On April 23, “Tsmoki-Minsk” played the second game with the opponent in the semi–finals of the championship of Belarus - “Grodno-93". In today's match, the Dragons continued their direct course to the finals, and won with a score 93:66 (20:16, 23:20, 25:16, 25:14).
At the beginning of the first quarter, both teams were in no hurry to find the right pace and get close to each other's rings. Darol Hernandez-Zinenko cheered up “Tsmoki” with a spectacular block shot. After that, Uladzislau Blizniuk opened the score of the match in the second minute of the game. For a short time, the Grodno team seized the lead, but Daniil Barysevich corrected the situation of the teams with two hits (13:8). In the first quarter, the opponents continued to look for an approach to each other's game, the Grodno residents did not give our team a significant advantage. At the end of the first quarter, Yauheni Beliankou got 3 more points for his team, and with the score 20:16, the teams went to the break.
With a scoring run of 12 points, “Tsmoki-Minsk” started the second quarter (28:16). Our team adjusted the accuracy of hits from behind the arc - Darol Hernandez—Zinenko, Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo, and Uladzislau Blizniuk scored effective shots in four minutes of the quarter. Such “hospitality" forced Predrag Muschicki to take a time-out (38:23). A conversation with the Serbian coach briefly corrected the situation of the Grodno residents – now the opposing team made a breakthrough 10:0. Rostislav Vergun took the second timeout - the team finished the quarter with a score of 43:36.
At the start of the third quarter, Yauheni Beliankou made a breakthrough of 6 points, which again forced Predrag Muschicki to take another timeout. The mood of "Grodno-93" was undermined not only by a series of accurate hits and rebounds from Minsk residents, but also by spectacular block shots performed by Darol Hernandez-Zinenko and Evgeny Belyankov. In the last seconds of the quarter, Darol Hernandom-Zinenko helped the Dragons finish the quarter with another brilliant block shot (the fourth for the game). “+16” (68:52).
The pressure of the “dragons” at the start of the final quarter was already unstoppable — Uladzislau Blizniuk, Daniil Kasko and Yauheni Beliankou scored 9 points in a row with accurate shots from behind the arc (77:52). Kirill Vaskautsou, Daniil Barysevich and Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo scored three more three-pointers. With an advantage of 27 points, the victory was won by the team “Tsmoki-Minsk” — 93:66.
The most productive at the end of the match:
"Tsmoki-Minsk": Yauheni Beliankou – 33 + 4 REB + 1 STL + 1 block , Uladzislau Blizniuk – 19 + 6 REB + 2 AST + 1 STL, Daniil Barysevich – 13 + 3 REB + 1 AST.
Grodno-93: Nikola Djuric – 14 + 5 REB + 2 block, Maxim Lyutych – 12 + 3 REB + 1 AST.
Head coach of the team “Tsmoki-Minsk" Rostislav Vergun:
— In some places we played very well, I repeat that each game in the playoffs is separate. And this account in the full context does not matter. Quality, execution, the leaders turned on well in the second half, made the result. Congratulations to the team on the victory. We need to rest a little, and we will prepare for the third game of the series in Grodno. I also congratulate everyone on the upcoming holiday. We are waiting for everyone at the basketball.
Yauheni Beliankou player of the team “Tsmoki-Minsk”:
— We didn't start very well, but after the break the coach gave a little different instructions, and we won the next game. Congratulations to the whole team on the victory.
The next game of the semifinal "Tsmoki-Minsk" will be held on April 29 on the road, away from the Grodno team. The starting face-off of the decisive match will take place at 5:30 PM.