Zenit-2 defeats CSKA-2 in a thrilling finish
Oliver Popovic’s team showed resilience and secured victory in the final moments of their match against CSKA-2. The game took place as part of the 24th round of the Fonbet Super League. The blue-whites maintained their 4th place in the league standings.
From the very first seconds on the court at the Basketball Academy, the home team featured Pavel Zemskiy, Egor Ryzhov, Ivan Prokopenko, Daniil Aksenov and Mikhail Dulkay.
Zenit-2 started the match at a high pace, opening the scoring within just 10 seconds thanks to a precise corner two-pointer by Dulkay. The blue-whites quickly took the initiative, establishing a comfortable 5-7 point lead: Ryzhov dominated in the paint, Aksenov confidently hit from distance, and Prokopenko excelled in fast breaks. The army team struggled with their half-court offense, facing a tight defensive effort from their opponents. While they managed occasional drives, their free-throw execution left much to be desired. However, a three-pointer from Ilya Ermakov helped the Moscow team cut the deficit before the first break. Despite this, Zenit-2’s strong start ensured their lead at the end of the first quarter — 25:21.
The second quarter began chaotically, with both teams playing tough defense, leading to multiple physical battles, fouls, and free throws. Shooting efficiency remained low. However, by the middle of the period, the blue-whites regained their rhythm and extended their lead to 9 points. Ivan Prokopenko emerged as a key player in this stretch, scoring from all areas — free throws, hook shots, drives, and beyond the arc. But as halftime approached, CSKA-2 ramped up their intensity and managed to tie the game with two minutes remaining. At that moment, Daniil Aksenov stepped up, first hitting a mid-range jumper and then nailing a spectacular buzzer-beater from deep, securing Zenit-2’s lead at halftime — 45:40.
In the second half, Ilvovsky and Ermakov immediately hit long-range shots, putting CSKA-2 ahead. However, the blue-whites quickly regained control and restored a 5-point lead. The pivotal moment came late in the third quarter when the army team caught fire and went on a powerful 12:0 run. Evseev drained two three-pointers, Ermakov converted free throws, and Klyuchenkov added two close-range baskets. The St. Petersburg team finally broke their scoring drought at the end of the quarter, but the visitors held a confident lead heading into the final period — 60:65.
In the closing stretch, tensions reached their peak. Despite an early three-pointer from CSKA-2, Oliver Popovic’s squad managed to erase an 8-point deficit. The battle became a back-and-forth showdown, with both teams exchanging leads. Everything was decided in the final seconds when, with the score tied, Pavel Zemskiy put St. Petersburg ahead, and the army team missed a crucial three-point attempt in their final possession. The final score — 81:78.
The top scorers for the blue-whites were Ivan Prokopenko (21 points + 4 rebounds + 1 steal), Daniil Aksenov (16 points + 6 assists + 4 rebounds + 1 steal) and Egor Ryzhov (16 points + 13 rebounds + 5 assists + 1 steal + 1 block).
Zenit-2 will have a break in the championship before facing Dynamo Vladivostok in an away game on February 27. The match will start at 12:15 St. Petersburg time, with a live broadcast available on the Russian Basketball Federation's website.
