Zenit in the ranks against the fight against Žalgiris – doubts about former Žalgiris

A. Gudaitis, who has been playing well lately, is not the only former Žalgiris basketball player who plays in the ranks of Zenit.

Two defenders who used to wear Žalgiris jerseys, Kevin Pangos and KC Rivers, also compete on this team. However, Xavi Pascualis, the Catalan coach of Zenit, is not guaranteed by his participation in one of them.

“Žalgiris” is a team that is currently showing a very high level of basketball. If we want to win, we must play very well. We still don’t know what the situation will be with KC Rivers. He was unable to help us in Munich due to injury, so it is difficult to say whether he will be able to play in the match with “Žalgiris”. Also, we will definitely fight without the traumatized Alex Poythress, so we must be prepared to put a lot of effort into making up for the loss and winning, ”said X. Pascualis on the eve of the match.

Both teams arrive in St. Petersburg after defeats. And this time the journey of “Žalgiris” is shorter than that of the hosts in the square. If Kaunas residents move to Moscow, Russia’s second-largest city, where local CSKA landed at 73:83 on Wednesday, Zenit will return home after a disappointing defeat in Munich.

A. Gudaitis’s 22 points and 28 valuation points were not enough to achieve a victory against Bayern: the Russian representatives fell to the Germans 80:82.

Žalgiris is a completely different team this season than what we were used to seeing before. They have remained strong, although attitudes towards the game itself have, in my opinion, changed. A tough fight awaits me, although I always look forward to meetings with teams from my country. This time I am also very impatient, ”said A. Gudaitis.

For his part, X. Pascual added that after losing in Munich it was very important for his students to rest psychologically.

“Both teams have 48 hours between games, conditions are the same, now it is important to rest well and be psychologically prepared. We must forget about defeat, no matter how disappointing it is: we were close to victory, we fought to the end. We have to be solid at home, but we know that “Žalgiris” has been very stable lately, he has a lot of young basketball players who are well prepared physically, “said the rival strategist.

“Žalgiris” lost the first round match in Kaunas to opponents 75:83. At the time, Austin Hollins, who scored 20 points, and Will Thomas, who scored 16 points, added the most trouble for Kaunas residents. K. Pangos added 13 points and 7 assists, and Zenit overall made 12 of 23 shots.

Currently, Žalgiris (8/11) is in 7th place in the Euroleague tournament table. Zenit (6/11) is in fifth position, but still has two matches transferred by coronavirus in reserve.

K. Pangos is Zenit’s most productive player this season, accumulating an average of 11.3 points per game and delivering 6.4 assists. A. Gudaitis has 10.3 injured A. Poythress after 9.3, Billy Baron – 8.6 points each.

KC Rivers earns an average of 7.1 points per game and throws three points. accuracy.

Zenit have bought former Tel Aviv Maccabi, Tarik Black, to replace top A. Poythress, but he is unlikely to be in the match with Žalgiris.

The match in St. Petersburg will begin at 7pm on Friday. As in Moscow, a limited number of spectators will be able to watch the match at the Sibur Arena.

It should be noted that in the Euroleague, the teams have met three times so far and the people of St. Petersburg have not yet managed to defeat the representatives of St. Petersburg.

Tournament table (place, team, wins, losses, points won, points lost, point index)