Zenit-2 secures a victory in the final minutes against Dynamo
The reserve team of the blue-whites achieved a stunning comeback win in the final quarter against reigning Fonbet Super League champions, Vladivostok's Dynamo, during an intense match at the Basketball Academy.
From the opening seconds, Zenit-2’s starting lineup included Pavel Zemskiy, Egor Ryzhov, Semen Burinskiy, Daniil Aksenov and Mikhail Dulkay. The game started chaotically. Dynamo center Sergey Klyuev picked up three personal fouls within the first 40 seconds, gifting St. Petersburg several free throws, though they were converted inconsistently. Zenit-2 struggled to score from open play until Dulkay intercepted the ball on defense, sprinted to the other end, and finished with a powerful dunk. Aksenov then followed with a three-pointer, leading the game into a tightly contested phase with both teams trading points. The first quarter flew by in this competitive rhythm, ending 21:22 in favor of Dynamo.
The high level of competition continued into the second quarter. Both teams took turns producing scoring runs, but neither managed to build a lead larger than 4-5 points. Zemskiy and Prokopenko excelled in the paint, while Ahmedov and Dulkay sank important free throws. This teamwork allowed Zenit-2 to narrowly win the quarter, concluding the first half tied at 44:44.
After the halftime break, Ryzhov quickly added 2 points to Zenit-2’s tally. However, Dynamo responded with a 9:0 run, seizing a comfortable lead and taking control of the game’s tempo. Despite attempts by Zenit-2 to close the gap — highlighted by consecutive dunks from Dulkay and Ryzhov — the visitors maintained their pressure and extended their advantage to 12 points. Heading into the final quarter, Zenit-2 trailed 56:68.
The fourth quarter began bleakly for the hosts, as scoring contributions from Klyuev and Nesterov stretched Dynamo's lead to 15 points. At that moment, Zenit-2 launched their comeback, delivering their best performance of the match. The rally began with three-pointers from Khodorich and Dulkay, with Zenit-2 gradually chipping away at the deficit. With 90 seconds remaining, Aksenov completed a three-point play (3+1), putting Zenit-2 ahead. From there, the blue-whites held their lead, securing a dramatic 85:78 victory.
Top performers and key contributors to the comeback: Pavel Zemskiy (19 points + 8 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 steal + 1 block), Egor Ryzhov (15 points + 8 rebounds + 4 assists + 2 steals), Mikhail Dulkay (15 points + 14 rebounds + 1 assist + 1 steal), Artem Khodorich (12 points + 2 assists) and Daniil Aksenov (12 points + 4 assists + 1 steal).
Oliver Popovic's team will play their next game on Sunday, December 1, also at home at the Basketball Academy. The meeting with Irkut will start at 18:00 St. Petersburg time. Entrance for all fans is free, and the broadcast of the match will be available on the website of the Russian Basketball Federation.
