Unics Kazan dominates Krasny in VTB

Unics Kazan made it a New Year to remember as the club downed fellow Russian outfit Krasny Oktyabr Volgograd on the road in VTB United League action. The Regular Season Round 12 win allowed Unics to end 2014 on a high and carry a win into the two week break before the VTB League recommences on January 4th.

The 69-78 win also put the Kazan based team back to winning ways after the pre-Christmas loss to Khimky Moscow Region. Unics Kazan held on to fourth place in the standings, now boasting an 8-4 record. As for Krasny Oktyabr, the Volgograd team slips to 10th with a 5-7 record, but remains in the chasing pack in the middle of the standings. However, next time the club will be looking to snap a losing run that now extends to three consecutive games.

Krasny Oktyabr vs. Unics Kazan, 69-78
While the hosts managed to keep pace with Unics throughout the contest, the away team took an early lead in the opening seconds and never relinquished it. The scoreboard was never tied and never read in favour of Krasny. The fact the visitors could put together such a dominant display is doubly impressive considering key men Curtis Jerrels, and D’or Fischer were missing. A 15-19 lead in the first quarter gave way 16-18 run in the second to give Unics a 31-37 lead during the long break. In the second half the leaders never looked back with a 19-24 winning third act sealing the deal, although Krasny hit back by winning the fourth to at least make it interesting down the stretch.

Kostas Kaimakoglou led Unics Kazan with 19 points and six rebounds, while Petr Gubanov took 18 points and Viktor Bykov claimed 15 points.

Romeo Travis paced the losing effort with 18 points, followed by Cuthbert Victor with 15 and Randy Culpepper with 13.