The seventh match of the VTB United League semi-final series took place in Moscow. As a result, Lokomotiv Kuban beat the most titled Russian basketball club – CSKA. The score in the match is 103:100 in favor of Krasnodar. We managed to beat a strong opponent in overtime. This victory allowed the Kuban club to reach the final. The rival of Kuban in the final will be determined today, May 2, in the match between Kazan UNICS and Zenit.
Andrey Vedischev – President of PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban:
– A very difficult match: nerves, nerves, nerves. Now we are happy because we have just beaten the most titled club in the country, which was almost always in the finals. And tomorrow we will find out with whom we will play – and we will begin to prepare. You need to be ready for the final, first of all, mentally. But we have both the character and the skill to continue playing for the title. Thanks to the fans – we heard them the whole match, they are the best with us. They gave us the necessary energy that was needed today in order to win this most difficult match. Now our goal is to win the final. It is on this that we now concentrate all our efforts.
Alexander Shcherbenev, a 22-year-old graduate of the Lokomotiv-Kuban reserve system, became the best player in the final segment of the Moscow victory match. Krasnodar in decisive moments took the lead in organizing attacks and converted the most important free throws. As a result, he scored 15 points (10 of them in overtime) and made 4 assists, and his game in the end was decisive for the victory.
Alexander Shcherbenev – defender of PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban:
– A very important victory, few people believed in us before this series with CSKA, but we proved to everyone with our game and work that it was we who deserved to reach the final. To be honest, there is not much time to rejoice. The goals are very serious – the most important matches of the season are ahead. We believe in ourselves, in our strength, we will do everything to take the first place!
Prior to that, Loko played in the VTB United League final only once in its history – exactly 10 years ago, in the 2012/13 season. Then, in the fight for gold, the rival of the red-greens was CSKA, which won the series 3:1.
The VTB United League has been running since the 2009/10 season. CSKA is the 10-time winner of the tournament, the team did not reach the final for the first time.
