Andre Roberson: "We managed that pretty well, and then we ended up firing back"

Blue-White-Sky Blues' forward Andre Roberson was the team’s top scorer in the winning game against UNICS (75:82). In an interview with Zenit TV, he gave a detailed breakdown of the matchup with the Kazan side.

— This was Zenit's first win over UNICS this season. Are you satisfied with the result?

— Yes, this is a big-time win for Zenit. And just for us as a team, coming together for the first game after the break and having a great week of practice and preparation, going out there and executing our game plans. We lost a big piece of our team last week with Levi leaving, but a lot of guys stepped up. Emchenko stepped up. Martiuk stepped up. Vorontsevich, Zhbanov, everybody stepped up. We gave Moon big-time minutes, and Trent did what Trent does — being a big-time player. So we needed a little help from everybody to step up today, and that's what we did. It's going to take everybody to continue doing so and keep building from here on out.

— Did you know the last time UNICS had a loss at home was December 2024?

— Yes, I saw something online, I believe. UNICS holds the record for 25 games in a row protecting their home court, which is pretty impressive. So we knew we had a tall task on our hands, and everybody came in sharp. The coach gave us a great game plan to follow, and we did that. The results speak for themselves. We just have to keep doing that and keep building.

— Kazan made a strong run early in the game, but you managed to respond. What helped the team react and get back on track?

— Just responding in terms of them being a great home team with that record speaks volumes. They're a great team with a great home base, and we know that. They came out, punched us, and set the tone right away, and we responded well, staying resilient and continuing to fight through adversity. We managed that pretty well, and then we ended up firing back. That's basketball at the end of the day — teams are going to go on runs. It's how you respond, and we did that.

— It is your best game this season — 21 points, 7 rebounds. You were active on both ends. How would you rate your own performance?

— My performance was great out there. I had big-time plays from my teammates that helped boost me and set great screens. I focused on moving without the ball and with the ball sometimes, just taking what the game gives you. Tonight was my night. Tomorrow, it could be somebody else's night or the next game. It's about going out there and playing together as a team, competing, and trying to win. I'm still finding my way in the new role, but I'm embracing it every step of the way and trying to put my best foot forward for the team.

— Today the team scored many points through ball movement and teamwork. Does it feel like collective play was the key to the set?

— I feel like ball movement was a big key for us today, and that's something we need to continue building on. It's going to take everybody, and that's what makes a basketball team — from 1 through 15. We lost a guy, and another guy stepped up today. We'll need that all season, continuing to build team chemistry, playing for each other. This is a brotherhood, and I think Zenit embodies that. We try to show it to the fans and the community, and I think we did a good job.

— Was the 14:0 run in the third quarter a key moment for us tonight?

— There were many key moments for us tonight. The third quarter was a big one. The first quarter was a big one too. Trent did an amazing job of getting us back in the game. Zhora, Ceva, Luka, and many others contributed. Ema stepped up huge for us. Quarter three was especially important. Martiuk did a phenomenal job, Luka held the frontcourt well, and the guards did an amazing job pressing the ball and making it tough for their guards all night. I give a lot of credit to them. They went out there and showed a good fight, and we need that.

— We had a lot of fans in Kazan tonight. Please address your message to them.

Man, we definitely heard you guys tonight. Everyone showed up and supported us, and it was great — we needed it every step of the way. We heard you, we loved your support, and we’re going to need you to continue supporting us and sticking with us every step of the way. We appreciate it, and we’ll continue to fight for you all. Thank you, guys. And a big shout-out to all the women on International Women's Day tomorrow. We thank you for all that you do and continue to do for us. We give you your flowers. Thank you!