Monya: “We gave the audience a real basketball feast”

Sergey Monya won the VTB United League for the first time in 2011, when he was just starting to play for Khimki.

Then the capital's CSKA lost for the first time in the final of the tournament, held in the Final Four format.

11 years later, he helped Zenit break the hegemony of the red and blue, this time in a full-fledged series of up to four victories.

- Could you have imagined that everything would turn out this way when you moved to Zenit?

“The ending was incredible for us.

Only three months in the team - and became champions.

The most positive emotions and feelings.

I hope I did not finish my career in vain, and we really helped: me, Vitaly Fridzon and Egor Vyaltsev.

What game do you remember the most?

— All were deposited in the memory.

But, of course, the final series with CSKA stands apart.

The fifth match, which we won, was decisive.

It was after him that we finally believed that we were capable of becoming champions.

Two meetings in St. Petersburg also turned out to be crazy in terms of atmosphere.

Well, the final, seventh confrontation, when Megasport set a record for attendance.

I think the fans enjoyed watching our rivalry.

- After the score in the series became 0-2, what did the coach tell you?

- He said, since we lost twice in Moscow, then we need to win in St. Petersburg.

Nothing terrible happened: we need to take both home meetings and one away game.

But we went a little different way.

- The last matches of the final were sold out.

Were there games in your career that were similar in atmosphere?

- If you go out on the court with full stands, it's amazing.

And it doesn't matter where exactly you play, at home or away.

It's always nice when the place is full.

It can be seen that people are interested, they love basketball.

Did the fans miss the sport during the pandemic?

- I think yes.

We played seven hard games.

This has never happened before.

Tension until the last match.

Nobody knew how the series would end.

They gave the audience a real basketball feast.

Is this format more interesting for you than the Final Four?

- When the winner is determined in one match, the result is less predictable.

A strong team on a bad day can lose the most important meeting.

And when seven games are given, skill must be shown for two weeks.

And the strongest wins.

- Many legionnaires left Russia.

It turns out that you need to involve young guys?

- If there is a chance to give them time, the coaches will do it.

But then it all depends on the basketball players themselves.

From desire, diligence, patience, trust of the mentor.

You need to take advantage of the opportunity.

No one will artificially drag.

Some teams have guys who can play at a good level in the future.

- How difficult is it to play exclusively in the domestic championship?

- This is a new experience.

So what to do?

If this is the case, then you have to accept it.

Of course, I would like to participate in international competitions.

They give tremendous experience, because you play with the strongest.

But the political situation in the world is such that we have to limit ourselves to national tournaments.

— But now in the VTB United League you will have to give all your best.

— Yes, because it will be, in fact, the only tournament.

We are waiting for the calendar.

Maybe we can make more matches.

- Will the next season turn out to be more interesting than the previous one?

- There is always something to strive for.

Hope it gets better.

But it is not known which legionnaires will arrive in the offseason.

High-class basketball players will choose those teams that play in the Euroleague.

So it's hard to guess right now.

- That is, it’s too early to write off veterans, because you can’t build a team on one youth ...

- What kind of players are needed, the general managers of the clubs will decide.

We are slave people.

- Do you plan to continue your career

?

- Let's see.

So far, health seems to be failing

(

in April, Sergei Monet turned 39 years old.

- RT )

.

You need to understand what proposals will come, and then make a decision, think.

— What are you currently doing?

While I'm on vacation, I spend time with my family.

But, of course, the form will have to be maintained.

Vyaltsev: “With our appearance, it became more fun and atmospheric”

For defender Egor Vyaltsev, unlike Monya and Fridzon, the victory in the VTB United League was the first in his career.

He hardly appeared on the court in the final series, so he focused more on maintaining morale in the locker room and helping the coaching staff.

- It's been a week and a half since the triumph.

What are your impressions of him?

— This season turned out to be very ambiguous for me and my colleagues.

The victory was the icing on the cake.

Of course, we did not expect that everything would end so epic.

For me, this is the first title.

I have been waiting for it for 20 years.

About nine silver medals at home, and already I wanted gold.

And everything worked out amazingly.

They called me to a great team - Zenit.

The coach believed in us and gave us the opportunity to become direct participants in the competition.

We played a little.

Because of this, they were not upset, at one time they had already spent enough time on the site.

But this time, the tasks before us were different - to rally the team.

And I am very glad that we have made our small contribution to the historic victory.

Because CSKA is a unique team that has been winning for ten years.

It's really hard to deal with her.

I know this firsthand.

We have gained tremendous experience.

Everyone is proud and happy to be a part of this success.

— But would it be more correct if you won this title with Khimki?

“Now there are a lot of unusual things.

But, unfortunately, most things now cannot be called logical.

It is what it is.

And I'm glad to become the champion of the United League, regardless of the team.

Zenith has an excellent team and organization.

Young guys, cool coach.

And everyone who worked at the club helped a lot.

Big thanks to them for that.

- Zenit is a young team.

It turns out that she just lacked such experienced fighters as you?

- I think yes.

They needed unity inside, I guess.

Believe in each of the players, give their role.

In addition to coaching decisions, mutual understanding in the team is necessary.

Lend a shoulder to each other, help out in a difficult situation, support with a kind word, shout somewhere.

I think we have a great team.

And without this, without the atmosphere in the locker room, there are no victories.

- Who was the main ringleader?

“I think all three of us are veterans.

As the guys said, not only foreigners, but also Russians, with our appearance it became a little more fun, more atmospheric, mutual understanding appeared.

- How did you meet in St. Petersburg after the victory?

The fans were waiting for us at the airport.

And then they met at the Sibur Arena.

There were a lot of fans.

Salute.

Thank you all for such a warm welcome.

- What are your plans for the summer?

- I will play in the amateur league.

I plan to play every Sunday and train three or four times a week.

And, of course, spending time with family.

I have three children - there is something to do.

But you still won't forget about basketball?

- Of course not.

Because personally it is very difficult for me to start the training camp after a long break.

I always try to exercise.

Maybe less than usual, but constantly moving, gym or basketball is a must.