Minsk residents met with a serious rival and one of the favorites of the VTB United League Zenit in St. Petersburg today. In a difficult but worthy game, MINSK lost to the hosts of the court with a score 53:91 (17:20, 11:27, 13:22, 12:22).
Starting fives
MINSK: Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Darol Hernandez Zinenko, Kiryl Sitnik, Zachary Smith, Uladzislau Blizniuk.
Zenit: Sergey Karasev, Egor Ryzhov, Thomas Heurtel, Joe Thomasson, Trey Thompkins.
Game scenario
MINSK demonstrated an excellent opening of the first quarter, not letting Zenit go into a big gap (8:5). And the “three-point” of the team captain even the score in the fourth minute of the game. The teams were level for almost the entire first ten minutes of the game. Minsk residents did not give freedom to the owners of the site, and time after time equalized the chances (11:11). Clearly disposing of the ball, Uladzislau Mikulskii and Vadzim Stubeda scored the first points in the match. In another effective attack, 10 seconds before the siren, Vlad Mikulskii helped his team to leave for a break with a slight gap of 3 points – 20:17.
Uladzislau Blizniuk had a confident first effective shot in the second quarter, and the score on the scoreboard left Zenit with only 1 point advantage. However, after that, the St. Petersburg team was able to make a breakthrough 8:0, and Rostislav Vergun decided to take a timeout (28:19). From under the ring, Darol Hernandez Zinenko brought another 2 points to the team standings. And Uladzislau Blizniuk reduced the double-digit difference in the score thanks to a free kick. Unsuccessful passes in the opponent's camp played into our hands and allowed us to make a number of interceptions and effective attacks, but the opponent quickly rehabilitated himself and began to aggressively attack in response. It is noteworthy that the starting lineups of the meeting of both teams scored an equal number of points in the first half of the game – 17. Unfortunately, a higher percentage of hits from Zenit affected the score on the scoreboard before the big break – 47:28.
Unfortunately, our team was more often accompanied by blunders after a long break. Kiryl Sitnik interrupted the 9-point scoring run from the opponent side with a throw from behind the arc into the Zenit ring. Rostislav Vergun's wards were able to score 4 more points from the penalty line. Uladzislau Blizniuk got +2 for the team 3 seconds before the end of the quarter and moved to a double-digit number in the set of points in the personal standings of today's meeting. The result of the penultimate quarter is 69:41.
Interchange
In the final quarter, the difference in the score became too big to get a chance to win back. However, our guys did not give up positions until the last moment and did not knock down the mood for a high-quality game. Daniil Barysevich made effective throws from an average distance twice. We pleased our fans with “three-point” in the sniper duel Uladzislau Blizniuk and Daniil Kasko. The meeting ended with a score of 91:53.
Number
790 – that's how many kilometers our fans traveled from Minsk to St. Petersburg to support their favorite team. The support of the fan sector helped Minsk residents to keep the mood in the match against one of the most difficult opponents.
The most productive:
MINSK: Vladislav Bliznyuk – 15 + 2 AST, Daniil Borisevich – 7 + 1 REB + 1 STL.
Zenit: Thomas Heurtel – 13 + 1 REB + 4 AST + 2 STL, Igor Volkhin – 12 + 3 REB + 1 AST + 2 STL.
Rostislav Vergun, head coach of MINSK:
— We had a very important previous game, which definitely cannot be credited to our asset. I'm very glad that I have managed to cope with the excitement now. Without the additional burden of responsibility, we did a lot, especially in the first half. At least – to find and produce good attacks. The skill level ultimately plays a key role, and at the end of the attack it must be completed. When the opponent does it with a percentage of 47, and we do it with a percentage of 21 from the perimeter, the difference in the score is visible from here. I am very glad that my guys have the opportunity to play with teams and masters of this level. I believe that for some of them it will be a good experience and a boost. I wish Zenit a good season – a super team, a super coach. Let everything work out for you and people enjoy good basketball as much as possible.
Our team has no time for a break, and already this Monday, October 31, MINSK will play with Samara at the Falcon Club Arena. The game starts at 7:30 PM. Tickets can be purchased on the website and at points of sale KVITKI.by. Let's support the team!