On October 17” the MINSK men's team met Avtodor Saratov at the Falcon Club Arena as part of the VTB United League of the 2022/23 season. In the second home game of the season, MINSK failed to win, the final score — 72:97 (14:26, 17:26, 21:22, 20:23).
Starting fives
MINSK: Daniil Barysevich, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko, Zachary Smith, Uladzislau Blizniuk.
Avtodor: Ryan Boatright, Nikita Mikhailovskii, Brandon Garrett, Evgeniy Kolesnikov, Rade Zagorac.
Game scenario
Zach Smith and Aliaksei Trastsinetski equalized the score with the Saratov team with accurate shots in the second minute of the game (4:4). The opponent gained an advantage due to quick attacks and rebounds, which forced Rostislav Vergun to take the first timeout in the middle of the quarter (7:16). Despite the fact that Avtodor tried to increase the advantage, our players responded with effective attacks — Kiryl Sitnik and Zach Smith scored shots from an average distance. The American center managed to get 5 points in the last two minutes of the quarter. The teams left for the break with a score of 14:26.
Daniil Barysevich and Uladzislau Blizniuk made a 5:0 breakthrough at the start of the second quarter. Uladzislau Blizniuk also managed to distinguish himself with two fantastic “three point” shots in a row, reducing the difference in the score on the scoreboard to 9 points (27:36). However, the Volzhans turned out to be more accurate in quick attacks than the Minsk residents, which forced Rostislav Vergun to take the second timeout (29:44). Kiryl Sitnik effectively attacked the opponent's ring in the last minute of the quarter, and the teams left for the big break with a score of 31:52.
At the beginning of the third quarter, Uladzislau Mikulskii got the first points for his team, and Zach Smith again gave the audience a spectacular slamdunk. Fouls from the opponent allowed Uladzislau Blizniuk to score points from the penalty line in several attempts. Meanwhile, in 30 seconds of the game, Zach Smith was again able to distinguish himself with another throw from above, followed by an accurate “three-point” shot. Unfortunately, Milosh Pavicevic's team with a more aggressive attitude continued to fight both under their own and under someone else's ring. The teams went to the final break with a score of 52:74.
Interchange
Uladzislau Bliznyuk twice made effective shots from behind the arc at the beginning of the final quarter, and then Zach Smith and Uladzislau Mikulskii made a breakthrough of 4 points. Minsk residents tried to make more rebounds, and Kiryl Sitnik helped the team to keep the difference in the score with another jerk of 4 points. Unfortunately, luck was on the opponent's side today, the match ended with a score of 72:97.
Number
25 – Uladzislau Blizniuk managed to get so many points today, becoming the most productive player in the set of points both in our team and the opponent.
The most productive
MINSK: Uladzislau Blizniuk – 25 + 1 REB + 8 AST + 3 STL, Zach Smith – 20 + 13 REB + 2 AST + 1 STL + 1 block, Kiryl Sitnik – 13 + 2 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL.
Avtodor: Ryan Boatright – 18 + 1 REB + 7 AST + 2 STL, Nikita Mikhailovskii – 13 + 6 REB + 7 AST + 1 STL, Brandon Garrett – 13 + 6 REB + 1 AST.
Rostislav Vergun, head coach of MINSK:
— This is not the first time we are talking about having a chance to fight for victory. We should have at least, probably, 8 people on the court who will play above average. If we look today, we can concede in talent, in skill, but 50% of the game in defense is character and the desire not to concede. To miss 97 points, not to find the resource to stop the leaders, to let them make such scoring run. It seems to me that these are questions for us and they need to be solved somehow.
Next game
MINSK's next match will take place at the Falcon Club Arena on October 24. The opponent is BC “Enisey" (Krasnoyarsk Region). The meeting starts at 8:00 PM. Tickets for the match can be purchased on the website or at the box office KVITKI.by. Also, tickets will be sold directly at the arena 1 hour before the start of the game. Together to victory!