Sergey Kushchenko: "The playoff will show how strong Zenit and CSKA are"

The President of the VTB United League, Sergey Kushchenko, attended the last home game of the blue-whites against Kazan (76:79) and shared his impressions of the game between the regular season leaders.

— Sergey Valentinovich, I must ask about Janis Timma. What happened was a real tragedy for the entire basketball community.

— Without a doubt, it’s a bereavement. Today’s game is one of the key matches, not just of the week, but probably of the month. Matches like these, involving the big four clubs, are always very intense, as this one demonstrated. The moment of silence in honor of Janis was undoubtedly a vital gesture. We wanted to pay tribute to this player who spent many years in our league and was among the Top 10 foreign players in terms of scoring.

Both the clubs and the League did this. Clubs where Janis played, and even those where he didn’t, all contributed. We’re all trying to provide the help requested by Janis’s relatives. I believe we will do everything in our power to help.

— Which December match did you find more thrilling: today’s or Zenit vs. CSKA?

— These matches stand apart for us. Watching them feels like returning to the EuroLeague. The level of defense, the quality of contact, the coaching decisions...

Take today, for example: Zenit pulled off the impossible by coming back from such a deficit. It was already the third major comeback of the game, and those are always incredibly tough. In the end, the leaders just didn’t have the fresh legs for those final shots after the turnovers. However, both of Zenit’s recent matches deserve recognition. They were played at the highest level.

— How would you characterize this revamped Zenit team?

— You know, Zenit has enormous potential. This roster, this coach — who knows how to manage them — has everything needed. Pascual always strives to achieve maximum results. In two to three months, we’ll see the playoff games. That’s when it will become clear just how strong Zenit, CSKA, and Kazan truly are. Once again, I want to emphasize that these matches are won through high-quality defensive contact and intensity. And, of course, through a deep bench. Today, Zenit played with a 10-man rotation, and they also have a young homegrown talent, Egor Ryzhov, in the lineup. He’s been showing great promise in recent games.