Today our men's team met Kazan UNICS at the Minsk Arena. In the second home match of the VTB United League season, Minsk residents, unfortunately, failed to break the string of defeats. Final score of the meeting – 49:97 (20:18, 9:33, 8:24, 12:22).
Starting five:
MINSK: Daniil Kasko, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, Vadzim Stubeda, Kanstantsin Pasko, Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo.
UNICS: Nenad Dimitrijevic, Artem Komolov, Louis Labeyrie, Marcos Knight, Ismael Bako.
Game scenario
Minsk residents showed a more than confident start and pleased the fans with leadership throughout the first quarter. Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo opened the score on the scoreboard with an accurate “three-point” shot, and Daniil Kasko with a throw from behind the arc helped his team to make a breakthrough of 5 points. UNICS responded with a number of hits, but our guys confidently held the defense and did not slow down. After that, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, Vadaim Stubeda, Grigorii Motovilov and Daniil Kasko made a number of accurate throws. Thanks to team interaction, Minsk residents went to the first break with an advantage of 2 points – 20:18.
At the start of the second quarter, the reigning champions managed to take revenge in the first ten minutes of the meeting and made a breakthrough of 13 points. The powerful pressure and active defense of the Kazan team did not allow Rostislav Vergun's wards to regain their leadership on the home court. Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson and Daniil Kasko scored hits in the UNICS ring. With a spectacular buzzer, Grigory Motovilov got 3 more points in the team standings and the rivals left for the big break with a score of 29:51.
Interchange
Unfortunately, during the second half of the match, Velimir Perasovic's wards kept the pace of the game, which Minsk residents could not cope with. Despite accurate hits from Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson, Daniil Kasko, Dmitrii Kuratnik, Jacob Cebasek and a number of accurate shots, including from the free throw line from Uladzislau Mikulskii, the match was crowned with a victory for UNICS with a score of 49:97.
The most productive:
MINSK: Daniil Kasko – 13 + 6 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL, Jarred Ogungbemi-Jackson – 10 + 4 REB + 1 AST, Grigorii Motovilov – 9.
UNICS: Jalen Reynolds – 19 + 7 REB + 3 AST + 2 STL, Marcos Knight – 15 + 3 REB + 2 AST + 1 STL, Dmitrii Kulagin – 14 + 2 REB + 1 STL.
The head coach of MINSK Rostislav Vergun: “It is depressing that under pressure we lose so weakly in quality. There is no need to talk about progress in individual, team play, because as soon as the opponent starts playing a real, strong game, then we have problems in all lines: both in attack and defense. And to be a contender at this level without some qualitative step forward ... do not be mistaken. I personally feel uncomfortable in front of the fans who come to support us, to show such basketball. The opponent has once again demonstrated his level, deservedly being considered one of the favorites of the League.”
Our team doesn't have much time left to prepare for the next match. Already this Thursday, October 19, Minsk will meet Samara at the Falcon Club Arena. The match starts at 19:00. Tickets can be purchased on the website and at points of sale kvitki.by , and also in the lobby of the arena an hour and a half before the game.