Zenit loses a thrilling match in Kazan
The blue-whites team played their first match of the new year away against UNICS Kazan. As always, the teams delivered a competitive and action-packed game with intrigue lasting until the end.
Trent Frazier, Georgy Zbanov, Omari Spellman, Dwayne Bacon and Vince Hunter started for Zenit in this game.
The opening minutes went to the hosts, who, thanks to Taylor, Akoon-Purcell and Lopatin, gained a six-point lead within the first minute. Zenit managed to score their first points through a drive by Hunter. The game then became more balanced, but the Kazan team maintained the advantage they had built early on. A key moment of the quarter came when Taylor collided with Frazier, forcing the St. Petersburg guard off the court. Shortly after, Bacon also had to be substituted due to discomfort following a scored points. Despite the absence of key players, Zenit continued to score consistently from the free-throw line, with a hook shot by Poythress and a spectacular three-pointer by Zakharov leveling the score. Zenit fully got back into the game and remained aggressive even after Velimir Perasovic called a timeout. The Poythress-Zakharov duo kept racking up points, and Moon’s buzzer-beating three-pointer gave the visitors a solid lead heading into the break — 16:22.
In the second quarter, Zenit tried to keep their opponents at a distance. At first, it was possible to do this thanks to strong and well-coordinated work in defense, as well as Vorontsevich's 3 points and Zhbanov's hit from Bacon's pass, which returned to the court. Both Georgy and Dwayne added two more points each shortly afterward. UNICS responded with fast breaks led by their star Marcos Knight, the first player in the game to reach double-digit points. However, several turnovers in their half of the court reduced Zenit's advantage to just one point. This stretch was arguably their weakest of the quarter. At halftime, Xavi Pascual’s squad held a slim lead — 40:41.
The tempo increased significantly after the break. A highlight of the third quarter came in its opening minutes when Spellman, moving at lightning speed on a fast break, dunked the ball with authority. A drive by Zhbanov and a three-pointer by Bacon further extended Zenit's lead. However, Kazan soon seized the initiative, and their scoring spree was followed by a prolonged drought for Zenit. The hosts pulled ahead, and Zenit managed to regain some footing only in the final minutes of the period. Zakharov was accurate from the free-throw line, while Poythress surprised everyone with a long-range shot — his first of the season. Despite their efforts, Kazan led heading into the final quarter — 58:53.
The final quarter began with high intensity. UNICS committed four team fouls within 39 seconds, while Zenit’s Denis Zakharov found his rhythm, scoring both from the free-throw line and beyond the arc. However, another slump followed. With six minutes left, Xavi Pascual’s team faced a ten-point deficit. Zenit wasted no time mounting a comeback. Moon, back on the court, immediately made an impact, narrowing the gap. Zakharov, riding a wave of momentum, sank another three-pointer, bringing the deficit to just one point. The final minutes were as intense as expected. Zenit had numerous opportunities to take the lead and secure the win, but costly misses from Denis and Dwayne from beyond the arc ultimately sealed their fate. The victory went to UNICS. The final score — 75:71.
The top performers for Zenit were Denis Zakharov (17 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist), Dwayne Bacon (14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal) and Xavier Moon (11 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 block).
Zenit’s next game will also be an away match on Wednesday, January 8, against Samara. The match is scheduled to start at 16:00 St. Petersburg time.
