Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.
An interesting game for Palanga (21-5) which played road game in Jurbarkas against 4th ranked Jurbarkas (14-12). Third ranked Palanga managed to get a 5-point victory 89-84. Palanga shot 23 for 32 from the free-throw line, while Jurbarkas only scored four points from the stripe. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Palanga made 16 blocks. 28 personal fouls committed by Jurbarkas helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Forward Julius Kazakauskas (196-1990) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Marius Runkauskas (186-1986, agency: BIG) contributed with 19 points for the winners. Mintautas Bulanovas (193-1996) replied with 19 points and 5 rebounds for Jurbarkas. Palanga have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 21-5 record behind leader Suduva-Mantinga. Newly promoted Jurbarkas dropped to the fifth place with 12 games lost.
Bottom-ranked Neptunas-Akv. managed to get a fourth victory, breaking the eight-game losing streak. This time they edged tenth-ranked Atletas in Klaipeda 69-68. Gabrielius Mazeika (206-2003, agency: BIG) scored 22 points and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Klaidas Metrikis chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. French forward Gedeon Dimoke (197-2001) responded with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Atletas’ coach Remigijus Bardauskas rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Neptunas-Akv. maintains fourteenth position with 4-22 record. Atletas lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 16 games lost.
NKL top team – Suduva-Mantinga (22-3) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Kretinga (9-17) in Marijampole 101-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kretinga. Vytautas Sulskis notched 24 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) to lead the effort. Suduva-Mantinga’s coach Tomas Gaidamavicius felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 23 points and 4 assists by Mantas Ruikis did not help to save the game for Kretinga. Suduva-Mantinga have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 22-3 record. Kretinga at the other side keeps the eleventh place with 17 games lost.
There were no big surprises in other games of round 26: Rytas 2 was beaten by Delikatesas on the road 103-99. Stekas lost to Telsiai on its own court 70-76. Vilkaviskis was outscored by Vytis in Sakiai 70-109. Zalgiris II managed to beat Silute at home 84-73.
Delikatesas – Rytas 2 103-99
No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Delikatesas (12-13) beat 12th ranked Rytas 2 (8-18) in Joniskis 103-99 on Saturday. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Delikatesas made 23 blocks. Sarunas Kulevicius (193-1989) notched 21 points, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks to lead the effort and American swingman Devin Hutchinson (196-1996, college: Radford) supported him with 27 points and 4 blocks. Four Delikatesas players scored in double figures. Even 39 points (!!!) and 9 rebounds by Gediminas Alisas (196-2004, agency: BIG) did not help to save the game for Rytas 2. Modestas Babraitis (194-2004) added 19 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 4 blocks for the guests. Rytas 2’s coach Andrius Slezas tested ten players, but that didn’t help to avoid defeat in this game. Delikatesas moved-up to eighth place, which they share with Stekas. Rytas 2 lost third consecutive game. They keep the twelfth position with 18 games lost.
Top scorers:
Delikatesas: D.Hutchinson 27+1reb+1ast, S.Kulevicius 21+6reb+3ast, L.Kazlauskas 16+3reb+7ast, R.Rutkauskas 16+6reb+4ast, J.Nojus 9+4reb+3ast, M.Tamulevicius 8+7reb+1ast
Rytas 2: A.Gediminas 39+9reb+3ast, K.Danielius 19+3reb+2ast, B.Modestas 19+11reb+8ast, R.Dziugas 8+1reb+1ast, V.Paulius 4, R.Arunas 3+1reb+3ast
gschID: 1111044
Neptunas-Akv. – Atletas 69-68
Bottom-ranked Neptunas-Akv. managed to get a fourth victory, breaking the eight-game losing streak. This time they edged tenth-ranked Atletas in Klaipeda 69-68. Neptunas-Akv. players were unselfish on offense dishing 22 assists. They brought some defensive toughness making 25 blocks. Gabrielius Mazeika (206-2003, agency: BIG) scored 22 points and 4 assists to lead the charge for the winners and Klaidas Metrikis (204-2000) chipped in 11 points, 8 rebounds and 4 blocks during the contest. Four Neptunas-Akv. players scored in double figures. French forward Gedeon Dimoke (197-2001) responded with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Julius Liesis (198-1999) scored 16 points. Atletas’ coach Remigijus Bardauskas rotated ten players in this game, but that didn’t help. Neptunas-Akv. maintains fourteenth position with 4-22 record. Atletas lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the tenth place with 16 games lost.
