Tomorrow our team will play its first game of the season with UNICS at the Minsk-Arena. The Kazan team will arrive in Minsk without a single loss this season, and Minsk residents will have the most difficult fight on the court.
History and achievements
Among the main achievements of the Kazan club, founded in 1991 (the abbreviation means University – Culture – Sport) – the European Cup (2011), the Cup of Russia (2003, 2009, 2014), Silver medals of the European Cup (2021) and the VTB United League (2016,2021).
Offseason
After winning bronze medals in the VTB United League season 2021/22, Mario Hezonja, without exaggeration, the star of the League, left the club. From the previous roster, Andrey Vorontsevich, Vyacheslav Zaitcev and Georgiy Zhbanov remained in the team.
In the offseason, UNICS, like all League clubs, announced the signing of new players. The impressive list of newcomers includes American forward Jalen Reynolds (Maccabi, Israel), French forward Louis Labeyrie (Valencia, Spain), American forward Anthony Brown, who has three years of experience in the NBA. Also, the Kazan team was joined by American defender Daryl Macon (Panathinaikos, Greece), Nenad Dimitrievic (ex-defender of Valencia and a player of the national team of Northern Macedonia), American forward Vince Hunter – winner of the Champions League and the Italian Championship.
Experienced VTB League players have also signed contracts with the club. So, the ex-captain of Lokomotiv-Kuban moved to UNICS Stanislav Ilnitskiy, Mikhail Kulagin moved from Pari Nizhny Novgorod, Artem Zabelin and Alexandr Razumov moved from PARMA.
Head Coach
Since 2021, the coaching staff of UNICS has been headed by Croatian specialist Velimir Perasovic.
Prior to his coaching career, Velimir as a basketball player became a three-time Euroleague champion (1989-1991), a four-time winner of the Yugoslav Championship (1988-1991), 5 times became the best scorer of the Spanish Championship (1993, 1999-2002).
In 2003, Perasovic became the head coach of Split (Croatia), also managed teams from Croatia, Spain and Turkey.
In 2006, he won the Spanish Cup and Super Cup (Estudiantes). In 2009 and 2010, he became the champion of Croatia with the Cibona team, and in 2010 he won the Turkish Cup (Efes Pilsen). In 2014, while leading Valencia, he won the European Cup and was recognized as the coach of the year in Spain. In 2015, he headed the Croatian national team.
Season 2022/23
With a strong start and 7 wins from 7 meetings, UNICS is located on the second line of the VTB United League regular season standings, losing the first line to CSKA. The Kazan team managed to beat Zenit (82:79), Enisey (104:59), Pari NN (75:57), Astana (109:54), Lokomotiv-Kuban (83:75), MBA (97:81) and Avtodor (95:76).
Jalen Reynolds became the bright leader of the team, who spends on average a little less than 18 minutes on the floor for 7 games and scores 17.6 points, makes 3.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals.
Louis Labeyrie became the leader in rebounds for Kazan, his average per game is 6.0, and Nenad Dimitrievic performs with an average of 8.3 assists.
MINSK defender Uladzislau Mikulskii about the upcoming match with UNICS:
— We approach each game with the maximum attitude and desire. UNICS is a strong team, with which you need to be concentrated for all 40 minutes, then we will be able to show a decent game. Our fans are part of the team and their support is incredibly important to us! We are waiting for everyone in the stands!
The roster of UNICS (Kazan)
Guards:
0. Sergey Polstianov (23.10.2002, 96 cm, Russia),
1. Nenad Dimitrievic (23.02.1998, 190 cm, North Macedonia),
4. Daryl Macon (29.11.1995, 191 cm, USA),
30. Mikhail Kulagin (04.08.1994, 191 cm, Russia),
8. Vyacheslav Zaitcev (28.08.1989,190 cm, Russia),
61. Maxim Tkachenko (16.01.1992, 184 cm, Russia).
Forwards:
7. Louis Labery (11.02.1992, 208 cm, France),
11. Stanislav Ilnitskiy (24.02. 1994, 201 cm, Russia),
12. Georgy Zhbanov (10.10.1997, 197 cm, Russia),
21. Anthony Brown (10.10.1992, 201 cm, USA),
28. Alexandr Razumov (22.04.1992, 204 cm, Russia),
33. Andrey Vorontsevich (17.07.1987, 207 cm, Russia).
Centers:
3. Jalen Reynolds (30.12.1992, 208 cm, USA),
32. Vince Hunter (05.08.1994, 203 cm, USA),
35. Artem Zabelin (15.01.1988, 215 cm, Russia).
The head coach is Velimir Perasovic (Croatia).
Tickets for the spectacular duel can be purchased on the KVITKI.by website and at points of sale, as well as in the lobby of the main entrance of the Minsk-Arena on the game day from 6:00 PM. The starting face-off is at 7:00 PM. We are waiting for all of you in the stands!