Fotios Takianos: «It was a very tough and difficult game»

«Astana's» head coach, Fotios Takianos, commented on the match against «Samara.»

«It was a very tough and hard game for us. We started it with insufficient focus on defense – conceding 31 points in the first quarter. However, we then stepped up our defensive game, switching between different types of defense – and caught up with the hosts. During the second half, we significantly felt the absence of two crucial players: Davis, who had to leave the game because of a back injury, and Johnson, sidelined due to accumulating too many fouls. It hindered our ability to effectively compete, particularly in the face of the aggressive play style that Samara demonstrated against us. Nonetheless, I want to highlight that for the second match in a row, Kazakhstani players are getting their chances – and they are performing very well.»