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"We and our coach believe that we can return to the series with CSKA"

UNICS forward Andrey Lopatin talks about three defeats in a row, Marcos Knight awards and his role in a top club
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Photo: RIA Novosti/Maxim Bogodvid
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UNICS unsuccessfully holds a semifinal playoff series with CSKA. Kazan lost the opening three matches to the reigning champions and are one step away from relegation. Moreover, if in the first game the advantage of the capital's team was not in doubt, then in the second and third matches Velimir Perasovich's wards were close to success, but they failed the endings. In this playoff draw, one of the leaders of UNICS was Russian national team forward Andrey Lopatin, who joined the team in the summer of 2024. In the third game, he scored 14 points (5/6 from the game), three rebounds, three assists and two steals. Andrey became the second most efficient in his team (20 points) after Ismael Bako (24). In an interview with Izvestia, the 26-year-old basketball player noted that he was pleased with his role in a top club and believes that UNICS still has the opportunity to compete with the Army for reaching the finals.

— UNICS played great in the second and third games, but in the end your team didn't act with its usual composure. How can you explain this?

— Now is the crucial stage of the season, and the fate of the matches is decided by small details. In these games, they were in favor of CSKA, but they don't think it's worth talking about luck or bad luck. I would like to note that in this series we are adding from game to game. I hope that in the fourth game we will show our best basketball. We have a very wide roster with many talented and athletic basketball players. They may well show more in the series with CSKA.

— What about your performance in the third game?

— If we talk about performance, it is natural that its indicators vary from match to match. But each player makes a different contribution to team interaction. It is necessary to take into account not only personal statistics, but also the implementation of coaching guidelines. Nevertheless, there is always something to add, so Russian basketball players can take responsibility and score points.

— It's a shame to lose with such support from local fans.

— It's always a shame to lose, especially at home. But the support of our fans is very noticeable. It's nice to play in an atmosphere where every whistle and every movement is accompanied by the incredible energy of the fans. You feel like the whole room is behind you, and it helps. I hope we will thank them in the fourth match.

Is it really possible to return to the series from 0-3? There have been only a few such cases in the history of basketball.

— Anything is possible. We believe in it, but the most important thing is that the coach believes in us. Now we must demonstrate in practice that this faith is not empty.

— Are you following the second semi-final series between Zenit and Lokomotiv Kuban?

— I'm not following them. I can see what the result is, or I can look at one or two quarters of the background when I'm doing my own thing. I'm completely focused on my series. It doesn't matter who we beat in the next round.

— This year, for the first time, you got a significant role in a top club. How does it feel?

— It's a pleasure. I want to justify the coach's trust. I'm glad that I'm good at it and I'm enjoying the process. This is really my first role at such a club, at such a moment in the season. This experience will be very useful to me.

— Do you follow the Euroleague closely?

— I watch both the Euroleague and the NBA, but I can't say that I spend a lot of time on it. I limit myself to viewing highlights and statistics. I'm focusing on training, time with my family, and recovery.

— In October, you said that you had completed 38 additional training sessions in 31 days. Are you maintaining the same pace now?

— Before each training session, I have an individual lesson. UNICS has a lot of coaches, so each player comes at a certain time and works extra. I don't count these classes and I don't want to compete with anyone on such indicators.

— Before the third game against CSKA, your UNICS partner Marcos Knight received two awards at once: the regular season MVP according to the United League players (Sport-Express voted all the basketball players of the tournament for the second year in a row) and the prize of the best "sixth". Are you happy for Marcos?

— Of course I'm glad. He deserved these prizes with his playing. Knight proves that the age in the passport does not mean anything. At 35, he's fine.

Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»

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