Igor Volkhin: "We were tougher on defense, and the opponent missed easy shots"

The forward of the blue-whites team commented on the match against MBA-MAI (80:71) and explained why he changed his jersey number.

— What are your impressions of playing in front of the home crowd for the first time and, in general, of the pre-season preparation?

— Preparation has been going as usual. On one hand, it’s a bit monotonous, and we were eagerly awaiting the first game because playing is much more enjoyable than training, especially at home in front of our fans. This Cup is significant for us and for the fans. I hope we can keep the trophy in Petersburg.

— It seemed like you had a very good start, quickly gaining a "+10" lead. Then, during the second half, MBA came back twice. What was happening within the team at that moment?

— We are still at the stage of forming as a team. We are trying to get to know each other and find our rhythm. Sometimes it doesn’t always work out. As the coach said, some mistakes are normal for the preseason, but when there are flaws in fundamental aspects, we need to address them. In the locker room, everyone supports each other, and there is no negativity. This is basketball; anything can happen. We missed a lot of shots, and they scored the same amount.

— Regarding the atmosphere, compared to previous preseason games where the pressure was not as high, it seemed there were a lot of smiles and support within the team. Did the newcomers adjust well? Have they settled in?

— Of course. Every year new players join, and they are always welcomed well. Everyone tries to support, explain, and help. This is in our best interest as well: the sooner they integrate, the sooner they can start contributing.

— How has it been playing with the new captain?

— Great. It’s hard to imagine Zenit without Sergey; he’s been here for so many years.

— This season you took the number 13 jersey, whereas before you had number 8. What’s the reason for the change?

— My father always played wearing number 13. I had the same number when I was with Khimki. I couldn’t get it from the more experienced players earlier, so this season, when the number became available, I took it.

— What was the decisive factor for the victory?

— Perhaps, in some moments, luck was on our side and less so for the opponent. We were tougher on defense, and they missed easy shots. Also, we got ourselves into some difficult situations with both typical and atypical mistakes. But the main thing is the result. Thanks to the fans for their support; it was felt.