Andrey Vorontsevich: "We were preparing for Lokomotiv with today's game"

Zenit forward Andrey Vorontsevich shared his impressions of the home victory over Samara (115:57). He revealed what is discussed on the bench before scoring the 100th point and talked about the team's mindset ahead of their trip to Krasnodar.

— What can I say? We played great today. I think we followed the coach’s game plan. We enjoyed the game, but we understand that we were playing against young and talented guys who lack experience. Nevertheless, we tried to play our game, especially on defense. That’s why we performed well, and I think our shooting percentage was really high today — both three-pointers and field goals in general. Over 60% accuracy, we found open players. So, everything started with defense.

— In games with such a big lead, is there ever an agreement on who gets to score the 100th point?

— Probably not. Sometimes, when the score approaches 100, the guys on the bench make bets on who will score the 100th or 101st point. But there is not what you said. From my own experience, I’d say we prefer to let young players take those shots. When the game’s outcome is clear and the gap is that big, we want to give the younger guys a chance. It’s a special moment for them and for the fans too — to see a young player, who doesn’t get much time on the court, entrusted with such a moment. So, we try to play for them. But there’s no strict agreement about it.

— Does the tenth victory make the team relax a little?

— Not at all. First and foremost, we were preparing for Lokomotiv with today’s game, for the next match. Yes, we were focused on Samara today, but now that the game is over, our minds are set on what's next. Everyone understands that we’re heading to Krasnodar, which is not an easy trip and quite a long one. We need to recover quickly and analyze our opponent. So, there’s no room for relaxation, and the coach is right to emphasize that there won’t be any more easy games. Now we’re getting ready for Lokomotiv, and we need to perform well there.