Andrey Vorontsevich: "Lokomotiv Kuban is a very strong opponent"

Zenit forward Andrey Vorontsevich shared his thoughts ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Lokomotiv Kuban. The match against the Krasnodar side will take place as part of Round 16 of the VTB United League regular season. Tip-off is at 19:00 St. Petersburg time. Tickets are available on the club’s website.

— Andrey, were you able to approach the game against Lokomotiv in full readiness?

— We have always treated and continue to treat Lokomotiv Kuban with respect; they are a very strong opponent. If you don’t defend against them the way you should, it will be difficult to stop their leaders. We respect them, but at the same time we focus on doing our job. On our home court, in front of our fans, you always want to win.

— Does the fact that the teams have the same number of wins and losses add extra intensity to the matchup?

— Lokomotiv Kuban are a principled rival regardless of their position in the standings. I think it’s the same for them. Let’s put it this way: before a head-to-head meeting, no one needs to look for extra motivation.

— Do players who previously played for the Kuban club — Alexander Shcherbenev, Vladislav Emchenko, Dmitry Uzinskiy, and Andrey Martiuk — as well as former Lokomotiv head coach Aleksander Sekulic, give any advice before the game?

— The coach gives the instructions and guidance. We understand that former players of a club always want to prove themselves more in games against the teams they once played for. We know that the guys you mentioned will have plenty of motivation.

— What kind of basketball is Lokomotiv Kuban playing right now?

— Fast, aggressive basketball, with drives to the basket. A lot of open shots. A high-tempo, transition style. They run and shoot, and their leaders are players who can both penetrate and score — very talented one-on-one. So we’ll need to make an effort to stop them.