Zenit beat UNICS at home – 81:64 (8:21, 24:19, 27:15, 22:9)
Top scorers
Zenit: Mateusz Ponitka (23 + 4 steals), Kevin Pangos (19 + 5 rebounds), Austin Hollins (10).
UNICS: Jordan Theodore (11), Jordan Morgan (10), Nate Walters (10).
Story
Zenit (6-0) approached the Game of the week as the only undefeated team of the League. UNICS (3-2) got back to the positive record (3-2) after beating Khimki and wanted to extend the success. The start was slow: after 5 and a half minutes the score was 8:2 in guests’ favour. Then, Kazan started scoring points, Jordan Theodore and Pavel Sergeev dropped 3-point bombs, Sergeev did it twice while Petersburg had these 8 points all quarter long. In the second quarter Zenit pulled themselves together, Austin Hollins and Billy Baron started scoring. However, during another Zenit’s bad streak via Theodore and Kostas Kaimakoglou’s accurate long-range shots UNICS gained the biggest lead of the game – 40:21 with 3 minutes before the half-time.
In a tough situation for the hosts Mateusz Ponitka decided to take over the game. The Pole was on fire after successful 3-pointer, and then punished UNICS twice for their turnovers: dunk and a contested three on the last seconds of the possession! The second quarter ended with Zenit’s 11:0 run that gave them hope for a comeback after the break.
❌ @AlexTheGreat22 Poythress protects the Zenit's rim with the BLOCK! pic.twitter.com/J70rqkWCtO
— VTB League (@VTBUL) December 6, 2020
Zenit’s comeback took place in the second half. Jordan Morgan, who was on the bench because of 4 personal fouls, weakened UNICS’ defense, Ponitka scored 7 more consecutive points, and finally Will Thomas evened the score with his three – 44:44. Dimitrios Priftis’ zone defense let the guests close the paint and calm the situation but this move weakened the perimeter. Vladislav Trushkin and Kevin Pangos benefited of that and scored 2 downtown shots each. By the decisive quarter Zenit were up ahead – 59:55.
Key moment
In the middle of the fourth when UNICS were trying to force clutch ending Pangos dared to attempt a contested three and hit it. In the following possession Georgy Zhbanov drove into the paint and tried to dunk the ball but he was blocked by Hollins. 10 seconds after the big defensive play the American drained a 3-pointer – 71:59. Holding a comfortable lead Zenit spent last 2 minutes of the game calmly and made it to the 7th victory in 7 games.
In the regular season Zenit beat UNICS at home for the first time since April 24, 2016.
Hero
Mateusz Ponitka. The Pole almost alone brought Zenit back to the game after -19, in a short period scoring 17 of 18 team points. He has 24 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals with 7 from 7 field goals and 7 of 7 free throws.
Stat
19 – UNICS’ biggest lead in the game.
Comments
Zenit head coach Xavi Pascual:
– We are happy, it’s an important victory. In the beginning we were still thinking about Fenerbahce. It’s hard to play after a bad game. In the first half we were mentally weak. In the last 5 minutes of the second quarter we got back into the game, became better in defense and offense. After 25 minutes of the game we started to play better. Mateusz Ponitka works hard every day, he has spirit and motivation. Now he is in good shape and we must benefit from it. Vlad Trushkin changed the way the game went today just like Vitaly Fridzon in the game against Basconia. Vlad gave us confidence and energy that we lacked.
UNICS head coach Dimitrios Priftis:
– We had a good first half till we played smart and sticked to the game plan. In the second half we disappeared. The opponents played more aggressive, we lost focus and showed a different basketball. We had losses, during the game we lost Uzinskii. Congratulations to Zenit on the victory, I wish them good luck in upcoming Euroleague games.
Next
Zenit: December 13 @ Lokomotiv-Kuban
UNICS: December 12 vs Kalev
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