Andrey Vorontsevich: "Even if it’s not going your way, you have to fight until the last second"

Forward of Saint Petersburg’s team, Andrey Vorontsevich, shared his emotions after the away loss to Enisey (83:78). All the key points from the match against the Krasnoyarsk team — in an interview with Zenit TV.

— You spent 35 minutes on the court. How do you feel after such a grueling game?

— I feel okay, but there’s a lingering disappointment from the loss. Naturally, it’s unpleasant when your team loses. You give your all, you try hard. I told the guys after the game that we need to go out and fight. And, as we were taught, to give everything on the court, because if the opponent wants it more, the victory will be theirs.

— Why did the team collapse at the start of the game, when almost nothing was going right?

— Of course, we’re playing on an opponent’s court, everything is unfamiliar, but I think it’s mostly about mindset. Sometimes you think you can win just on skill, but in reality, Enisey had more energy and desire, no doubt about that. In front of their fans, every basket they made energized them, gave them confidence. And we, in turn, were playing catch-up rather than dictating the game.

— At one point, the three-point shooting was one out of fifteen. Why wasn’t the ball going in?

— That was probably due to rushed attacks. As I said, we had a bad start, and then when you try to catch up, you hurry. Naturally, rushed attacks don’t always succeed. Once we started playing team basketball, moving the ball side to side and sharing with teammates, things started to work. We caught up and even took the lead briefly, but it still wasn’t enough. And, of course, credit to Enisey — everything was falling for them today. I’ll repeat, at the beginning, our defense was weak. That gave them confidence.

— What lessons should be learned from this defeat?

— I think the lesson is this: don’t assume you’re better than anyone, and don’t underestimate who’s in front of you, whether it’s CSKA or Enisey. Everyone deserves respect. First and foremost, respect yourself. Understand that you fight for your club’s colors — not just the name, but the entire organization that gives you the opportunity to work and be part of the team.

You have to prove that your place in the spotlight isn’t given for free, and fight for it every day, in training. As I told our young players, you have to be hungry for victory, because if you step onto the court unmotivated, the opponent feels it. If you lower your head, it’s the same. Basketball is a game of mistakes and good moments.

And, above all, you shouldn’t give up, even if the ball isn’t falling for you today. Frustration only works against you. So the takeaway is: stay together. We understand that Zenit is not in the best situation right now, with many key players injured. We wish them a speedy recovery. But that’s not an excuse — it’s simply a fact that we need to be tougher and more focused. There’s a saying: few, but in our stripes. But everyone needs to show character.

Even if things aren’t going your way, we tried and gave a fight, but it wasn’t enough. There’s still work to do, and we’ll keep improving. This is just the first stage of the season. We’re involving the young players; they need confidence, which will come only from desire and dedication. Without commitment, everyone will see they’re just here for show.

No one gets a chance for looks alone — only for hard work, diligence, and fighting spirit. So we need to step up in that fight. Even if things aren’t going your way, you have to fight until the last second.