In the first quarterfinal against Uralmash (97:65), the center of Lokomotiv Kuban looked like a well-deserved nominee for the Best Young Player award: 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 blocks.
- How important was it to start the play-offs with a victory?
- Very important! The first game sets the tone for the whole series. In the playoffs you can't let your opponent feel like they can beat you, so we were very serious about it.
- What happened when you performed a strong look over Octavius Ellis after scoring?
- Oh those emotions of the playoffs!.. To be honest, I wanted to recoup for the previous game. I didn't play very well then, so I was determined to prove to myself that I am ready for the play-offs.
- Not the most confident first half, but "+32" for Loko in the end. What allowed you to change the game like that?
- During the big break, we reviewed the moments that didn't work out for us, the coach gave us instructions, motivated us, and we went out with a different energy. We minimized mistakes, began to defend better - this helped create a comfortable advantage.
- The next game is on the day after tomorrow. Is there enough time to prepare?
- The playoffs always have a tight schedule – one game after another. Now we need to analyze our mistakes and concentrate on what we did well. The main thing is to keep the energy and attitude, then everything will be great in the second game.
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