“Our guys fought very hard, against a team like that you can easily lose in about an hour. With a little bit of luck in the fourth set ... who knows what could have happened” a visibly disappointed coach Mihai Paduretu said about his side’s efforts. In the fourth set UNTERHACHING, which had its best scorer in Christian Dünnes (18 points), squandered a five-point lead. “At that point Lokomotiv defended really well; no team in Germany could have done that”, Paduretu added.
Even the Russians that were powered by 19 points from Michael Sanchez (see picture) claimed the match to be a tough one. “They played very good, we’re happy that we could scratch back in the fourth set” NOVOSIBIRSK American Ryan Millar said. For the return game next Tuesday Lokomotiv feels pretty good. “I think that we are in a very good position”, coach Andrei Voronkov said, adding: “You must not forget that they will have to travel ten hours across six time zones - and it will be minus 30 degrees Celsius in Novosibirsk”.
UNTERHACHING at first seemed to be unimpressed by the ferocious attacks of the giant Russian bear. The hosts were even up 8:7 at the first technical time-out. But shortly after the Lokomotiv from Siberia, who made a stop in Moscow for five days to get accustomed to the time difference, got on track. With five points straight NOVOSIBIRSK made it 16:11 while Generali was having trouble to keep up with the pace of the Russian cup winner and set blocks against the powerful attacks. Being down 15:21 Paduretu took a second time-out to stop Lokomotiv run, but despite a total of seven points by Christian Dünnes in the first set UNTERHACHING didn’t get closer than four points and lost the first set after 25 minutes. At that point it all looked very much like a quick affair.
Paduretu talked at length to his players between sets and seemed to have given some good advice. With four points straight and after two huge blocks by Fredy Cedeno his side went up 8:5 at the first technical time-out of set 2. UNTERHACHING was doing everything a little bit better, being more variable on offense, standing better on defense and overall playing more courageous than before. With some spectacular points they also got the crowd at packed Generali Sports Arena more involved. At the second technical time-out the Bavarians were still up 16:13, a lead they were defending with a lot of heart. At 23:18 for the hosts, NOVOSIBIRSK, who at times looked unorganized, tried to shake them off one last time with a time-out, but to no prevail. With a missed serve Alexander Butko handed the Germans the second set after another 25 minutes.
However, you shouldn’t tease a giant Russian bear. Lokomotiv added even more power to its attacks and almost steamrolled over their opponents. At the first technical time-out Generali UNTERHACHING was down 4:8 already, at 7:13 Paduretu felt the urge to take another time-out. There was no stopping the express from Siberia, though. Especially from their left side and through the middle the Russians almost scored at will, opening up a ten-point lead at 20:10. Fittingly, a missed serve by Generali’s captain Max Günthor gave NOVOSIBIRSK the very lopsided third set in which Lukas Divis alone scored six points for the visitors.
Seemingly standing no chance David again stood up to Goliath. Far from frustration Generali UNTERHACHING wasn’t ready to give in and with their back to the wall started to play their hearts out again. At 7:5 Generali managed its first two-point lead, minutes later they were up by five points at 14:9. However, this time Lokomotiv was able to come back right away as with good blocks and relentless and powerful attacks they made seven points straight, thereby evening things up 18:18 and taking a comfortable lead at 23:18. Moments later and after squandering four match points NOVISIBIRSK power finally proved to be too much for UNTERHACHING.
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