EYBL – 1993. Playing three consecutive days not an easy task18 march 2007
The last match in the third stage of the EYBL tournament left a strong impression even on the League’s President Guntis Shenkhovs. Khimki’s boys played another Moscow Region team: BC Metallurg Profil, of Lobnya. To designate the winner, the game had to go to overtime; and full of suspense in an intense battle, the victory went to the home team: 73-72. At the end of the game, Khimki Coach Alexander VASILKOV answered some questions.
BC Khimki vs. BC Metallurg Profil (Lobnya): 73-72 ОТ (17-17, 10-19, 11-13, 25-14, 10-9).
Top Scorers: Karpenko (22 + 7 rebounds), Semichev (20), Butorin (12 + 12 rebounds).
— Our team played all games of the third stage with a lot of confidence. After each victory, came an even sweeter one. Finally the last day arrived, and with the final of the third stage, the decisive one.
— The first part was the most successful for Khimki’s players. The team bore several defeats, and because of this, when faced with the last game of the third stage, the team had a mission: to win, without a doubt, and to do so with more than 18 points. This result would guarantee the yellow-n-blues a place in the Super Final.
— The main opponent was Metallurg Profil, a neighbor from the Moscow Region. A lot of people came to see the game, both from Lobnya and from Khimki.
— At first those from Lobnya were ahead with 8-4, but later passed the lead on to Khimki, and the visiting team quickly leveled the score. It was a tug-o-war: 17-17, given the results of the first quarter.
— In the first minutes of the second quarter the visiting team gained a lead of 5 points. Throughout the quarter, Khimki was unable to even get close to the fugitives, every so often they would fumble and couldn’t even it out. So, with 10 seconds left to the break, the lead grew for the opponent to: 27-36.
— Moreover, with 4 minutes to the end of the third period, the visiting team led by 13 points. However, our players stopped them right there. During the next few minutes the difference fluctuated around 10 points. That is when Khimki’s players kicked into aggressive mode, and placed more focus on defense, watching the ball more closely. At 2.18 to the end of the quarter, Karpenko leveled the count with an inside shot: 57-57.
— Later, the opponent interchanged some offensive attempts from several distance. With 14.8 seconds until the siren, the count again was level: 63-63. At the last moment the visiting team lost possession of the ball and our players handled the situation until they could score, going to overtime.
— The fans for Trinta, dressed in blue and yellow were rooting for their neighbors and brothers of the same team colors as Khimki. At midway through overtime, Lobnya again took the lead: 64-69. Two regrettable moments in favor of the visiting team put nerves on end. At first the rival team’s player fouled his fifth, and after the heated debate with the referee an additional technical foul was added on: 66-69.
— With 13 seconds left for the whistle, Kots launched a free throw and converted a bonus: 71-70. However, as a reply, the visiting team scored in an offensive: 71-72. Then Yuri Karpenko was called in an impermissible play. He converted both free throws and with 9 seconds left the team played to keep the count. The rival was unable to force any fouls.
— Undoubtedly the boys tired out, after playing four games, including one versus Belorussia yesterday, which was a tough game, so I was not surprised that this last game was so difficult t for them.
They say the boys recovered quickly…
— Yes but playing two games everyday for three consecutive days is not an easy task even for them.
What did you tell the players during half time? They gave a different game when the hit the court afterwards.
— I calmed them down. Plus the cheers from the stands for Lobnya as well as for us. The players are not used to this. They might have lost a bit, but I found the necessary words to fix things. As a result, the team played the kind of game they know best.
Was something supernatural needed in order to recover 13 points against the opponent?
— No, we didn’t do anything in particular. As I mentioned before, we just showed them how we play.
Did they regroup efforts for overtime, or did things not turn out as desired?
— Some things we were able to gain, others we were not. We won, so I suppose the work done was effective.
Khimki placed second by a mere point difference between received and shot, does this make you angry?
— No, because we are the second strongest team for the moment.
Are you happy with the results and the change? Compared to the previous state, the team was noticeably different.
— We have training plans. The boys change, they get organized, and understand easily, and this has brought, and I won’t deny it, a pleasant result.
After the game, the president for EYBL, Guntis SHENKHOVS, recognized that:
— The last game really impressed me. It has been some time since I last saw such an intriguing game. Congratulations to Khimki for their victory, and again, I would like to mention that the organization for this stage was of a very high standard.
