After one more day of play in the VTB United League, Uralmash and Samara secured their participation in the play-in. This happened ahead of schedule: just six rounds before the end of the regular season. The two remaining tickets for the mini-tournament will be contested by five teams. At the moment, only Minsk, which has lost all its matches this season, has lost even its theoretical chances of reaching the playoffs. “Championship” prepared material on the situation in Group B.
Octavius Ellis (with ball)
Photo: Press service of the VTB United League
According to the results of the first stage of the regular season, Samara was one step away from qualifying directly for the playoffs. Drazen Anzulovic’s team finished seventh after 26 matches, of which they won 14. Uralmash was eighth with one less victory. “Runa” was three wins behind “Samara”, “Astana” and “Avtodor” – four, and MBA and “Paris NN” did not even cross the mark of 10 victories.
At the second stage, the Samara team has a positive balance of wins and losses – 5-3, and this was already enough to secure a place in the top four of Group B. Despite five wins, Samara lost the lead in the second. eight to Uralmash. Rostislav Vergun’s team took a very powerful momentum and since February 1 (taking into account more matches of the first stage) won nine victories in 10 matches. This allowed us to overtake the Samara team in the group B standings and also secure participation in the play-in ahead of schedule.
Avtodor, MBA, Runa, Paris NN and Astana will compete for the two remaining places in the mini-tournament, in which two coveted playoff spots will be competed for. There are six games left in the regular season and the difference between the third and seventh teams in Group B is four wins. Therefore, the outlook may change dramatically in the next two and a half weeks. It is worth remembering how the play-in for the right to play in the playoffs will develop.
The play-in, which will be the first in the history of the United League, includes the four best teams in Group B. In the first round of the mini-tournament, the first and second teams will participate, as well as the third and fourth, they will play against each other. others. The winner of the leaders’ game goes directly to the playoffs. The loser of the match between the third and fourth teams ends the season. The loser of the first match and the winner of the second will play the match for the last ticket. At first glance it seems that everything is complicated, but in reality it is not. This grid simplifies the perception of innovation in the United League.
Who makes the playoffs?
Photo: Press service of the VTB United League
That is, despite the fact that Uralmash and Samara guaranteed themselves participation in the play-in, this still does not mean anything. You can become the top eight team at the end of the regular season, but you lose two games and you’re done for the season. There is also a drawback: you can close the quartet, at the same time get two wins and reach the postseason.
Absolutely all teams that aspire to reach the playoffs deserve it. It would be very interesting to see them all in the elimination series. Uralmash has transformed under Rostislav Vergun and many have probably even forgotten that this is a debutant in the United League, because the Ural club plays like a regular. Samara has shown progress compared to last season and is performing well. Avtodor is having a stable season, at least as far as the coach is concerned: Milenko Bogicevic has been working since the beginning of the championship and does not allow anyone to doubt his competence.
What is happening in our Super League?
What is the Super League that supplies clubs to the United League?
“Runa” and “Astana” perform with varying degrees of success, but they are always ready to give battle to the favorites. MBA and Paris NN, who finished the regular season in the top 6 last season, perform below the expectations of their fans in this championship, but this only makes the fight in Group B more interesting. What’s more, if at the beginning and middle of the regular season these two teams had problems, now they are on the rise. The capital club currently has a streak of four wins, and Nizhny Novgorod has a streak of two. Basketball fans are in for an exciting championship finale that will definitely not disappoint.
Even more opinions of the author can be found on his Telegram channel: “Black on Orange”.
