On April 6, the «Tsmoki-Minsk» team hosted "Nizhny Novgorod" on the home court. The Volzhans came to the game under the guidance of acting head coach Sergei Kozin. If today's match was the first for the «Dragons» after almost a week's break, then «Nizhny Novgorod» flew to us straight from Almaty, where on April 3, in a match with «Astana», the Russians won their first victory in 2022, and the fifth of the season. Unfortunately, they continued the series of victories at the «Tsmoki» site. The match ended with a score 53:95 (4:29, 21:24, 13:21, 15:21).
Starting fives
"Tsmoki Minsk": Daniil Kasko, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko, Yauheni Beliankou, Maksim Karattsou, Andrei Stabrouski.
"Nizhny Novgorod": Alexandr Chadov, Dmitrii Khvostov, Sergey Toropov, Mikhail Kulagin, Evgenii Baburin.
Game scenario
Both teams started playing at a cautious pace – «Nizhny Novgorod» scored the first points in the second minute of the quarter. Feeling confident, the Russians gave a pull 7:0. Rostislav Vergun took a timeout, hoping to recoup, but the next shots were again for «Nizhny Novgorod». The opponents from Nizhny continued to push and, while the «Dragons» scored 4 team fouls, "NN” went into a gap of +10 points. Vadzim Stubeda brought the first points to the «Dragons» in the middle of the quarter. Alas, the accuracy today was on the side of «Nizhny Novgorod» – the team issued 5 effective “3 point shot" for a quarter. Our guys tried to find the right rhythm to catch up with the opponent – another hit from Darol Hernandez-Zinenko brought the team two points. Alas, the opponents worked well in defense and the Minsk residents did not manage to get close to the ring of the Russians for the rest of the quarter. At the end of the quarter, “Tsmoki-Minsk” lost by a difference of 25 points (4:29).
After the break Uladzislau Blizniuk and Yauheni Beliankou slightly reduced the gap (7:29). However, at this time, Sergey Kozin's team entered the courage and boldly made effective throws. Our players did not give up - Darol Hernandez-Zinenko scored points from the penalty line. The team became more confident to make attacks. In the third minute of the quarter, “Tsmoki” finally registered a two-digit number on the scoreboard (10:35). The subsequent “three-point” from the captain encouraged the “dragons”, and another accurate shot by Daniil Barysevich began to inspire hope. However, immediately the opponents knocked down the courage with retaliatory effective throws. "Nizhny Novgorod" made attacks and passes at a fast pace, increasing the gap over and over again. Having made efforts, Maksim Ksrattsou, with two shots from the penalty line, did not allow the opponents to leave for a break with 30 points of advantage – 25:53.
Interchange
Alas, the third quarter continued the success of «Nizhny Novgorod». The distance between the teams has become almost insurmountable - 41 points. Vadzim Stubeda took an active position and brought the team another 4 points with two throws in a row (29:66). «Nizhny Novgorod» showed a high percentage of shots, an active position in rebounds. Minsk residents hardly got every point under the reliable protection of the Russians' ring. Three seconds before the end of the quarter, Uladzislau Blizniuk made a spectacular three-point shot, and the teams left with a score of 38:74 for the last break.
The first points in the final quarter came from the penalty line, and thanks to an accurate “three-point”, Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo brought, while the rest of the Minsk residents were accompanied by misses. Yauheni Beliankou brought the next two points to the team only after almost three minutes of the game, he also scored another three-point shot. Aliaksei Trastsinetski and Yauheni Beliankou made a breakthrough of 5 points. Unfortunately, the efforts of the “dragons” were no longer enough to win – the match ended with a score of 53:95.
The most productive
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Vladislav Bliznyuk – 8 + 6 AST + 4 STL, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko – 8 + 4 REB + 2 AST + 1 STL.
"Nizhny Novgorod": Anton Astapkovich – 19 + 4 REB + 3 AST + 1 block, Sergey Toropov – 18 + 4 REB + 3 AST + 2 STL, Dmitry Khvostov – 15 + 4 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL.
Rostislav Vergun, head coach of 'Tsmoki-Minsk':
— I want to believe that today's game is not a reflection of the real difference between Russian and Belarusian men's basketball. I can talk for a long time, I'll be brief – it's shameful and weak-willed. Our club and our fans are not worthy of this. I apologize to everyone for what happened today.
Next game
Today's match drew a line in the performances of the “dragons” on the home court as part of the regular stage of the VTB United League. The team thanks the fans and everyone who attended the home matches for their support! The next meeting of "Tsmoki-Minsk" will be held on April 13 on a visit to «Zenit» St. Petersburg. The game starts at 7.30 PM.