Zenit finished the WINLINE Basket Cup season in fourth place

Zenit lost to PARMA in the bronze medal game of the WINLINE Basket Cup. The match against the Ural team took place today, April 11, at the CSC Arena court and ended with a score of 89:95 in favor of the opponents.

Zenit started the third-place game with the following lineup: Andre Roberson, Johnny Juzang, Xavier Moon, Vladislav Emchenko, and Luka Šamanić.

From the opening moments, the game was tight and fairly even. However, after passing the midpoint of the quarter, the St. Petersburg side managed to take control. A three-pointer from Juzang, along with drives from Šamanić and Bako, gave Zenit a 5-point lead. The margin fluctuated slightly afterward, but by the first break, control was clearly in the hands of the Blue-White-Sky Blues — 27:19.

The second quarter (30:20) was Zenit’s best stretch of the game. During this period, Dejan Radonjić’s team significantly increased their lead and went into halftime up 57:39.

After returning from the locker room, the situation on the court remained largely unchanged for a while. The Blue-White-Sky Blues kept their opponents at a distance and maintained a comfortable double-digit lead. However, by the end of the third quarter, PARMA began to gradually cut into the deficit, finding a second wind. Before the final quarter, the scoreboard read 75:64.

In the final period, it still seemed like the game was under control for the St. Petersburg side. The quarter began with a 7:0 run from Zenit, with Karasev, Šamanić, and Moon all scoring, forcing PARMA to call a timeout. However, after the adjustments made by the head coach, the Perm team caught fire. With four minutes remaining, the Blue-White-Sky Blues were leading 89:75, but then the opponents went on a 20:0 run and snatched the victory. Final score — 89:95.