Zenit falls in Game 3 of the series on the road
Zenit lost to Lokomotiv Kuban in Game 3 of the VTB United League bronze-medal series, played today in Krasnodar, with the home team securing an 85:81 victory.
Guard Xavier Moon returned to Zenit's game roster. Johnny Juzang, Pavel Zemskiy, and Igor Volkhin did not get into the St. Petersburg roster for the away match. Zenit's starting lineup at Basket Hall featured Andre Roberson, Trent Frazier, Sergey Karasev, Andrey Martiuk, and Georgy Zhbanov.
The game began at a high pace, with both teams applying intense defensive pressure. As in the previous games of the series in St. Petersburg, the matchup in Krasnodar was highly physical. The home side was particularly effective in transition, consistently converting defensive stops into fast-break opportunities. Zenit, meanwhile, relied on the strong play of Andrey Martiuk, who scored 9 points in the first five minutes alone. Toward the end of the opening quarter, Lokomotiv Kuban put together a productive run to take a five-point lead. Zenit responded with three-pointers from Andrey Vorontsevich and Sergey Karasev to finish the quarter ahead, 24:25.
In the second quarter, it seemed that the Blue-White-Sky Blues squad had taken control of the game. Scoring dropped on both sides, and Lokomotiv Kuban’s aggressive defense frequently sent Zenit players to the free-throw line. Despite the choppy rhythm, Rostislav Vergun’s team managed to head into halftime with a five-point advantage, leading 36:41.
After the break, Mike Moore provided several key offensive contributions, both from inside and beyond the arc. Zenit also held the edge on the boards, while active offensive play from Andre Roberson and Georgy Zhbanov helped the visitors maintain their lead, ending the third quarter ahead 55:62.
Unfortunately for Zenit, the closing stages belonged to Lokomotiv Kuban. The final quarter was high-scoring, particularly for the hosts, who poured in 30 points. The Krasnodar side quickly erased the deficit and ultimately prevailed in clutch time, winning 85:81. Zenit still leads the series 2-1, with Game 4 coming up next.
Andrey Martiuk (19 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist) and Trent Frazier (17 points, 1 steal) were Zenit's top scorers.
The next game of the series will also be played in Krasnodar on June 9. Tip-off is scheduled for 20:00 St. Petersburg time.
