Zenit beat Lokomotiv Kuban in Semifinals Game 1 – 106:79 (29:18, 27:26, 26:21, 24:14).
Game progress
Before the opening game of the series, Xavier Pascual won the Coach of the Year award. Game from the very beginning followed the Spanish coach script. Zenit used trademark basketball with solid defense and positional offense. Dwayne Bacon and Trent Frazier helped the St. Petersburg team started with an 11-2 run and continued in the same pace until halftime with building up the lead. Bacon had 19 points at the end of half, and the bench backed up the leaders – 56:44.
In the second half, Lokomotiv tried to pick up the pace and make a comeback, but Zenit controlled the momentum, Bacon and Frazier replied on every made shot by the guests – 82:65.
Loko couldn’t save the game in the fourth quarter. Zenit confidently took Game 1 of the Semifinals.
X-factor
Dwayne Bacon had his best game in efficiency in the VTB League (40). The forward had 33 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists on 13 of 20 field-goals made.
Facts
Xavier Pascual team won the 24th game in a row and repeated the tournament record previously set by CSKA.
The St. Petersburg team beat Lokomotiv Kuban at home for the first time this season.
Leaders
Zenit: Dwayne Bacon (33 + 8 rebounds), Trent Frazier (24), Okaro White (15).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Patrick Miller (17), Andrei Martiuk (13 + 5 rebounds), Vladislav Emchenko (10), Antonius Cleveland (10).
What’s next
May 7 in St. Petersburg.
