UNICS Kazan 76 KK Hemofarm 52

The Unics Kazan freight train continued its almost unstoppable run in the FEL with a home win over KK Hemofarm Vrsac in game 1 of their 3-game quarter-final play-off series.

Kazan held the Serb and Montenegrin side to just 52 points, including a season-low 6 points for their leading scorer Nebojsa Bogavac.

As has been the case all season, Kazan started the game strongly and raced out to a 7:0 advantage. Hemofarm scored their first points of the game in the 5th minute and trailed 19:12 at the end of the quarter.

A Chris Anstey basket increased Kazan’s lead to 10 points at the start of the 2nd quarter and it was an advantage they were able to maintain. The Australian forward had 10 points in the quarter, along with Lithuanian star Saulius Stombergas. However, Hemofarm Petar Popovic kept his side in the game, scoring 12 points and leading a charge which cut the score to 38:30 at halftime.

Hemofarm remained in contention in the 3rd period and despite trailing 49:32, they got back to within 12 points at the buzzer, 52:40. However, the advantage was too great to overcome and Kazan stretched their advantage into the 4th, winning by the final margin 73:52.

Saulius Stombergas was elected game MVP and he had 18 points, as did Chris Anstey.

Popovic was the only player to crack double figures in scoring for Vrsac, finishing with 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Qutoes UNICS Kazan - KK Hemofarm

Stanislav Eremine, Head Coach, UNICS:

"The  score doesn't show the result of the game. Hemofarm is better than Vojvodina in the organization of the game and in defence. It will be difficult in Vrsac for us."

Aco Petrovic, Head Coach, Hemofarm: 

"We played very badly, the percentage of throws was very low. No shots were uncontested. That is why we have lost. We will try our best to win in Vrsac."