In the unprecedented SEB BBL final Zalgiris Kaunas led by DeJuan Collins has won the thriller against Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 86:84 and took home the trophy for the first time since 2005.

The first quarter belonged to Zalgiris and especially to D.Collins who single-handedly outscored the whole Lietuvos Rytas team. Zalgiris took a double-digit lead from early on and contained it for the rest of this period. D.Collins 17 points for Kaunas’ team, while the first quarter ended 28:12 up by Zalgiris. Marko Popovic concluded it with a shot from nearly half-court.

Second period brought even more physical game and better defense from both squads. After more than 3 minutes of play M.Popovic made a two-pointer to make it 34:22 lead for Zalgiris. The differential stayed in double figures for most of the time, even if Lietuvos Rytas was able to cut it to 9 and 8 for several times. At the half Zalgiris led 48:40.

After three minutes of play in the third quarter Chuck Eidson made dunk after the steal and cut the deficit to 5 points. Just after that Lietuvos Rytas had an opportunity to make it already 3-point game, but Arturas Jomantas stepped at the baseline and J.Maciulis made the opponents pay by making a long-range shot. Zalgiris quickly regained a double-digit lead. Less than 2 minutes to play in the third quarter M.Brown made a long trey and the score became 62:51. Matthew Nielsen had a similar answer and a quick steal following a dunk by Mindaugas Lukauskis who made it a 6-point game – 56:62. After three quarters it was 67:59 up by Zalgiris.

M.Lukauskis continued his successful performance ad scored a shot behind the arc just after a coupe of minutes being played in the final period. After good execution on the defensive end Jared Jordan made another three-pointer and the score became 65:69. Midway through this period Jonas Maciulis made a jumper off the glass and increased his club’s lead to 9 points – 78:69. More than 2 minutes left to play missed the wild three-pointer and the score remained 73:78 up by Zalgiris. M.Nielsen cut it to 3 (75:78) and after a lay-up by Kenan Bajramovic it was just a 1-point game – 77:78. K.Bajramovic made a crucial three-pointer for Lietuvos Rytas that tied the game at 82:82 and leaving only 10 seconds for Zalgiris. Goran Jurak was fouled and put at the free throw line. The Slovenian soldier cold-bloodedly made both shots at the stripe – 84:82. Hollis Price tied the game once again by making two free throws – 84:84 and leaving 4 seconds at the clock. That appeared to be enough for D.Collins who dribbled the ball through the whole court and made miracle reverse lay-up and sealed the win for his team.

D.Collins was the true leader for Zalgiris scoring 29 points. Marcus Brown added 24 (4 ast.). Ch.Eidson (6 rebs., 4 ast.) and K.Bajramovic (6 rebs.) scored 16 apiece for Lietuvos Rytas.

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Teams: Lietuvos Rytas
Teams: Zalgiris