Zenit defeats MBA-MAI on home court
The Blue-White-Sky Blues claimed victory over MBA-MAI in a home game of the VTB United League. The matchup against the Moscow team ended with a score of 83:69. Here’s a closer look at today’s game.
On game day, it was announced that Zenit’s new signing Luka Samanic had joined the team. For the Croatian center, this match marked his debut in the St. Petersburg squad. Also returning to the lineup was Neno Dimitrijevic, who had missed over a month due to a finger fracture. The starting five for the hosts included Trent Frazier, Alexander Shcherbenev, Andrey Martiuk, Levi Randolph, and Andrey Vorontsevich.
The game began at a measured pace, with both teams playing tight defense and limiting each other’s scoring opportunities. The contest stayed even, with the lead changing hands several times and the scoreboard often showing a tie. One of the key moments of the first quarter was Samanic’s appearance on the court. His first points in Zenit colors came from the free-throw line, sinking one shot. Soon after, he delighted the home crowd with two powerful dunks in a row, helping Zenit finish the first quarter ahead 16:11.
In contrast to the opening stretch, the second quarter started with much higher energy. Randolph and Martiuk scored from mid-range, while Karasev, Vorontsevich, and Frazier hit three-pointers. MBA-MAI initially tried to withstand the hosts’ pressure, but the gap gradually widened, reaching 35:24 midway through the quarter. At that point, the Moscow side managed to regroup — the duo of Andrey Zubkov and Danil Pevnev led a comeback effort that proved effective. As Zenit’s offense slowed down, only Samanic continued to score steadily. MBA-MAI won the quarter, cutting the deficit to just one point — 41:40 at halftime.
Early in the second half, the visitors briefly took the lead thanks to drives by Platunov and Trushkin, but Zenit quickly regained control. Vorontsevich’s two long-range shots, Samanic’s strong drive, and an and-one play from Dimitrijevic put the St. Petersburg team back in front. Vasiliy Karasev’s squad stayed competitive, repeatedly tying the game and keeping the pressure on, but Zenit entered the final quarter with a 59:57 advantage.
Despite MBA-MAI’s efforts, it took Zenit only a few minutes in the last period to put the game out of reach. Dimitrijevic hit a two-pointer and a three-pointer, while Frazier knocked down two shots from beyond the arc, restoring an 11-point lead — the same margin as before halftime. This time, the Moscow team couldn’t recover. Zenit snapped its losing streak in Luka Samanic’s debut game. Final score — 83:69.
Top performers for Zenit: Luka Samanic (19 points, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 1 steal), Neno Dimitrijeviс (18 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal), and Andrey Vorontsevich (11 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks).
Zenit’s next game will also take place in St. Petersburg, at CSC Arena. The team will face Pari Nizhny Novgorod on November 18, with tip-off scheduled for 19:30 local time. Tickets are available on the club’s official website.
