On May 13, the third match of the final games of the Belarusian championship took place at the Minsk Sports Palace. In the fight for gold medals in the 2021/22 season, "Tsmoki-Minsk" defeated "Borisfen" for the third time with a score 81:75 (18:22, 24:19, 20:18, 19:16).
Game progress
In the first three minutes of the match, both teams were able to score 3 points each. The opponent from Mogilev pulled ahead by 7 points, and Rostislav Vergun took a timeout. The conversation with the coach went to the benefit of the team – Uladzislau Blizniuk and Andrei Stabrouski reduced the gap with accurate hits from behind the arc (11:14). After exchanging several effective shots, the teams went to the break with a score of 18:22.
At the beginning of the second quarter, our guys already made a 7—point comeback - Aliaksei Trastsinetski equalized the score, and “three-point” Uladzislau Blizniuk determined the leadership of the hosts of the site (25:22). The excellent work of the team in defending the ring did not allow the opponent to catch up with “Tsmoki-Minsk”, while our players confidently scored points. In the third minute of the quarter, Rostislav Vergun's wards overcame the 30-point mark thanks to Yauheni Beliankou's three-point shot, at this time the opponent was only able to get to the "Tsmoki" ring once (32:25). Four minutes before the break, the teams equalized, but the “dragons” were not ready to give up the victory and consistently showed character — another “three-point” by Beliankou again returned the positions of the teams to their previous places (35:32). The opponents went to the big break with a score of 42:41.
In the third quarter, our team “three-pointers” throws continued to succeed better than “Borisfen". Another “three-point” performed by Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo left a 5-point advantage for "Tsmoki" (51:46). Two accurate hits by the captain of the Dragons and Uladzislau Blizniuk in the last minute of the quarter kept the team in the lead before the decisive ten minutes of the game – 62:59.
The key point
The Dragons were not going to concede — the coveted championship was already visible on the horizon. At the beginning of the final quarter, the teams staged a sniper duel, and alternately gaining points, entered into a decisive struggle. In the middle of the quarter, “Tsmoki-Minsk” led with the score – 73:66. Our players were made nervous three minutes before the end of the match, when the difference in the score was only 2 points (73:71). The situation was corrected by two accurate hits of Maksim Karattsou from the penalty line. At the last minute of the match, “Borisfen" failed to defeat the reigning champions, the match ended with the main victory of this season for our athletes with a score of 81:75.
Number
14 – so many national championship titles are now in the "dragons" piggy bank. Our team has not given away the gold of the Belarusian championship since 2009.
The most productive:
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Uladzislau Blizniuk — 24 + 5 REB + 5 AST + 2 STL, Aliaksei Trastsinetski – 16 + 4 REB + 3 AST + 2 STL, Yauheni Beliankou – 15 + 5 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL.
"Borisfen": Ilya Sharipov – 19 + 10 REB + 3 AST, Vladislav Mikulsky – 19 + 2 REB + 4 AST + 2 STL.
Personal awards from the BBF received:
Best defender — Uladzislau Blizniuk
Best Center — Darol Hernandez-Zinenko
MVP — Yauheni Beliankou
Head coach of the team “Tsmoki-Minsk" Rostislav Vergun:
— Another championship. It may seem that it turns out by itself, but this year the team and the club have experienced very difficult times. Our emotions now do not fully reflect the joy and satisfaction with the result that actually exists in the hearts of the guys. For some, this is the first championship – I congratulate them separately, for some it is not the first, but victories never come. The victory is deserved. This is character, this is will, this is patience. Today, all the components have materialized into victory. Many thanks to all the players, special thanks to the whole club for supporting us all season. And now is the time to try to enjoy the championship in full.
Team captain Aliaksei Trastsinetski:
— Thank you to all the fans for coming to support us. We are very happy that we were able to win. I will say thank you to Mogilev – they did well, fought to the last.
Congratulations to the “dragons” with the well-deserved title of national champion!
