For the second consecutive game, Yemchenko was a starter in the Russian national team roster a became an important part of the 68:63 victory over Venezuela.
- Which game, in your opinion, was more difficult – against PARMA or the second one against Venezuela?
- The one with PARMA was definitely more exciting: a high level of physical contact, I would call it real men's basketball, similar to the VTB United League. We were trailing by 12 points and managed to win. The intrigue was there until the last seconds. Against Venezuela, the gap in the score was also small, but personally I felt some decline in physical energy. After all, three matches in three days take their toll. Someone might say, "You are all young, you must have a ton of energy." But when you give 100 percent in every episode, on the third day it takes its toll a little. We did not have the zeal that usually occurs, and this allowed Venezuela to drag us into clutch. But we still kept the game under control and, despite the fact that the opponent began to shoot very well in the second half and that they have a good player with a height of 2.18, we were making more logical decisions in attack and defense. At the very end, this was what mattered: we scored once, twice, defended successfully – and voila.
- How do you feel in the role of not just a player for the Russian national team, but a starter?
- I don't think of myself as a national team vet. I am still young and promising (laughs). But of course I see the difference. For two years I came to the national team as one of the youngest players, and now we have many guys who are much younger. Now I know very well what the national team coach expects from me, I feel his trust. So I have no problem making important decisions on the court, giving advice to my partners.
- Are you in touch with someone in Loko?
- The guys send messages from time to time. Antokha Kvitkovskikh asks most often how things are, he misses the national team. I am also curious about what is going on in Loko. I see that they have two training sessions a day, just like we in the national team do. Soon Kirill and I will join the team and together we will continue to prepare for the season, which promises to be very interesting.
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