bench players in such tough game. The victory was the third consecutive win for CSKA. Defending Russia champion moved-up to third place. Avtodor lost their third game in a row. They keep the eleventh position with four games lost. CSKA will face league’s second-placed Zenit in Saint Petersburg in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. In the last game of round 5 VEF Riga lost to undefeated Zenit on the opponent’s court 76-90. The most impressive stats of the last round was 18 points and 8 rebounds by Ousman Krubally of Astana.Kalev/Cramo – Astana 84-67The game in Tallinn supposed to be also worth to mention about. 6th ranked Kazakhstan Astana (2-3) played at the court of eighth ranked Estonia Kalev/Cramo (2-2). Kalev/Cramo did not have too big problems ending evening with a very confident victory …

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