Author: Raminta Kaminskaite

Photo: bc.lrytas.lt

Even though VEF  Riga got a lead in the first quarter, they could not hold the offensive pressure made by Lietuvos Rytas. The final result was 100:95 in the favour of team Lietuvos Rytas.

Top scorers:

Lietuvos rytas: I.Milosevic 25 (11 assists), A.Baynes, M.Gecevicius -  15, D.Zavackas 13 (7 rebs.)
VEF:  S.Valters 27, T.McCullough 19, A.Stalberg 13, A.Labuckas 12.

Lietuvos rytas opened the game well and after Igor Milosevic three-pointer was in front by 3 points – 9:6. But then the guests has made a run 6-0 and the result was 12:9  in the favour of VEF Riga. Lietuvos rytas again misses their shot and Arnas Labuckas from VEF addec a dunk and it was 14:9.  Later on Lietuvos rytas was close to the opponents, but the Latvians realized some shots and restored the difference (21:14). Next on Lithuanians answered with 6-0, and the first quarter ended up with the result 21:20 VEF Riga being in front.

The second quarter started wit 6-0 by VEF and the result was 27:20. But then Lietuvos  rytas showed three-point festival.  Justinas Sinica, Martynas Gecevicius and Steponas Babrauskas scored their long range shots and the result was even – 29:29. In the middle of this quarter Donatas Zavackas added two-pointer and the result was 33:32 by Lietuvos rytas. Next on Milosevic scored three-pointer and increased the difference until 4 points  - 38:34. Later on Lietuvos rytas has made a run 8-0 and got a double-digit advantage, because VEF could not score (46:34). Until the end of this quarter Lietuvos rytas was stronger  - 50:42. 
 

In the second half Lietuvos rytas played better and started to dominate. After four minutes in the third quarter Lietuvos rytas was in front by 19 points - 65:46. Later on VEF has made a run 9-0 (65:55), but then Lietuvos rytas head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis asked for a time-out and after a break Lietuvos rytas answered with a same  run 9-0 . So, nothing has changed (74:55). Next on Simas Buterlevicius added one free-throw and Aaron Baynes  added a dunk (77:55). Until the end of this quarter Lietuvos rytas maintained a solid lead - 80:64. 

In the last quarter the guests showed big desire to win. Despite a big advantage of Lietuvos rytas,  VEF started to devastate the defense of Lietuvos rytas and destroyed the difference. When two minutes was left, the result was 90:94. But then again Lietuvos Rytas was better and did not allow more to get closer.  The final result of the game was 100:95 in the favour of the Lithuanians from Vilnius.