Sergey Karasev: “We’re heading to Kazan with one thing in mind — we have to win”
— We’re heading to Kazan shortly after a tough game against Loko. How did the recovery go, and how do you feel?
— Everyone understands that this is the most important game at this stage if we want to reach the Final Four. So the mindset is simple — we have to win. We know this game doesn’t carry much tournament importance for Kazan, and it’s unclear what lineup they’ll use. But regardless, we need to come out fully focused, give 100%, and fight for the win.
— A Final Four spot is on the line. What will be the key in tomorrow’s game?
— Our game. If we give 100%, play our basketball, and follow the coach’s plan, everything is in our hands. As we showed in our previous game in Kazan in the VTB League, we’re capable of winning there. So first and foremost, we need to focus on ourselves.
— You’ve already faced UNICS several times this season. What stands out about their game?
— At home, they always play very aggressively. They have tough defense, strong bigs, and a quality backcourt. They constantly apply pressure, and they’re not an easy team to play against. There’s a reason they’ve been among the top teams for years. But we’re going there with the mindset that we have to win.
— Compared to the previous game against UNICS, Johnny Juzang and Ismaël Bako are now in the lineup. Does that change the team?
— Of course. When new players join, the style changes a bit and the rotation gets deeper. We’ve already played a few games together, and with every practice and game they’re fitting in better. We expect them to show their best in the next game.
