“All these reasons weighed down on the home team’s performance,” acknowledged Head Coach Kestutis Kemzura f BC Khimki. And although outwardly satisfied with the results, the coach was in no way happy with the team’s overall game. Later, however, he did let on that it is few and far between when a coach is satisfied with the quality of basketball his team plays court.

The Lithuanian coach also conceded that:

— I was apprehensive that for this game, after the defeat in the Euro Cup, the basketball players would not train as needed.

— And that is what happened. The boys wanted to play a spectacular game on court and going for the “beauty,” they committed some errors. Lokomotiv is a good shooting team. On Friday the visitors had a very good offense. Having this chance, they did not get their winning moments on their own. On several occasions, they were at “-4,” loosening the offense in response to not scoring, and did not approach the rival. At least in the second quarter they started to show a better defense.


You let all the players plays, as a result of the starting line up’s low level of spirit, or…?

— Had I left just the key players on court, I think the score would have been a bit different. But we had other objectives for this match. We decided to experiment a bit in the development of new offensive plays. However, the lack of organization, and agility on the part of the defense let Lokomotiv gain on our deficiencies. For as much as you can pep talk a player, they can see the difference in levels, without offense to the good team that Lokomitiv is. We couldn’t get this out of the player’s minds. And I wanted all the players to have some game time.

Qualify Shved’s debut, and in what position do you see him playing?

— He didn’t let me down, Alexei played well. He undoubtedly is a talented player, but needs to work some more. I see him as a playmaker, but any guard has to dominate a “neighboring position.” A rear guard has to know how to attack on his own, and assist a team mate. In today’s modern basketball, there is no such thing as a pure playmaker or point guard.

The head coach for STK Lokomotiv, Vladimir KOLOSKOV, is happy to have let a series of young players play, saying:

— Any A Division game and even more so with such an opponent, offers a lot to young players. I am happy with how they played, and faced the situation. But there were also moments in the game that had me bitter.

— The motivation for the young ones was evident, although unfortunately they were lacking, and this I have to make them see. Of course, the rookies need some more game time, and these matches are the best way to give them that. They lost a lot in terms of level, but we mustn’t forget their ages. I think the home team was a bit weary psychologically, after the defeat at the hands of Crvena Zvezda.

Why didn’t Pavel Podkolzin play?

— He came with us, and will have some tests in Moscow. He needs a special training regime. We have plans and if his conditions allow, he will play to his fullest potential. We have to arrange new playing schemes for him to bring palpable results. He is a player with unique parameters, and is just the kind of player we were lacking.

Later, Pavel was seen outside the Lokomotiv locker room, and when offered success and congratulations on his transfer to his new club, he replied: “New Club?” He later agreed that after his approximate five-year absence from Novosibirsk, the team had been made over completely.