“I’m really looking forward to meeting UNICS” – Zenit Basketball newcomer Zhbanov

Rookie basketball “Zenith” Georgiy Zhbanov told he was looking forward to meeting his former club Kazan in the Kondrashin and Belov Cup final UNICS .

The Kondrashin and Belov Cup will take place on September 15 and 16 in St. Petersburg. On Friday, in the semi-finals of the tournament, UNICS defeated Paris NN (84:75), and Zenit turned out to be stronger than Moscow MBA (81:66). On Saturday, Zenit and UNICS will play the final of the tournament. This summer, Zhbanov and American striker Vince Hunter left the Kazan club for the St. Petersburg club.

— What can you say about the victory over MBA?

— The first home match in front of our spectators in the off-season, we won – the emotions are the most positive. At first it was a little exciting, but then we enjoyed doing it.

— For you personally, this match was the first in Zenit uniform at home. Were you more worried than the others?

“It wasn’t stage fright, but pleasant excitement.” I have long wanted to enter this arena as a Zenit player.

— How is your adaptation going at Zenit?

— It didn’t take long to get to know the team; I knew a lot of guys before. So everything is fine. We joke together, so everything is fine.

— You left UNICS to join Zenit with Hunter. Is this a plus for both in terms of adaptation?

— Here I probably helped him more, because I know more people in the team (smiles). In general, we were very well received at Zenit. We are now moving forward together towards a common goal.

— On Saturday, the teams will play the final of the Kondrashin and Belov Cup. Will it also be exciting to meet your old team for the first time?

— I’m really looking forward to this match. But I won’t worry, I want to show everything they lost (smiles).

— What can you say about pre-season training in general?

— We received the main load during the recent training camp in Turkey. It was not easy, but we worked very efficiently. Now the pace is more like what will happen over the course of the season. In other words, the hardest part of the offseason is already behind us.

— In addition to the Kondrashin and Belov Cups, Zenit will participate in the Super Cup in Moscow in September. What do you expect from this tournament?

— Last year it took place at the highest level, I really liked it. In addition, foreign clubs participate in the Super Cup, and we really need such experience now. And I can’t wait to return to Fenerbahçe and take revenge for the recent defeat in Istanbul at the training camp. Plus, it would be nice to do that in the Super Cup final.

— Have Zenit’s goals for the entire season already been defined?

“The question in this case is rhetorical: Zenit has no other goal than the championship,” Zhbanov told .