Zenit defeats Besiktas in the first Supercup match
Basketball club Zenit just like last year, began their VTB United League Supercup campaign with a game against Turkish Besiktas. Both teams had plenty to prove on the court: the opponent still remembered their past defeat, while the blue-whites viewed this tournament as a serious test before the start of the season. As a result, fans witnessed a vibrant and competitive game.
From the opening seconds, Zenit’s starting five — team captain Sergey Karasev, Trent Frazier, Omari Spellman, Xavier Moon, and Vince Hunter — took the court, with Hunter using his experience to win the opening jump ball. This provided a great boost for Zenit’s first attack, and Spellman sank a three-pointer to score the first points. Xavier Pascual’s team didn't gave to breath their opponent: Moon made steals, Hunter blocked shots, and soon after, scored with a hook shot. Even a timeout called by the Besiktas coaching staff didn’t help. Only midway through the quarter, when the scoreboard read 9:0, did the Turkish team score their first points. But Zenit kept building their advantage. The well-established connections among the St. Petersburg team in offense allowed Frazier, Bacon, and Moon to consistently add points to the tally. Besiktas, trailing by 17, prompted coach Dusan Alimpijevic to call another timeout, but by the end of the first quarter, the score was 25:9 in Zenit’s favor.
At the start of the second quarter, Dwayne Bacon took charge, scoring from solo drives, free throws, and off the backboard. He also made a smart foul when Besiktas was on a fast break, three against one. After a brief break, the Turkish team returned with a different mindset, occasionally putting together some strong plays. The rhytm of the game slowed, and the frantic speed of the opening period gave way to tough battles in every attack. Zenit’s lower shooting percentage in this quarter allowed their opponent to gradually reduce the gap. A putback from Poythress ended Zenit’s scoring drought, and soon after, Frazier nailed an impressive three-pointer, making it 42:35 by halftime. By this point, Zenit's top performers were Spellman (14 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist) and Bacon (10 points).
The next quarter began with a three-point shooting fest. Both teams were hitting from beyond the arc — Moon and Frazier for Zenit, while Kellan Martin and Derek Needham (twice) did the same for Besiktas. The trend from the previous quarter continued as Besiktas tried to close the gap, but Zenit kept them at a distance. Notable moments included Bacon’s lightning-fast drive to the basket and Moon’s steal in another play. However, Besiktas's team foul trouble didn’t work in their favor, and Zenit players repeatedly went to the free-throw line — 63:60 before the final quarter.
In the early minutes of the last period, Vince Hunter made his presence felt, first scoring a layup, then blocking Allman with a powerful rejection, and finally leaving the court after receiving a technical foul. Another three-pointer from Xavier Moon made it clear that Besiktas had no plan for the game’s closing minutes. The Turkish players made unforced errors, and after a poorly set screen, Dustin Sleva also left the court. A fast break from Zhbanov and Moon, followed by a dunk from Poythress, began to signal the day’s winner. However, with three minutes left, Besiktas tied the score, ensuring a tense finish. In the final seconds, Zenit’s victory was secured by the individual skills of certain players: Spellman barely blocked a Turkish three-point attempt, and Moon sank two clutch free throws after a hard fall under the opponent’s basket. The final score was 83:80.
Zenit’s top performers were Dwayne Bacon (21 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist), Xavier Moon (21 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals), and Omari Spellman (15 points, 8 rebounds, 1 assist).
The second group stage match of the Supercup, which will determine the fate of the final, will take place tomorrow, September 13th. The game against Kazan’s UNICS is scheduled to start at 20:00 St. Petersburg time. The match will be broadcast on the MATCH IGRA channel, as well as on the VTB United League website.
