On October 1, the Falcon Club Arena hosted the first match of the VTB United League 2023/24 season between MINSK and Pari Nizhny Novgorod. Both teams with updated lineups and after a busy pre-season with new strength and a serious attitude entered the championship fight today. Unfortunately, the first victory of the audience today was able to please the team from Nizhny Novgorod. Final score of the meeting – 60:89 (18:28, 10:23, 6:25, 26:13).
Starting fives
MINSK: Daniil Kasko, Grigorii Motovilov, Vadzim Stubeda, Uladzislau Mikulski, Jacob Cebasek.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Alexandr Gankevich, Dmitrii Khvostov, Mikhail Belenitskii, Andrey Vorontsevich, Evgenii Baburin.
Game progress
Already in the first minute of the meeting, the rivals exchanged accurate hits. However, Pari Nizhny Novgorod entered the match at a faster pace and managed to build up a slight advantage in the score. Grigorii Motovilov and Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson tried to correct the situation with accurate throws from the middle distance. Fouls from the opponent allowed Uladzislau Mikulski and Grigoriy Motovilov to bring another 4 points to the team standings when throwing from the free throw line. Next, Grigorii Motovilov pleased the audience with the first two accurate “three point shots” as part of the Minsk residents. The teams went to the break with a score of 18:28 .
In the second quarter, the opponent's ring did not want to take balls from Minsk residents. As part of our team for the first half of the quarter, only 1 accurate hit was made by Daniil Kasko, which forced Rostislav Vergun to take the first timeout. After that, Grigory Motovilov and Vadzim Stubeda scored a couple of hits again, but Zoran Lukic's wards continued to increase the difference in the score on the scoreboard in their favor. The opponents went to the big break with a score of 28:51.
Interchange
Unfortunately, in the second half of the match, the “+36” in favor of the opponent from Nizhny Novgorod did not preserve much intrigue of the outcome of the match. But MINSK was not going to concede at least in the mood to demonstrate a team game. Jacob Cebasek made a breakthrough of 6 points alone thanks to two long-range hits. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson made another accurate “three-point” throw. But Zoran Lukic's team turned out to be stronger today. The final score is 60:89.
The most productive:
MINSK: Grigorii Motovilov - 19 + 3 AST + 1 STL +2 REB, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson – 11 + 6 AST + 1 STL + 4 REB, Jacob Cebasek – 8 + 1 AST + 1 STL + 4 REB.
Pari Nizhny Novgorod: Alexandr Gankevich – 13 + 1 AST + 2 STL + 4 REB, Bryon Allen – 12 + 1 AST + 3 STL + 2 REB, Dmitrii Khvostov – 11 + 5 STL + 3 REB.
MINSK head coach Rostislav Vergun: ”It's great that the new season has started and the atmosphere at home is the same as we parted in May. And to feel the support of people, these involved eyes of children is very cool. It is a pity that they could not be pleased with a better and more productive basketball. As for the game – the absolute superiority of the opponent in the “paint”. In the first half, they made more rebounds on our shield than even on their own. Despite the fact that we didn't score enough. This is unacceptable. Players as quickly as possible, especially those who are beginners, should understand the level of the VTB United League, find themselves in it and add from game to game.”
The next duel
On October 8, Rostislav Vergun's wards will play the first away match of the season in Krasnoyarsk against Enisey. The starting face-off will take place at 12:30 Belarusian time. Follow the news on our official website and on social networks by tag @minskbasket.