AVTODOR SARATOV (RUSSIA)

Founded in 1960
Team colors: black and white
Honors: 2nd Place in Russian Championship (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999), 3rd Place in Russian Championship (1996), Eurocup FIBA semifinalist (1998), Superleague A Champion (1997, 1998), Superleague B Champion (2009), Superleague Champion (2014), 3rd Place in Superleague (2013)
Arena: Sport Palace Kristall (capacity – 5500)
Head coach: Evgeny Pashutin
President: Vladimir Rodionov
Official website: avtodor.ru

Where to watch

LIVE: matchtv.ru, VTB United League website
Text online: VTB United League website

GAME NOTES

Sergey Monya started his pro career in Avtodor Saratov, where he played from 2000 to 2002.

Stefan Jovic, Evgeny Valiev, Petr Gubanov, Chris Kramer, Igor Volkhin and Timofey Mozgov are still sidelined with injuries.

Sergey Karasev is ready to play after his ankle injury.

PRE-GAME QUOTES

Rimas Kurtinaitis, Khimki Moscow Region head coach:

“In the VTB United League now no one is considered with the authorities, and everyone plays at the maximum. Especially with those teams that play in the EuroLeague, because they know that the opponent has little time to recover. And it still works: the favorites lose. But we learn from the experience and mistakes of other teams. The main thing is how we assess the opponent and tune in to this game: if it's like a EuroLeague game, everything should be fine. Sergey Karasev trained with us today, but not yet in full force. I hope he plays tomorrow and starts to get fit”.