Andrey Martiuk: "We tried to swing the game back our way, but something didn’t work out"
— It was a good game. Congratulations to the opponent on the win. There were huge momentum swings throughout the game. We tried to swing everything back in our favor, but something didn’t work out. Right now it’s still difficult to fully analyze everything with emotions running high.
— What helped Zenit respond with its own runs? At times Lokomotiv would score several times in a row, but then you answered right back.
— Good team chemistry, good passing, and finding open teammates.
— What positive moments from your team would you highlight?
— We fought hard at important moments. Also our team basketball — passing, finding each other open, the desire to play together — although unfortunately not in every possession.
— What feelings do you have returning to play in Krasnodar?
— Always positive feelings. Krasnodar is warm, and you meet a lot of people who come up, say hello, ask for photos. It’s nice.
— It turned into a great game. What goals are you setting for the next one? The series is still going, and the team already had a difficult experience in the semifinals. How will you work on the mistakes?
— There will definitely be work on the mistakes, and we remember that experience too. We need the desire to play at full strength and play to win. And again — team basketball, toughness — then we can count on a victory.
— Right now what matters more: physical or psychological qualities?
— Both. But psychologically, I think it’s much more important.
— Do you work on the mental side as well? Like trying to forget what happened the day before?
— I think every athlete works on correcting mistakes. What happened, happened. And of course, everyone tries to improve themselves.
