KEMZURA started the press conference in a traditional address:

— Good afternoon to all. We knew this game was going to be a difficult one, as Spartak has been playing very well. My colleagues work is evident. We had been watching Spartak’s games against Dynamo Moscow, and CSKA, and our boys came with a fighting spirit for a serious match. From the results, it might seem the game was an easy win, but it wasn’t. We could not let down our guard until the very last moment. I am very happy we were able to sustain our high motivation from game to game. Our team has a task ahead of us, and we are going to take it on with the confidence of being able to carry it out. We wish all the best to Spartak.

How do you explain the irregular periods of this game?

— We didn’t start the game as we planned to, though we had looked at all possible combinations and variable. The opponent used our errors wisely, and pressed us to hurry our score. All the players realized the importance of this match, and may have been pressured, but they later were able to pick up and the situation changed. The new tactics introduced improvements; however, Peters didn’t allow us all we wanted.

Was the team spirit aligned?

— The team’s spirit was at its maximum. It's different to play every once in awhile giving it 100% in a 40-minute long game.

Does Spartak really play as hard as the experts are saying?

— The rookie Sergeev is an excellent player, and Dmitriev is a leader. The roster was boosted when N’Dong appeared, and lately performance has changed a lot. The bench has a great deal of players that can be relied on, and Yudin for example is a seasoned player. It's difficult to play against this team, especially on their own court. I am no flattering them, it is simply a fact.

What sensations did you have upon returning to Peter?

— I came back to work, we needed victory.

You didn’t have even a couple of minutes of free time?

— There were a couple of free minutes, but during that time I was arming myself for the game. There is no time for museums, or theaters. Now, when I retire as coach, or when I am on vacation, I will immediately take measures regarding this.

Oleg OKULOV, Coach for BC Spartak:

— I want to congratulate the visiting team for their grand victory. The game was undoubtedly a difficult one. Our team cedes to Khimki, while the Moscow Region club cedes to none. I think that team has to shoot for the highest stakes. In my opinion, considering the circumstances, the key moments in the game were injuries suffered by Dmitriev and Sergeev at the outset of the match. We didn’t have the chance to make changes of equal caliber – our scheme was shattered, and we were unable to follow through on all our plans.