Zenit wins the Kondrashin and Belov Cup for the fourth time
On Friday, the traditional pre-season Kondrashin and Belov Cup tournament concluded in Saint Petersburg. The basketball event started with the bronze medal match, where Pari NN defeated MBA-MAI. However, the most anticipated moment came in the final game, where two giants of Russian basketball, Zenit and UNICS, faced off at the СSС Arena.
From the start of the match, Zenit's starting five — team captain Sergey Karasev, Trent Frazier, Omari Spellman, Xavier Moon, and Vince Hunter — took to the court. The first points of the final went to the Kazan team after Moon’s turnover, but he quickly made up for it by scoring two points and then hitting a three-pointer. A standout moment from the game's opening was Spellman’s persistent fight while lying on the floor, leading to an assist to Hunter, who nailed a three-pointer. Throughout the first quarter, Hunter frequently took charge, battling hard under the basket. By mid-quarter, Zenit’s lead had grown to 10 points after a three-pointer by the captain. A timeout by Velimir Perasović calmed the game and allowed UNICS to adjust their strategy, which paid off as they went on a 10-2 run. During this stretch, Zenit newcomer Dwayne Bacon, who made his debut appearance, contributed two points. The first quarter ended with a score of 19:17 in favor of Zenit.
The game rapidly developed with intense competition. At 19:19, Georgiy Zhbanov made a driving layup, followed by a perfect free throw after a hard fall. Both teams were determined not to let the other pull ahead, leading to a back-and-forth battle with the score remaining close. Just before the buzzer, Spellman took a three-pointer and connected, giving Zenit the lead again. UNICS’s Marcos Knight quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own, tying the game once more. By halftime, the score stood at 32:32. Zenit’s halftime stats included 38.9% two-point shooting, 30.8% from three-point range, and 66.7% from the free-throw line. The top performers by halftime were Omari Spellman (6 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 each in blocks, assists, and steals) and Vince Hunter (6 points, 4 rebounds).
During halftime, a gala match was held between the women’s veterans of Spartak and a team of actors, ending in a friendly 9:9 tie.
In the main event, however, a winner needed to be determined, and both sides fought hard to claim the title. The trend of tough defense from the first half carried into the third quarter. It wasn’t until the third minute that Kazan’s Ismael Bako scored the first points of the period. Zenit responded with two points from birthday boy Alex Poythress and a three-pointer from Frazier. Poythress then delivered a highlight-worthy dunk over a defender, perfect for the photographers. A fast break by Frazier and Hunter near the end of the quarter solidified Zenit’s lead. The score going into the final quarter was 45:43.
A crucial three-pointer by Moon at the start of the fourth quarter gave Zenit a comfortable lead. Additional three-pointers from Moon, Spellman, and Frazier pushed Zenit’s lead to 15 points midway through the final quarter, effectively sealing the game. The final score of the Kondrashin and Belov Cup final was 63:50.
Zenit has now won the Kondrashin and Belov Cup for the fourth consecutive time! Congratulations to Zenit fans on another trophy!
Zenit’s top scorers were Xavier Moon (13 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 block), Vince Hunter (12 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block), and Omari Spellman (11 points, 8 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist, and 1 block).
Vince Hunter was named MVP of the Kondrashin and Belov Cup. Sergey Karasev and Xavier Moon were included in the symbolic five of the tournament.
