FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and Astana to Clash in Semifinals of VTB United League

Astana Upsets CSKA Moscow in Quarterfinals

FC Zenit Saint Petersburg and Astana will face off in the semifinals of the VTB United League after both teams secured victories in their respective quarterfinal matchups. Zenit, the top seed in the tournament, defeated UNICS Kazan 89-85, while Astana pulled off a major upset by knocking off CSKA Moscow 91-89. The semifinals will be a best-of-five series, with Game 1 scheduled to take place on May 10th in Saint Petersburg.

Zenit Continues Impressive Run

Zenit has been one of the most dominant teams in the VTB United League this season, finishing the regular season with a 26-4 record. The team is led by a trio of talented guards in Billy Baron, Shabazz Napier, and Mateusz Ponitka. Baron is averaging 19.2 points per game, while Napier is adding 17.5 points and 6.9 assists per game. Ponitka is a versatile forward who is averaging 12.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game.

Astana Shocks CSKA Moscow

Astana's victory over CSKA Moscow was one of the biggest upsets in recent VTB United League history. CSKA Moscow is a perennial powerhouse in the league, and they had won the championship four of the past five seasons. Astana, on the other hand, is a relatively young team that is still trying to establish itself as a contender. The team is led by American guard Anthony Clemmons, who is averaging 18.7 points per game. Clemmons is a dynamic scorer who can create his own shot and make plays for others.

Semifinals Preview

The semifinals series between Zenit and Astana is expected to be a close and competitive matchup. Zenit has the advantage of home-court advantage, but Astana has shown that they are capable of beating anyone on any given night. The series will likely be decided by which team can make the most shots from beyond the arc. Zenit is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the league, while Astana has struggled with their outside shooting at times this season.