UNICS Kazan returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time since the 2016-17 season. Here are some games that will have a special flavor for UNICS.
2021-22 Games to Watch: UNICS Kazan
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UNICS Kazan returns to the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague for the first time since the 2016-17 season. This will be the fourth time UNICS plays in the EuroLeague and since making a playoff appearance in its debut in the 2011-12 season, UNICS has a 13-27 record. While looking to improve on those winning percentages, UNICS will be eager to get back to playing on EuroLeague floors. Some of those games will have a special flavor for UNICS.
Round 1: The new Russian derby
A Russian rivalry will spill over into the EuroLeague when UNICS faces Zenit St Petersburg. It will be the first time these two clubs go against each other in the EuroLeague, making Zenit the third Russian rival UNICS has played in the competition after Nizhny Novgorod in the 2014-15 season and CSKA Moscow two seasons later. UNICS and Zenit have faced off before in the 7DAYS EuroCup with UNICS going 4-0 in those games. It would love to continue that streak. Pavel Antipov and Pavel Sergeev are two UNICS players who previously wore the Zenit uniform.
Round 4: a special game for Brown
Lorenzo Brown is set to play his third EuroLeague season with as many teams, and is expected to play a big role for UNICS. It should be really special for him to go back to Ulker Sports and Event Hall to face Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul, to which he helped reach the EuroLeague Playoffs in the 2020-21 campaign. His matchup against Pierria Henry should be fun-to-watch, too.
Round 15: Vorontsevich faces CSKA
It will be a special game for Andrey Vorontsevich, who is going to face CSKA Moscow for the first time in his EuroLeague career. Vorontsevich was with CSKA for 14 years. He joined his former club in 2006 from Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and wore its red uniform until 2020. He helped CSKA win EuroLeague titles in 2008, 2016 and 2019 plus 13 Russian League titles and 10 VTB United League crowns. Expect a great homecoming.
Round 20: Opportunity for redemption
It's a rematch of the last year's 7DAYS EuroCup Finals, which Monaco won in two dramatic games. UNICS roster has seen significant changes since that game, but the majority of the roster did remain, including s All-EuroCup selection John Brown, and UNICS cannot wait to get a shot at redemption, but this time in a EuroLeague regular-season game.
Round 32: Welcome back, coach
Panathinaikos head coach Dimitris Priftis was the head of UNICS's bench for the last four seasons. Priftis helped UNICS reach the EuroCup Finals, thus booking its ticket for this season's EuroLeague. He also guided the team to the VTB United League playoff finals. Priftis reached the 2018 EuroCup semifinals and had and two more VTB semifinal appearances with UNICS. His arrival to Kazan will be a special one for all involved.