Xavi Pascual: "During the game Nizhny was better than us"

Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual commented on the away win over Pari Nizhny Novgorod (73:75). The coach of the blue-whites described in detail how the final attack went.

— We started the game very well and we finished the game very well. But during the game Nizhny was better than us. In general Nizhny deserved to win more than us, because they were fighting more during all 40 minutes. In the first half, they took 13 offensive rebounds. That is exactly shows that we were not concentrated for the game and we were not fighting for the game. Second half — only two offensive rebounds. It means that we tried to win. But in general, if we had counted 40 minutes, from my point of view, Nizhny deserved more to win than us.

— What helped the team score points in the end and eventually get a strong-willed victory?

— It was one penetration of Frazier, that has layup, but he decided to pass again to Zhbanov. We believe sometimes in these energies, when one player wins one game, also to shoot again in the same situation. Zhbanov won the game in Krasnodar, and also today with this open shot. So Frazier decided this on the court, Zhbanov was open, and he scored this important three.