(Watch for the upcoming complete interview with Guntis Shenkhovs)
BEST PLAYERS
Guard: Anton Poprugo (Minsk 2006)
Forward: Sergey Karasev (Trinta)
Center: Rikhards Pazhe (Spars)
Best Number 3 – 4: Ivan Vadeev (Trinta)
MVP: Yuri Karpenko (Khimki)
Moscow Region Directorate Award: Yuri Karpenko (Khimki)
Khimki District Administration Award: Alexei Semichev (Khimki)
Russian Development Bank Award: Stanislav Kots (Khimki)
Top Scorers: Karpenko (22 + 7 rebounds), Semichev (20), Butorin (12 + 12 rebounds).
— Our team played all games of the third stage with a lot of confidence. After each victory, came an even sweeter one. Finally the last day arrived, and with the final of the third stage, the decisive one.
— The first part was the most successful for Khimki’s players. The team bore several defeats, and because of this, when faced with the last game of the third stage, the team had a mission: to win, without a doubt, and to do so with more than 18 points. This result would guarantee the yellow-n-blues a place in the Super Final.
— The main opponent was Metallurg Profil, a neighbor from the Moscow Region. A lot of people came to see the game, both from Lobnya and from Khimki.
— At first those from Lobnya were ahead with 8-4, but later passed the lead on to Khimki, and the visiting team quickly leveled the score. It was a tug-o-war: 17-17, given the results of the first quarter.
— In the first minutes of the second quarter the visiting team gained a lead of 5 points. Throughout the quarter, Khimki was unable to even get close to the fugitives, every so often they would fumble and couldn’t even it out. So, with 10 seconds left to the break, the lead grew for the opponent to: 27-36.
— Moreover, with 4 minutes to the end of the third period, the visiting team led by 13 points. However, our players stopped them right there. During the next few minutes the difference fluctuated around 10 points. That is when Khimki’s players kicked into aggressive mode, and placed more focus on defense, watching the ball more closely. At 2.18 to the end of the quarter, Karpenko leveled the count with an inside shot: 57-57.
— Later, the opponent interchanged some offensive attempts from several distance. With 14.8 seconds until the siren, the count again was level: 63-63. At the last moment the visiting team lost possession of the ball and our players handled the situation until they could score, going to overtime.
— The fans for Trinta, dressed in blue and yellow were rooting for their neighbors and brothers of the same team colors as Khimki. At midway through overtime, Lobnya again took the lead: 64-69. Two regrettable moments in favor of the visiting team put nerves on end. At first the rival team’s player fouled his fifth, and after the heated debate with the referee an additional technical foul was added on: 66-69.
— With 13 seconds left for the whistle, Kots launched a free throw and converted a bonus: 71-70. However, as a reply, the visiting team scored in an offensive: 71-72. Then Yuri Karpenko was called in an impermissible play. He converted both free throws and with 9 seconds left the team played to keep the count. The rival was unable to force any fouls.
— Undoubtedly the boys tired out, after playing four games, including one versus Belorussia yesterday, which was a tough game, so I was not surprised that this last game was so difficult t for them.
They say the boys recovered quickly…
— Yes but playing two games everyday for three consecutive days is not an easy task even for them.
What did you tell the players during half time? They gave a different game when the hit the court afterwards.
— I calmed them down. Plus the cheers from the stands for Lobnya as well as for us. The players are not used to this. They might have lost a bit, but I found the necessary words to fix things. As a result, the team played the kind of game they know best.
Was something supernatural needed in order to recover 13 points against the opponent?
— No, we didn’t do anything in particular. As I mentioned before, we just showed them how we play.
Did they regroup efforts for overtime, or did things not turn out as desired?
— Some things we were able to gain, others we were not. We won, so I suppose the work done was effective.
Khimki placed second by a mere point difference between received and shot, does this make you angry?
— No, because we are the second strongest team for the moment.
Are you happy with the results and the change? Compared to the previous state, the team was noticeably different.
— We have training plans. The boys change, they get organized, and understand easily, and this has brought, and I won’t deny it, a pleasant result.
After the game, the president for EYBL, Guntis SHENKHOVS, recognized that:
— The last game really impressed me. It has been some time since I last saw such an intriguing game. Congratulations to Khimki for their victory, and again, I would like to mention that the organization for this stage was of a very high standard.
(Watch for the upcoming complete interview with Guntis Shenkhovs)
BEST PLAYERS
Guard: Anton Poprugo (Minsk 2006)
Forward: Sergey Karasev (Trinta)
Center: Rikhards Pazhe (Spars)
Best Number 3 – 4: Ivan Vadeev (Trinta)
MVP: Yuri Karpenko (Khimki)
Moscow Region Directorate Award: Yuri Karpenko (Khimki)
Khimki District Administration Award: Alexei Semichev (Khimki)
Russian Development Bank Award: Stanislav Kots (Khimki)
