Rostislav Vergun’s comments after the end of the bronze series in the VTB United League
Zenit's interim head Rostislav Vergun commented on the defeat in the series for the bronze medals of the VTB United League 2025/26 season. The matchup with Lokomotiv Kuban ended 2-3 in favor of the Krasnodar team.
— First of all, I would like to thank the fans. I understand that it’s a day off, daytime, and it’s a third-place game. To feel such support and understand the significance of what you are doing is very important. From me personally, sincere apologies for not being able to give them positive emotions or a victory.
Second — compliments to the opponent. In four months after the coaching change, the team accepted the concept, accepted the philosophy. They finished the season in very solid form. They played organized basketball with their own style, their own identity. I would note that, even compared to the series with UNICS Kazan, they are probably a more well-trained team. And in the series with CSKA Moscow they showed, in general, worthy resistance in every game, even managing to win one game.
As for us. I would like to wish the club and the guys… The season was very intense. In my view, it gave a lot of good lessons for everyone: for the players, the management, and the coaches. Clearly, every experience has its price. Today, the price is this: we finished the season in fourth place. And most of all, I would like to wish that the right conclusions are drawn and that the club continues to move only in a progressive, positive upward direction.
— Two questions about individuals. The participation of Georgy Zhbanov in this game was highly doubtful. Was it worth putting him on the court in such a condition? And second — Andrey Vorontsevich did not look like himself in the last two games. What is this related to? Any medical issues? Maybe age is affecting him, or is he already mentally in another team?
— I definitely don’t think there is any issue of unprofessionalism here. It’s part of the game. He didn’t really get into the game, missed his shots here and there — I agree. I think similar questions could be asked to many of us, including myself, so I wouldn’t try to put all the blame on Andrey.
As for Georgy — I had no moral right not to let him play today. Remember, after one of the first games of the series here we discussed UNICS players. I saw in that locker room people who would not even consider stepping onto the court in such a condition for such a game. When your local leader shows such will and character, I think it is very valuable, and it should be used as a kind of proper example for everyone else. In my view, he maybe didn’t help much today, but he certainly didn’t hurt either.
— What place in the club’s history does Zenit’s result this season hold? And how do you assess your experience at the club?
— Honestly, if someone had told me six months ago that I would be coaching Zenit and would now be sitting here after the fifth bronze game, I wouldn’t have believed it, absolutely. There are many people here who truly support the idea, who truly live it. In the locker room there are many truly Zenit people, in my opinion. A lot didn’t work out this year, that’s for sure. Let’s say we missed the mark. There are such blank shots. As I said before, when everything works out, everyone is happy, claps their hands, many friends appear, and so on. When things go badly, everything becomes a bit different. And I sincerely wish, first of all, that the management understands whom to move forward with. Understand who is needed, who is not, on whom you can rely and on whom you cannot.
And I really enjoyed my experience coaching players of this level with, in my opinion, perhaps the best assistant possible. I would especially highlight Max (Maxim Uchaykin — note by Zenit). I really want him to be properly evaluated in this club. He is a major part of this story. He is truly a very big professional and, in my view, one of the best Russian coaches I have met during this time.
How can I assess it? Zenit is in fourth place. Bad, of course, and I am not satisfied with myself either — I do not take my share of the blame off myself. It means I could have done better. It means it didn’t work out. We met a very prepared, organized team. I am actually proud that we entered this fight, entered this battle. And I am not afraid to say they deserved to win.
