On October 24, at the Falcon Club Arena, for the first time in the 2022/23 season of the VTB United League, the MINSK team met with Enisey (Krasnoyarsk region). The decisive match for both teams ended, unfortunately, with the defeat of Minsk residents with the score 36:54 (9:14, 5:11, 8:17, 14:12).
Starting fives
"MINSK": Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Vadzim Stubeda, Zach Smith, Maksim Karrattsou, Uladzislau Blizniuk.
"Enisey": Angelo Warner, Alexandr Gudumak, Sergey Balashov, Yauheni Beliankou, Timofey Gerasimov.
Game scenario
Our guys immediately entered the fight for the ball with rebounds, but the opponent had a 6:0 scoring run at the start of the first quarter. Vadzim Stubeda from the penalty line and Aliaksei Trastsinetski from the middle distance reduced the difference in the score between the teams, quick interceptions performed by our players also worked. Maksim Karrattsou scored 2 points in the next attack. Unfortunately, “Enisey" demonstrated higher accuracy when throwing (5:14). In the pass, Zach Smith managed to get two more points. It was noticeable that in the significant battle of the season, the Minsk residents fought for every attempt of an effective attack. The possibility of shots from the penalty line with an easy submission by Uladzislau Blizniuk allowed to reduce the gap and finish the quarter with a score of 9:14.
At the beginning of the second quarter, both teams showed good defense. In the second minute Darol Hernandez Zinenko got the first point in the piggy bank of his team, and then Aliaksei Trastsinetski in the passage got another +2 in the team standings (12:16). In the middle of the quarter, Drazen Anzulovic decided to take the first timeout. After a conversation with the coaches, our players also stepped up their work in the attack, however, the faster pace of the Krasnoyarsk team turned out to be beyond the control of the Minsk players. The teams went to the big break with a score of 14:25, and MINSK still had all the chances to win back.
For more than two minutes of the third quarter, the teams demonstrated good defense, however Enisey was the first in the quarter to get points from the penalty line. Unfortunately, the build-up of pace and pressure from Drazen Anzulovich's wards forced Minsk residents to take a timeout (16:34). Lagging behind the opponent allowed to reduce hits in the ring of “Enisey” from Darol Hernandez Zinenko and Zach Smith. Before the final quarter, the teams left for a break with a score of 22:42.
The denouement
The noticeable colossal excitement and the desire of the team not to concede the fifth victory to rivals may have prevented Minsk residents from doing the right thing today. In the final quarter, our players succumbed to the pressure of the Yenisei. Effective “three-piece” Vladislav Bliznyuk and accurate throws by Zach Smith and Daniil Barysevich, unfortunately, did not lead the Minsk residents to victory. The match ended with a score of 36:54.
The most productive
MINSK: Zachary Smith – 10 + 11 REB + 1 AST + 1 STL + 2 block, Uladzislau Blizniuk – 9 + 2 REB + 3 AST + 3 STL.
Enisey: Angelo Warner – 11 + 7 REB + 2 AST + 2 STL, Alexandr Gudumak – 9 + 6 REB, Roman Zagretdinov – 9 + 4 REB + 3 block.
Rostislav Vergun, head coach of MINSK:
— I congratulate the opponent on a well-deserved victory. In my opinion, today we managed to update more than one anti-record of the League. It is difficult to explain how you can win a game by conceding 54 points, and at the same time not understanding how to score less than 10 points in three quarters. Basketball of this level is very insufficient.
Next game
The next game of MINSK will take place on October 28 at Zenit's home court with a live broadcast on the VTB United League website and Match! The game. The starting face-off is at 8:00 PM. Let's support our team!