Zenit vs UNICS, 05/11/2025

UNICS debuts in WINLINE Basket Cup versus Zenit

St. Petersburg will host the WINLINE Basket Cup group stage game between Zenit and UNICS.

Zenit (St. Petersburg) vs UNICS (Kazan)

Time: 19:00

Place: Russia, St. Petersburg, CSC Arena

Broadcast: VK Video, WINLINE Basket Cup website

Zenit: The St. Petersburg team is going through a difficult period. Many players are injured, and even those who are playing are not always in optimal condition. At the time of the last game against Enisey, Nenad Dimitrijevic, Andre Roberson, Georgy Zhbanov and Levi Randolph were in the infirmary, and key big man Alex Poythress was out for the rest of the season. The hosts will surely solve problems during the long regular season (on Tuesday, the club announced the signing of former NBA player Luka Samanic), but in the fast-paced Cup format, it will be more difficult.

UNICS: The Kazan team started the season with 6 wins, then lost to CSKA and returned to winning in Nizhny Novgorod. The dominant Marcus Bingham was named VTB League MVP of October. UNICS has already defeated Zenit in St. Petersburg earlier this season (104:77) and will try to repeat that in its first WINLINE Basket Cup game. The Kazan team responded to Samanic’s transfer with the equally high-profile signing of Alexey Shved, who finished last season with Zenit.

UNICS beats Zenit in WINLINE Basket Cup debut game

UNICS defeated Zenit in WINLINE Basket Cup group stage game on the road – 91:72 (32:23, 15:21, 23:12, 21:16).

Game progress

UNICS made its debut in the WINLINE Basket Cup with clash against Zenit in St. Petersburg. The hosts had unstable start of the season and lost to UNICS at home in the VTB League. The situation was better for the Kazan team. In the first half, Zenit played very aggressively, significantly outscoring the guests on free throws (25-10). UNICS was able to get ahead by halftime – 47:44.

After the break, the depth and balance of the Kazan team made the difference. The guests began to play more carefully, avoiding frequent fouls. UNICS started with 3 missed three-pointers, but then was able to get going. Jalen Reynolds played the entire second half with 4 fouls. After 3 quarters, the Kazan team led 70:56. At the very beginning of the fourth quarter, Marcus Bingham and C.J. Bryce sealed the deal with three-pointers – UNICS starts the WINLINE Basket Cup with win!

X-factor

Zenit’s experimental lineup had problems organizing its offensive actions, shooting 35.1% from the field and committing 20 turnovers (49.2% and 15 for UNICS).

Facts

The Kazan team takes the win in its debut tournament game.

This is UNICS’ second big win in St. Petersburg in a month (previously 104:77 in the VTB League regular season).

Andrei Martiuk had a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

Leaders

Zenit: Trent Frazier (22), Andrei Martiuk (20 + 10 подборов), Andrey Vorontsevich (10 + 8 подборов)

UNICS: Jalen Reynolds (22), C.J. Bryce (17), Marcus Bingham (16 + 8 подборов)

Next game

Igokea (Bosnia and Herzegovina) vs Uralmash (Russia), November 11.