Zenit Academy — silver medalists of the Russian U23 Basketball Championship 3x3
The new team of the Zenit system took part in their first 3x3 basketball tournament. The squad, led by Sergey Sylko, reached the final of the Russian U23 Championship, where they fell just short of victory. The competition was held on November 9-10 in St. Petersburg at the Vladimir Kondrashin Basketball Academy.
The blue-whites team had a successful debut on November 9, making it to the playoffs after the qualification matches. During the group stage, Sergey Sylko's team first lost to the Nizhny Novgorod team Krasny Yakor (11:21), but then defeated the Bulldogs from Vologda (22:10). Thanks to a better point difference, Zenit Academy advanced to the 1/8 finals from second place in the group.
That evening, in the elimination match, Zenit Academy won under high pressure against TSSP Obninsk with a score of 17:16. The statistics of the St. Petersburg players in this game: Artem Khodorich (6 points + 4 rebounds + 1 assist), Ilyas Abdul (5 points + 6 rebounds + 2 steals), Zakhar Romashov (3 points + 3 steals + 1 rebound + 1 assist), Maxim Rudko (3 points + 6 rebounds + 2 assists + 1 block).
The next day, November 10, the blue-whites team faced COP SPb in the quarterfinals, which they won 16:11. The match was competitive for most of the game, but a late surge allowed Zenit to seize the victory. The most productive player in the quarterfinals for Zenit Academy was Artem Khodorich, who scored 8 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and made 1 key assist.
In the semifinals, Zenit Academy defeated Parma with a score of 22:16. After conceding first, Sergey Sylko's players quickly took the lead and held it throughout the game. The statistics of the blue-whites players in this match: Zakhar Romashov (9 points + 2 rebounds + 1 assist), Maxim Rudko (7 points + 2 rebounds), Artem Khodorich (5 points + 4 rebounds), Ilyas Abdul (1 point + 5 rebounds + 2 assists + 3 steals).
Unfortunately, the final match ended in defeat for the St. Petersburg team. The blue-whites squad lost to Khimki Power with a score of 17:21. The game was evenly paced, but midway through, the opponent made a 10-point run, and the Zenit team was unable to recover. The statistics of our players in the final: Artem Khodorich (9 points + 3 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 steal), Ilyas Abdul (3 points + 6 rebounds + 3 assists + 1 block), Maxim Rudko (3 points + 1 rebound), Zakhar Romashov (2 points + 1 rebound + 1 assist).
In the end of the tournament, Artem Khodorich was awarded a personal honor — Most dangerous player.
