Zenit’s reserve team confidently defeats Dynamo on the road
Zenit-2 secured a hard-fought victory over Vladivostok’s Dynamo in the 25th round of the Fonbet Super League regular season. Despite having only 10 players available (Mikhail Dulkay and Ilya Krivyh missed the game), Oliver Popovic’s team managed to turn the tide in the third quarter and significantly increased their lead in the final stretch. This victory allowed the blue-whites to solidify their position in fourth place in the standings.
Zenit-2 starting five: Pavel Zemskiy, Vladislav Samukhin, Daniil Aksenov, Ilyas Abdul and Ivan Prokopenko.
The game started with the home team in control, but Zenit-2 gradually took over. Dynamo confidently capitalized on their chances early on and managed to build a six-point lead. However, the visitors repeatedly broke through their opponent’s defense. Zemskiy and Abdul made powerful fast drives to the basket, while Prokopenko’s accurate shot put Zenit-2 ahead for the first time. Once the game evened out, the tempo slowed, turning into a physical battle with frequent stoppages. Vladivostok relied on offensive rebounds and aggressive pressure to score points. At one point, Dynamo attempted another surge, but Artem Khodorich prevented them from extending their lead — first by hitting a crucial three-pointer and then by making a strong drive through the defense. The final moment of the first quarter belonged to the game’s leading scorer, Pavel Zemskiy (8 points in 10 minutes), allowing Zenit-2 to head into the break with a slight advantage — 21:22.
In the second quarter, the visitors quickly took control and established a five-point lead. Dynamo finally ended its scoring drought in the fourth minute of the period. However, Zenit-2’s offense soon stalled as well. The game’s tempo dropped again, much like in the middle of the first quarter. Both teams had alternating successful and unsuccessful stretches, and the quarter ended in a tie, with Zenit-2 maintaining a narrow lead — 42:43.
The second half began with a strong surge from Zenit-2: Khodorich and Prokopenko made mid-range shots, while Aksenov and Zemskiy hit from beyond the arc. The visitors completely controlled the game, holding a steady 5–7 point lead. The highlight moments included Zemskiy’s powerful slam dunk off a Kirilyuk assist and another precise three-pointer from Pavel. Heading into the final quarter, Zenit-2 had a confident lead — 58:64.
Two three-pointers from Samukhin and Zemskiy, along with a complete scoring set from Khodorich (free throws, a two-pointer, and a three-pointer) at the start of the final period, paved the way for Zenit-2’s victory. The visitors extended their lead to 16 points within the first three minutes, effectively sealing the outcome. The final score — 75:92.
The top performers for Zenit-2 were Pavel Zemskiy (32 points + 15 rebounds + 1 steal), Artem Khodorich (18 points + 4 rebounds + 1 steal) and Daniil Aksenov (13 points + 9 assists + 2 rebounds + 2 steals).
In the next round of the Fonbet Super League, Zenit-2 will face Irkut, also on the road. The game is scheduled for March 2 at the Trud sports palace, with tip-off at 11:10 St. Petersburg time. The match will be broadcast live on the Russian Basketball Federation’s website.
