The first quarter set a tone to the whole game – the teams prevented each other from scoring runs and focused on quick switches. PARMA regularly doubled against our big men, blocking them in the paint. Antipov netted two downtown shots and one two-pointer (8 points). Kulagin added 6 points. The score was 19:17 in favor of Loko after the first period.
After 2.5 minutes of the second quarter, PARMA took the lead due to Chernov’s outside shot (23:21). However, Nelyubov successfully attempted and-one, netted the free throw and tied the score. Khvostov shot three and let our team return its leadership. Loko preserved the advantage by the end of the period – 37:34.
Lokomotiv Kuban managed to extend its advantage to 8 points in the third quarter but PARMA reduced it to 5 points.
In the last quarter, we could expect an exciting ending. PARMA got 14 seconds for the last possession but played it quite oddly for the team which fell 5 points behind the rival. The long-drawn offense ended with Antipov’s steal and our team had no time for a response. 62:57 – it was a hard win for Loko. Tickets to the Final Four of the Russian Cup will be played in Krasnodar on December 29th.