Zenit triumphs in Krasnodar
The first quarter was a close battle, with each team fighting for every point. Zenit’s Hunter-Bacon-Frazier trio shined on offense: Vince scored from under the ring, Trent hit his free throws and Dwayne took on solo drives. Toward the end of the first ten minutes, Zenit managed to create a solid 5-point lead. However, in Lokomotiv’s final play, center Kirill Elatontsev’s powerful slam dunk slightly closed the gap, leaving the teams at 15:18 in Saint Petersburg’s favor at the first pause.
In the next segment, the game continued with 3-5 points span, though Lokomotiv repeatedly managed to catch up. The quarter began with a spectacular dunk by Poythress, likely to be a highlight of the week. Until the middle of this period, Zenit rarely attempted three-pointers; Frazier finally sank their first successful three-pointer on only their third attempt. Krasnodar briefly gained a 4-point lead, but efforts by Shcherbenev and Spellman’s long-range shot helped Zenit reclaim the lead by the end of the first half, with a score of 37:38.
After halftime, Lokomotiv Kuban tried to pull ahead. The quarter started calmly with a three-pointer by Frazier, but gradually the hosts extended their lead. Thanks to their star Patrick Miller, Krasnodar managed to build a 5-7 point advantage, posing a serious challenge for Xavi Pascual’s team. Zenit quickly managed to even the score, with Trent and Xavier repeatedly breaking through Lokomotiv’s defense. Omari ultimately tied the game, and the score stood at 58:58 before the final quarter.
The beginning of the last quarter laid the foundation for Zenit’s victory. A 3+1 play by Moon and a finishing off by Poythress in the next possession gave Zenit a comfortable lead, which they used effectively during the final ten minutes. Despite intense efforts from the home team, they couldn’t catch up. Alongside Hunter and Bacon’s sharp offensive plays, Zenit’s defense stepped up, with Poythress blocking Isaiah Whaley’s shot in the final minutes. Zenit took their revenge for the October loss, ending the game 71:77.
The top players for Zenit were Xavier Moon (15 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals), Trent Frazier (15 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) and Alex Poythress (13 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks).
Zenit’s next game will take place on November 7 at the CSC Arena, facing Krasnoyarsk’s Enisey. The game starts at 20:00 Saint Petersburg time. Tickets available at tickets.bc-zenit.com.
