“It was important to stay in Russia.” Interview with Ponkrashov after returning to Nizhny

“It was important to stay in Russia.” Interview with Ponkrashov after returning to Nizhny

Alexander Zoteev November 29, 2023, 06:00 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.

The European champion talks about his decision, contract length and trophy potential.

The day before it became known that 37-year-old veteran Anton Ponkrashov is returning to big basketball. The defender signed a one-month contract with Nizhny Novgorod, where he played last season. Obviously, he should help the team in a difficult moment. The Nizhny infirmary is overcrowded and coach Zoran Lukic sometimes does not even have 10 people at his disposal.

Ponkrashov can make his debut for Nizhny today, November 29, in the round of 16 of the Russian Cup with the amateur team Moskovsky. “Championship” correspondent Alexander Zoteev spoke with the European champion after the announcement of the signing of a contract with Nizhny Novgorod.

Designs for Nizhny Novgorod

“Low” is too low. Zoran Lukic’s team is in a very difficult situation

—How does it feel to return to Nizhny Novgorod? – The feeling is wonderful. I am glad that I returned to Nizhny and will play in the Russian Cup and the VTB United League. I will try to be useful to the team, because we are now in a difficult period, with a large series of injuries. But I believe that together we can win, win and through work and hard work achieve victories and achievements.

— Contract for one month. Why exactly this period? Did it come from the club or from you? – In fact, this is a matter of negotiations. I had parallel negotiations, there were several options to continue my career and, unexpectedly for me, Nizhny made me an offer. The contract is for one month with the possibility of extension, and I decided to take advantage of it. I think that, in principle, it is a good option, but we’ll see. Many teams made me offers, but not all of them were from Russia and for me personally it was important to stay here.

— Will the fact that you played in Nizhny last year help you join the team faster, or has the team been significantly updated and will need time to adapt? – Of course, it will be easier for me to fit in, because I know almost all the schemes and I know coach Lukic. But it still takes time to adapt, it doesn’t happen like one day, and from the first day you start to show your maximum level, unrealistic numbers. I will try to fit in as quickly as possible.

— Today Nizhny will play against Moskovsky in the Russian Cup. Do you really know this team? How do you generally assess the fact that the amateur team has reached the round of 16 of the tournament? — It’s great that Moskovsky made it to the round of 16. And, in fact, I have the utmost respect for this team, because I know it, I see how it prepares and plays. They really approach the process in the most professional way possible. Yet we do the same thing. We are preparing seriously and we know that today will not be easy.

— You have won the Russian Cup five times. Do you still want to establish yourself in the team and try to lift the trophy for the sixth time? “I’m not going to look too far yet.” I will try to enjoy basketball as much as possible, help the team and play. In general, I am happy to be able to play in Nizhny, but the trophy is still too far away.

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Anton Ponkrashov has been without a club since the end of last season. In the summer he not only stayed in shape, but also traveled to China, where he participated in the Wild Ball commercial tournament. He actively talked about this on his YouTube channel.

The video can be seen on the PonkraSHOW YouTube channel.