Today, on April 16, "Tsmoki-Minsk" hosted the final match of the regular stage of the VTB United League. In the final meeting with the strongest opponent of the championship, our team lost with a score 54: 101 (24:27, 13:25, 13:20, 4:29). While "Tsmoki" completed participation in the season, CSKA guaranteed itself 1st place in the standings of the regular stage and enters the playoffs as the main contender for gold.
Starting fives
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Darol Hernandez-Zinenko, Yauheni Beliankou, Maksim Karattsou, Uladzislau Blizniuk.
CSKA: Kasper Ware, Semen Antonov, Will Clyburn, Nikola Milutinov, Alexey Shved.
Game scenario
The start of the first quarter was scored by 2 points from Maksim Karattsou, and Yauheni Beliankou managed to get 8 points in a row, thereby gaining the leadership of the team in the fourth minute of the game – 10:6. MVP of March from CSKA Alexey Shved equalized the score – 12:12. Two “three-point shots” from Pavel-Benjamin Dodoo and Yauheni Beliankou again allowed to equalize the score (18:18), but the hosts of the site from that moment began to increase the advantage. The "Dragons" showed a high percentage of shots from an average distance – Darol Hernandez-Zinenko and Uladzislau Blizniuk joined the game, who scored 4 more points in the team standings. Darol reduced the gap to 3 points with the final effective throw of the first quarter – 24:27.
The excessive desire of Minsk residents to keep a small difference in the score, unfortunately, on the contrary, played into the hands of the opponent from Moscow – our athletes began to foul, due to which CSKA increased the gap to 6 points – 30:24, and Rostislav Vergun took a timeout. But, on the next free throws, CSKA scored a double-digit advantage (38:28). “Tsmoki” concentrated their maximum efforts on restraining the pressure of the “army”, not allowing the CSKA to get a big advantage, and Vadzim Stubeda scored the first two points per game. Uladzislau Blizniuk shot from behind the arc again reduced the gap - 35:42. However, the pressure of CSKA began to bear fruit, and the teams left for the break with a score of 52:37.
After a long break, Yauheni Beliankou took over the role of leader again, who brought the team another 5 points with two shots. The "Dragons" lost a little accuracy of shots after the first two quarters — the team began to be accompanied by misses. Andrei Stabrouski hit from behind the arc did not allow the opponent to reach “+20” - 45:62. At this time, the wards of Dimitris Itoudis staged a sniper show and a series of three-pointers still went to “+20” on the scoreboard (67:47). Rostislav Vergun took another timeout. Unfortunately, the conversation with the coach did not help the "Dragons" to adjust the accuracy of shots, and CSKA continued to increase the gap. 3 seconds before the siren Kiryl Vaskautsou realized the first 2 points for the game – the quarter ended with a score of 72:50.
Interchange
In the final quarter, the leaders of the season decided to confirm their status and made a breakthrough 6:0 (78:50), which again forced Rostislav Vergun to take a timeout. However, the “red-blue“ ironically secured the leadership, having issued two ”three-point shots" in a row. In five minutes of the quarter, "Tsmoki-Minsk” could not get to the ring of CSKA, and the head coach of the Minsk team again took a timeout. The owners of the site gave a powerful shake-up to our players, realizing 4 “three-pointers" out of 6 for the quarter. In the seventh minute of the quarter, Uladzislau Blizniuk. managed to get 4 points from the penalty line. Unfortunately, this was the end of the effectiveness of the attacks from the ”Tsmoki", while the Moscow players crossed the threshold of 100 points scored per game. With a score of 54:101, the "Dragons" lost to CSKA in the final match of the season.
The most productive
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Yauheni Beliankou – 18 + 4 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL, Uladzislau Blizniuk – 14 + 1 REB + 4 AST + 1 STL, Andrei Stabrouski – 9 + 1 REB .
CSKA: Allerik Freeman – 18 + 3 REB + 2 AST , Will Clyburn – 17 + 6 REB + 2 AST + 2 STL, Nikola Milutinov – 13 + 8 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL, Alexey Shved – 13 + 3 REB + 8 AST .
Head coach of the team "Tsmoki-Minsk" Rostislav Vergun:
– It's probably symbolic that we started the season and end it with a meeting with CSKA. As a coach, it was interesting for me to see what happened during this time, how much progress we managed to make or vice versa. CSKA has always been the best indicator. The score [of these two matches] turned out to be about the same. The season was super complicated. I see guys who understand correctly, use the chance, playing against such opponents, in such halls. I want to believe that everyone in our team understands correctly, but, probably, we cannot boast of this. Personally, I am very grateful and appreciate the opportunity to try myself as a basketball specialist [in the VTB League]. For me, CSKA has always been a big irritant, I have great respect for the club and the coach who works here now. I wish the team good luck in the playoffs, you can see how the leaders are preparing for it, and the end of the season will be interesting. We are returning to our championship, our rivals have retained the legionnaires, the main force, and my dream of playing only Belarusians is coming true, albeit a little artificially. This is a good chance for us to check the quality of our work, there are guys for whom I am very worried, I believe that they will succeed. Good luck again, thank you all, the atmosphere [at the match] is super.
Next game
"Tsmoki-Minsk" have completed their participation in the VTB United League 2021/2022 regular season and thank all the fans for their valuable support. Now the “dragons” they will focus their efforts on the Belarusian championship. The team will play on April 21 at 18:00 on the home court in the playoffs. The opponent in the semifinals will be determined in the decisive match on April 19 between the teams “Grodno-93” and “Impulse-BSUIR". Follow the news on our website and come support the team!