Alexander Shcherbenev: "It's nice to finish the tournament with a win"

Alexander Shcherbenev shared his emotions after the victory in the "bronze" match against Crvena Zvezda (83:70). The blue-whites guard told more details about the comeback in the second half of the game and the tournament overall.

— Alexander, congratulations on winning third place. Tell us, please, the medal looks almost like gold. Does it feel that way too?

— Not exactly, but it's nice to finish the tournament with a victory. There’s a lot to think about and areas to work on. Of course, it’s disappointing that we didn’t defend the cup. But, as I know, statistics show that the team that wins the Super Cup doesn’t win the VTB League. So, we increased our chances in the championship, and although this is an official tournament, it’s still preseason. It’s great to have the opportunity to play against such opponents at this stage and really see our strengths and weaknesses.

— At some point, it became clear that you were almost playing the leading role. Did you realize and feel that on the court?

— Yes, I felt it and tried my best to help the team win. I’m glad it worked out.

— When the three-pointers started going in one after another, did it give you a boost?

— Yes, it gave me a bit of relief, especially since I missed four in the previous three games. It was about time to make some shots.

— Can we say that the team is well-prepared for the season? Do you feel a connection with your teammates? Is there already team chemistry and cohesion?

— We're working on it; after all, we’ve had quite a significant roster update. So, I’m confident these games will benefit us greatly. But it’s too early to say we’re in optimal shape or playing at our best yet. There’s still work to be done, and we’ll focus on that before the championship starts.

— Egor Ryzhov had a good performance. How did you encourage him in the locker room?

— He did a great job, really tried hard, and I’m sure he’ll have a good season. We’ll support him in every way we can.