Zenit defeated Lokomotiv Kuban in Semifinals Game 2 at home – 85:80 (15:28, 30:22, 17:15, 23:15).
Game progress
Zenit started the Semifinals with the 27-point difference win. Lokomotiv worked on mistakes and first stopped the hosts, then showed trademark aggressive basketball at the end of the quarter. Antonius Cleveland and Vladislav Emchenko helped Loko to make a 16-3 run and get a 16-point lead after first quarter.
Coach of the Year Xavier Pascual reacted quickly. The St. Petersburg team responded with three-pointers, which allowed to cut the deficit to 5 points by the halftime.
In the third quarter, the teams slowed down a bit. Zenit managed to get closer and the Krasnodar team bigmen started to have foul troubles. Isaiah Whaley three-pointers confirmed the guests ambitions in fourth quarter, but the St. Petersburg team responded with Georgy Zhbanov long-range shots, and the game went to the clutch.
Key moment
Positional offense and Georgy Zhbanov helped to achieve the initiative in the end. Zenit was better able to use opportunities, while Loko lacked of consistency scoring. The Russian guard started the clutch with spectacular dunk (80:77) and another three-pointer (83-79) in the final minute. After that, Zenit managed to hold on to their initiative with doubling lead in series 2-0.
X-factor
Georgy Zhbanov. One of the best lockdown defenders in the League, this time he proved in offense. He doubled his season average in efficiency – 14 points with 5 of 6 field-goals made. The Russian guard shots came in crucial moments of the game.
Facts
Xavier Pascual’s team won the 25th game in a row and set all-time high, which was set by CSKA in 2022/23 season.
The St. Petersburg team took the lead for the first time 4 minutes till the end after a three-pointer by Georgy Zhbanov.
Leaders
Zenit: Dwayne Bacon (20 + 6 rebounds + 5 assists), Georgy Zhbanov (14), Trent Frazier (12), Vince Hunter (8 + 10 rebounds).
Lokomotiv Kuban: Patrick Miller (22 + 9 rebounds), Isaiah Whaley (15 + 5 rebounds), Antonius Cleveland (13 + 6 rebounds).
What’s next
May 11 in Krasnodar.
