"A Day in history": A landmark victory over Panathinaikos

On April 12, 2021, Zenit defeated Greek club Panathinaikos on the home court in the final game of the EuroLeague regular season. The match ended in a confident victory for the blue-whites with a score of 112:83. Thanks to this result, the team from St. Petersburg reached the playoffs of Europe's premier club tournament for the first time in its history. Let’s recall the key moments of that landmark victory as part of the "A Day in history" project.

The rescheduled Round 6 game — postponed due to the coronavirus — was crucial: Zenit needed a win by any score to claim the eighth and final playoff spot. And Xavi Pascual’s squad handled the challenge brilliantly.

In the first quarter, the hosts immediately took control, and by halftime, they were ahead by 7 points. The third quarter was completely dominated by Zenit. A powerful run allowed them to pull away and all but seal the win — 76:60. In the final quarter, Zenit cemented the blowout, breaking the 100-point barrier.

This victory will be long remembered by fans, not only for securing a playoff spot but also for a series of club records. Zenit guard Kevin Pangos delivered a phenomenal performance, recording 11 assists and 33 points — the highest scoring total in the club’s EuroLeague history. The Canadian also set a club record for most three-pointers in a single game, making seven from beyond the arc.

Polish forward Mateusz Ponitka also made his mark, grabbing 8 rebounds — the most among Zenit players in the competition.

The 112 points scored remain Zenit's highest total in a single EuroLeague match — and to this day, it is still the only game in which the team has surpassed the 100-point mark in the tournament.

In the playoffs, the blue-whites would go on to face the regular-season champions Barcelona. That quarterfinal series turned into a true thriller, going all the way to a decisive Game 5.