• Statistics.Zenit St. Petersburg - Kirolbet Baskonia

You could say that Zenit was better than Baskonia , but it would be missing the truth. The reality is that the Russian team was the least bad in a Euroleague duel (72-66) that did not seem such, because neither one seems to have, right now, the level necessary to compete with the best teams in Europe. Something about St. Petersburg reached this day as colistas, for something Baskonia has only been able to win one of its last six games. Or two of nine, however you like.

The Catalans, despite their arreón in the last quarter, remain mired in a crisis that does not seem to have an easy solution. The pivots still do not work and, still absent Vildoza by injury, there is no player capable of generating play from the base position. Henry is not that type of player and Sergi García is simply still (22 years old) below the level required in a competition like the Euroleague.

But beyond the structural or workmanship problems, Baskonia lost in St. Petersburg because it repeatedly failed in issues that have more to do with attitude than with talent, such as losses and rebound. It is true that Zenit was far from shining in those facets , but he made fewer mistakes in the decisive moments of the duel and that served to add his sixth victory of the course, the second on his court.

The first half of the match was hopelessly marked by the absence of a visible clock on the court that indicated how much room was left at each moment. The players of two of them were barely arranged, one in each corner of the court (one had to make an effort to see it), which only offered the reference of the time of possession. Very insufficient for the best competition in Europe, which should have alternatives when technology fails, as happened on Thursday in St. Petersburg.

In those first two quarters, Baskonia was clearly in tow of a Zenit who found in Ponitka the leader he needed. The rude and continuous defensive mistakes of the Vitorians led to those of Plaza feeling more comfortable on the court than usual. With Ayón limited to a few minutes due to physical discomfort, former Baskonist Iverson became master and lord of the area without those of Ivanovic finding arguments to reverse the balance.

At the beginning of the third quarter, Zenit set a maximum income of 12 points (43-31) that finally made the Baskonia react. He reduced it to two points thanks to a partial 2-12 and compressed the duel to the fullest. Already in the final quarter, cohabitation on the Polonara and Shengelia court gave rise to a more dynamic and attacked Baskonia in attack. Ivanovic managed to get ahead on the scoreboard, leading the duel towards a tight end. In it, however, they made too many mistakes and allowed the final triumph of Zenit.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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