For four years in a row "Tsmoki-Minsk" in the cup final struggled for honorary trophy against Mogilev’s "Borisfen", but this time the "dragons" knocked the "knights" out of the cup’s race on semi-final stage (82:74). In the key match for the cup title met with “Grodno-93”. The game turned out to be rather a difficult (but what kind of final could be easy?), but our team proved its superiority and won a big victory with a final score 81:49 (21:16, 14:10, 22:14, 24:9).
Starting line-ups
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Vladislav Bliznuk, Jason Clark, Aleksey Trostinetsky, Stefan Jankovic, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko.
"Grodno-93": Vladislav Shkavel, Dmitry Kuratnik, Ivan Kalyaev, Kiryll Chumakov, Nikola Dzuric.
Game scenario
Bearing in mind, that "Tsmoki-Minsk" failed the debut of the game in the semifinals, Rostislav Vergun's wards have started actively, most importantly, effectively. Darol Hernandez-Zinenko scored under the hoop, Clark hit two "3-points" in a row, Jankovic scored 3 points in the same way. 11:5 in the third minute — a great start. However, the basketball players of "Grodno-93", in spite of a serious problems, were not at all going to play the role of supernumeraries on the court. The tone for the team’s attack was set by Chumakov, for whom the meeting with “Tsmoki-Minsk” as a former player of this club certainly a special implication. Dzuric did not lag behind: this tandem scored 14 of 16 team points. However, in the point box, the "dragons" had five more points.
The second period came out less productive. Defense clearly prevailed over attack. For all that Minskers managed to build up their advantage. Successful actions at rebounding under the opponent backboard (10) and good throws from the perimeter (6 "3pointers" — 3 was made by Clark). On the half-break "Tsmoki-Minsk" left with the margin"+9". They could have had a double-digit advantage, but at the last second made only one of two free throws — 35:26.
The old basketball wisdom says that whoever wins the third quarter wins the match. “Tsmoki-Minsk” had a serious advantage over rival finalist. Jankovic and Bliznuk increased it by "+14", however, in the next couple of minutes “dragons” did not act very carefully in defense, и Shvakel scored two long-range shots. Rostislav Vergun had to request a timeout to explain to guys, that is too early to relax, the opponent is strong and can punish for the loss of vigilance on the court. Confirmation that the coach’s emotional speech reached the players’ consciousness was the 7:0 spurt. Note that the “dragons” scored in lots: at one moment Bliznuk scored five points in a row, at another Clark and Porolev - four points each. Warner accomplished “ten-minutes’ space”, who decided to diversify several excellent assists by hitting the basket himself.
Denouement
To deprive “Grodno-93” of even the slightest illusion about a possible comeback, the “dragons” issued a gorgeous five-minute in the final quarter – 14:1. The distance between the opponents exceeded thirty, and it became finally clear to everyone that the Grodnians could not avoid defeat.
Prominent roles
Jason Clark became a leader in “Tsmoki-Minsk” scorer company: he scored 5 of 9 from the perimeter – which is a half of the team’s result.
The number
17 — so many steals were made by our players. The smartest and “efficient” was Jason Clarke, who “robbed” his rivals three times.
Scoring leaders
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Jason Clark — 22 + 3 reb + 3 ast + 3 stl, Angelo Warner — 18 + 6 reb + 6 ast + 2 stl, Evgeniy Belenkov — 10 + 4 reb + 1 ast + 1 stl, 1 blk, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko — 4 + 11 reb + 2 ast.
"Grodno-93": Nikola Dzuric — 16 + 5 reb + 1 stl + 1 blk, Kiryll Chumakov— 15 + 5 reb + 1 ast + 1 stl + 1 blk, Vladislav Shvakel — 6 + 6 reb + 4 ast.
According to the results of the “Final four”, the best players by position were made. They are: guard – Vladislav Mikulsky (Borisfen), forward – Kiryll Chumakov (Grodno-93), center – Vadim Stubeda (Tsmoki-Minsk). The best young player award went to Vladislav Shvakel (Grodno-93), the audience choice award – Artem Sekushenko (Borisfen). The main award – the final four MVP – was awarded to “Tsmoki-Minsk” guard Jason Clark.