Today our men's team met for the first time at the MBA home court. The opponent arrived without several key players who are recovering from injuries – Alexander Khomenko and Maxim Savchenko. The match ended with an MBA victory with the score 61:76 (19:21, 23:15, 17:10, 17:15).
Starting fives
MINSK: Benjamin-Pavel Dodoo, Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Vadzim Stubeda, Supreme Shakur Hannah, Uladzislau Blizniuk.
MBA: Daniil Kasatkin, Ilya Platonov, Sergey Kliuev, Andrey Lopatin, Timofey Yakushin.
Game scenario
Bright interceptions and accurate shots led MINSK to an advantage on the scoreboard in the fourth minute of the game (8:7). A 6:0 breakthrough, thanks to the 3rd points scored from Vadzim Stubeda and the “three-point” shot performed by Vlad Blizniuk allowed MINSK to display a two-digit number on the scoreboard, and a bright “three-point” Kanstantsin Pasko forced Vasily Karasev to take a time-out. The opponent became noticeably nervous, and our team, with the support of the stands, went to the first break with a score of 21:19.
Vlad Blizniuk got the first points for his team at the beginning of the second quarter, MBA got used to the ring a little and began to make an equal number of effective attacks with MINSK. With free throws, MBA equalized the score on the scoreboard (25:25). After the exact “three” of Muscovites and already their advantages, Rostislav Vergun took a time-out. In an unpredictable and bright fight, both rivals did not want to give up the lead. Vlad Bliznyuk, Jovan Sljivancanin and Vadzim Stubeda made accurate hits from an average distance in our team, and Kanstanstin Pasko made the second throw from behind the arc. The teams went to the big break with a score of 36:42.
For more than two minutes, both teams could not make effective attacks until Rostislav Vergun's wards managed to reduce the gap to 4 points thanks to the captain's throw (42:46). MBA repeatedly attacked in response, not allowing to reduce the difference in the score by less than 4 points. By the end of the quarter, Vasily Karasev's team turned on the pressure, which helped the Muscovites to leave for the final break with a double-digit advantage on the scoreboard (46:59).
Interchange
The unpredictable outcome of the game was decided in the final quarter. MBA, demonstrating a powerful defense, did not allow our team to reduce the gap. Despite accurate shots by Aliaksei Trastsinetski, Vadzim Stubeda, Jovan Sljivancanin, Supreme Hannah and Kostya Pasko, the Moscow team was able to finish the match with a victory with a score of 76:61.
Head coach of MINSK Rostislav Vergun:
— We have added another rival in the form of seasonal colds. It is obvious to any basketball fan who follows the VTB United League – if you do not have at least 8 people in the rotation who can reliably go out, effectively and usefully play for the team, then it is impossible to count on a positive result. We had some players playing for 20 minutes today, and we didn't understand what to expect. It is clear that the result is unsatisfactory, but the guys fought and there were positive moments in some places, which in no case do not want to ignore. But, unfortunately, this is absolutely not enough for a complete high-quality game. The opponent eventually found an opportunity to materialize his advantage, deservedly brought the game to victory, with which I congratulate him and wish him good luck in the future.
The most productive:
“MINSK”: Supreme Hannah – 12 +2 REB + 3 AST, Kanstantsin Pasko – 12 +3 REB + 3 AST + 3 STL, Uladzislau Blizniuk – 10 + 1 REB +3 AST + 2 STL.
MBA: Andrey Lopatin – 18 + 1 REB , Timofey Yakushin – 16 + 7 REB + 7 AST + 1 STL, Makar Konovalov – 11 + 1 REB + 5 AST + 1 STL.
On December 22, Minsk residents will go to Saratov, where they will play with Avtodor in the Crystal Sports Complex. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM. The broadcast will be available on the VTB United League website. We are rooting for MINSK!