Alexander Shcherbenev — after the first friendly match against Iran

The Russian men's national basketball team narrowly lost to Iran in a hard-fought game with a final score of 67:70. The friendly match took place yesterday, July 28, at the Khimki basketball center.

Zenit guard Alexander Shcherbenev was the top scorer for the Russian team, recording 16 points, along with 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 rebound. Another Blue-White-Sky Blues representative, newcomer Vladislav Emchenko, contributed 9 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 steal.

Alexander Shcherbenev shared his thoughts on the first friendly match of the summer training camp and spoke about his expectations for the upcoming game against Iran.

— Alexander, you were the top scorer for the Russian team. Are you satisfied with your performance?

— I try to be a perfectionist, so I’ll say I can do better! It’s only the beginning of the new season, I’m still getting into shape, but I’m glad I was able to show something today. It’s just a pity that it wasn’t enough to win.

— Vladislav Emchenko played alongside you. Did it bring back memories? Have you had a chance to connect with your new Zenit teammate?

— Yes, of course, we’ve already talked and caught up. We’re looking forward to the new season. For now, as you noted, we’re reminiscing about old times and working on our chemistry.

— What are your expectations for the next game, which will take place on July 30?

— Only victory. We need to redeem ourselves in front of the fans and learn from this tough loss!

***

The next game between the Russian and Iranian national teams will take place on Wednesday, July 30. Tip-off is at 18:00 St. Petersburg time. The match will be streamed on the website of the Russian Basketball Federation.