Author: Raminta Kaminskaite

Siauliai started  in this game strong, but Zalgiris was stronger finally. Kaunas team at home, after a great third quarter, won against Siauliai without bigger problems - 86:77.  

Top scorers:

"Zalgiris": S.Vene, M.Begic - 15, A.Capin 14 (9 assists), T.Klimavicius 9.

"Siauliai": D.Low 22, V.Sarakauskas 18, V.Pauliukenas 11.

Siauliai started  in this game strong and after V.Sarakauskas and A.Siksnius points without answer was at the front 0:7. First points for Zalgiris has made M.Begic, but V.Pauliukenas later retained the same advantage for Siauliai (2:9). The guests were good in the offense and showed good tempo in  this game, so, after D.Low 3 points the result was 6:14. D.Low added 3 points shot one more and the different between both team was bigger. But it was not the end. V.Sarakauskas scored 2 points shot and Siauliai for the first time reached double-digit advantage (22:10).  Until the end of this quarter Zalgiris was  able to come a little closer  - 22:13.

In the second quarter Zalgiris woke up and was more aggressive in the offense. Still, Siauliai did not want to give up and kept the intrigue. After V.Sarakauskas 2 points shot the result was 17:26. But later Zalgiris showed a secret weapon. T.Klimavicius scored 5 points without answer  and  the host was as close as never before - 22:26. Siauliai head coach A.Sireika asked for time out, but it did not help. Zalgiris got their rhythm and after 5 minutes of play overbalanced the score for first time - 28:26.    Until big break Kaunas team moved forward . The hosts were more accurate from the perimeter.  At the end of this quarter M.Kalnietis scored 3 points shot and Zalgiris was at the front  by 7 points - 37:30. In the last minutes Zalgiris increased their lead until 11 points - 44:33.

At the beginning of the third quarter Zalgiris has made a run 9:2 and accumulated a big advantage 53:35. A.Juskevicius shored  3 points shot, P.Butkevicius added 2 points shot  and the result was already  “indecent”  - 58:39. Zalgiris from this moment did not have a problem with opponents and showed, that they are better. Until the end of third quarter the hosts controlled the play  - 68:45.

The last quarter was more a formality. Both teams did not feel the tension, therefore the difference  did not change during the whole quarter. The guest was able come closer just in the last minutes, when the winner was unquestionable.