In the third Supercup game did Loko finally come out in the red uniform. And it turned out to be a good sign.
BJ Johnson set the tone for the first quarter with a good shot. Then a fast and equal scoring exchange has started. No team could take more than 5-point lead, and when Beşiktaş did it, Karvel Anderson quickly returned the gap to the distance of one successful attack.
This evening, the coaching staff decided to give a rest to Patrick Miller, who spent a big load of minutes in previous two game. Vsevolod Ishchenko turned out to be a great substitute – he started his with a great slalom.
The even battle continued throughout the 2nd quarter. Once again, just as Beşiktaş got ahead by 5 points, Loko responded with an impressive highlight: Ishchenko wobbled an experienced opponent, Terry Emmanuel, with feints and performed a powerful dunk. That infuriated Turks who answered with 6 points in a row. Still, Johnson’s accurate mid-shot and Cleveland’s put-back brought the red-greens back at a distance of two attacks by the big break – 40:45.
The third quarters of this Supercup are the hardest ones for Lokomotiv – and this game was no exception: despite some flashes (such as Anton Kvitkovskikh’s dunk and Johnson’s 3-pointer), Beşiktaş was much more effective in offence, which made them lead by 16 points (57:73)by the end of the period.
Déjà vu? Loko already had to outrun a big margin against both CSKA and Crvena Zvezda. For a long time it seemed inevitably that for the third time in a row it would end in defeat: despite all the efforts of Andrey Vedischev’s team, the Turks continued to lead by “+10” with 1:40 left.
That’s when Ishchenko’s turbo solo began: he scored a 3-pointer, then added 2, while defending vigorously: in two episodes in a row Loko youngster forced Beşiktaş players to do turnovers. And then Johnson tied the score 15 seconds before the siren! In the remaining time, the teams exchanged free throws – 85:85 and overtime!
The teams started the extra 5 minutes evenly, but then Beşiktaş created a 4-point lead. And again, Lokomotiv, in a stormy burst, reduced the gap to one attack – either selflessly defending, or scoring in counterattacks.
The climax took place 0.8 seconds before the end: 2 points in favor of Besiktas, Emchenko throws the ball in from the sideline… The next episode will be remembered by Loko fans for years: Cleveland caught the ball – and from 9 meters sent it into the basket with the soundtrack of siren buzzing!
An incredibly dramatic victory to the delight of the red-green fan sector in the stands of the VTB Arena and much more of them watching on TV.
Lokomotiv Kuban will go to Krasnodar in a very good mood. Ahead is a week of preparation for the start of the VTB United League and the opening game against Yenisei on September 22 at 2 PM.
See you in the stands of the Basket Hall! This team will definitely not leave anyone indifferent.