2024-04-14 00:48:46
Until then, the people of Klaipėda had secured mutual advantage over Panevėžys basketball players, so this victory puts “Neptūnas” in fifth place, while “7bet-Lietkabelis” falls to sixth. Utena’s “Uniclub Casino – Juventus” team (14-11) is currently in the fourth position, having a head-to-head advantage over the port city club.
“Neptūnas” became the abuser of Panevėžys this year – not only did they suffer three defeats in Betsafe-LKL, but they also stumbled against Citadele KMT in the quarter-finals. True, a dramatic victory in the series was enough for Nenad Canak’s students to win a ticket to the final four.
After a successful offensive start, the guests led 27:20 after ten minutes. Soon their gap became double digits (35:24), but it woke up the hosts, who scored 15 points without reply in just a few minutes and took the lead – 39:35. “Neptūnas” finished the first part of the match with a fragile lead – 43:41.
After the break, the Klaipėda team started the offensive machine themselves and built up a double-digit advantage (55:45). Although the people of Panevėžys also remained solid in the attack, Tim Lambrecht’s shot in the last second of the third quarter kept his team in a solid margin – 74:63.
However, “7bet-Lietkabelis” started the fourth quarter by showing character and rapidly destroying its deficit. In the middle of the quarter, equality was restored – 76:76. The hosts rebounded and regained the initiative – leading 85:80 in the last minute. The people of Panevėžys were still hanging on for the match, but they failed to create a small miracle and after the final they had to once again recognize the supremacy of the port city’s basketball players.
Amazing performances were organized by the “Neptūnos” Lithuanian trio. Žygymantas Janavičius achieved a career assist record and a double-double (11 points, 14 assists, 28 assists). Ažuolas Tubelis looked great again, with 22 points, 5 rebounds and 26 utility points. Deividas Gailius made a significant contribution to the performance – he scored 19 points.
Deividas Sirvydis scored 19 points and the same number of utility points for the losers, both defenders Paulius Valinskas (12 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 22 utility points) and Diante Baldwinas (13 points) were also useful. , 7 reps., 18 points).
The fact that one of the team’s leaders, Ignas Sargiūnas, was out of the lineup for almost a month due to appendicitis surgery did not prevent “Neptūnas” from achieving victory. The guests again played without Dovis Bičkauskis.
“Neptūnas”: Ažuolas Tubelis 22, Deividas Gailius 19, Mindaugas Girdžiūnas 13, Timas Lambrechts and Žygimantas Janavičius 11 each, Thomas Rutherfordas 6.
“7bet-Lietkabelis”: Deividas Sirvydis 19, Diante Baldwinas 13, Paulius Valinskas and Nikola Popovičius 12 each, Martynas Varnas 11, Vytenis Lipkevičius 8, Džordže Gagičius 7.
2024-04-14 00:48:46