Andrey Vorontsevich named Defensive Player of the Year

CSKA forward Andrey Vorontsevich has been named the 2014-15 VTB United League Defensive Player of the Year. He received his award today in Moscow prior to Game 1 of the CSKA - Astana quarterfinal series. VTB United League deputy general director Ilona Korstin was at the game to present Vorontsevich with his trophy.

The league's expert panel, featuring ten basketball legends from across Eastern Europe--Gundars Vetra (Latvia), Ivan Edeshko (Russia), Jiri Zidek (Czech Republic), Ilona Korstin (Russia), Hanno Mottola (Finland), Martin Muursepp (Estonia), Tomas Pacesas (Lithuania), Sergei Tarakanov (Russia), Valery Tikhonenko (Kazakhstan) and Heino Enden (Estonia)--made the final selection.

Following a poll of the league's expert panel, CSKA's Andrey Vorontsevich earned the most votes (4). The Russian forward beat out UNICS center D'or Fischer (2) as well as Lokomotiv-Kuban forward Anthony Randolph (1), Nizhny Novgorod center Artsiom Parakhouski (1), Nizhny Novgorod forward Tarence Kinsey (1) and CSKA guard Aaron Jackson (1).

Andrey Vorontsevich played 29 games in the VTB United League regular season, averaging 8.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.4 blocks and an efficiency rating of 13.3.

The CSKA forward plays a huge role for his team on defense. Thanks in large part to his defensive ability, Vorontsevich started all 29 games for the Army Men. He also was named to the league's All-November and All-December squads while winning Russian Player of the Month awards in November and February.

This is the second year that the VTB United League has given out the Defensive Player of the Year award. CSKA teammate Alexander Kaun picked up the award last season.

- It's really nice and unexpected to win this prize, - said Andrey Vorontsevich. - But I've always said that any individual prize is impossible without the help of the entire team and coaches. It's great that there's an award like this. It's motivation to keep working. Our results also show that you win by playing defense, both as a team and individually.