Top scorers:
Neptunas-Akv.: M.Gabrielius 22+4reb+4ast, K.Metrikis 11+8reb+1ast, D.Anuzis 11+3reb+6ast, R.Matas 11+5reb+1ast, N.Matas 7, L.Kristupas 3+1reb+7ast
Atletas: J.Liesis 16+4reb+2ast, D.Gedeon 15+7reb+4ast, R.Gadiliauskas 13+2reb+1ast, M.Kuprijanovas 9+2reb+2ast, R.Pocius 6+6reb+6ast, G.Macionis 5+1reb
gschID: 1111045
Suduva-Mantinga – Kretinga 101-72
NKL top team – Suduva-Mantinga (22-3) had no problems winning another game on Saturday. This time they crushed eleventh ranked Kretinga (9-17) in Marijampole 101-72. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Kretinga. They outrebounded Kretinga 42-21 including a 28-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Suduva-Mantinga made 10 blocks. Guard Vytautas Sulskis (201-1988, college: YSU, agency: BIG) notched 24 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line) to lead the effort and Aurelijus Pukelis (205-1994) supported him with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Suduva-Mantinga’s coach Tomas Gaidamavicius felt very confident that he used 11 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Even 23 points and 4 assists by Mantas Ruikis (197-1985) did not help to save the game for Kretinga. Edvinas Alunderis (202-1992) added 13 points and 7 rebounds for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Suduva-Mantinga have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 22-3 record. Kretinga at the other side keeps the eleventh place with 17 games lost.
Top scorers:
Suduva-Mantinga: V.Sulskis 24+8reb+3ast, A.Pukelis 20+8reb+1ast, D.Vilys 18+2reb+1ast, M.Uzupis 15+7reb, M.Augustas 6+2ast, E.Dimsa 6+8reb+1ast
Kretinga: M.Ruikis 23+4reb+4ast, Z.Justas 15+2ast, E.Alunderis 13+7reb, R.Zabita 10+3reb, M.Jurkaitis 5+3reb+7ast, P.Eisvydas 4+2ast
gschID: 1111046
Stekas – Telsiai 70-76
Very expected game when 8th ranked Stekas (12-13) lost to second ranked Telsiai (22-4) in Vilnius 70-76 on Saturday. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Telsiai made 18 blocks. Forward Rolandas Jakstas (202-1992) notched 19 points and 9 rebounds to lead the effort and point guard Ignas Razutis (185-1987) supported him with 11 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Four Telsiai players scored in double figures. Even 18 points, 5 rebounds and 5 blocks by swingman Kostas Jonuska (197-1992) did not help to save the game for Stekas. Point guard Paulius Semaska (184-1993) added 13 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists for the hosts. Telsiai have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 22-4 record having just one point less than leader Suduva-Mantinga. Loser Stekas keeps the eighth place with 13 games lost. They share the position with Delikatesas.
Top scorers:
Telsiai: R.Jakstas 19+9reb, L.Kaveckis 13+3reb, O.Kaminskis 11+6reb+2ast, I.Razutis 11+8reb+7ast, L.Gediminas 9+1reb, E.Bruzas 8+3reb+2ast
Stekas: K.Jonuska 18+5reb+3ast, P.Semaska 13+5reb+5ast, J.Sinica 12+2reb+1ast, M.Serksnas 7+2reb+2ast, A.Pilauskas 6+3reb+5ast, P.Lukas 6+4reb
gschID: 1111047
Vytis – Vilkaviskis 109-70
The game between closely ranked teams ended with fifth ranked Vytis‘ (14-11) home victory over 6th ranked Vilkaviskis (13-13) in Sakiai 109-70 on Saturday. Vytis looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Vilkaviskis‘ players. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Vytis made 19 blocks. Augustinas Mikstas (203-2001, agency: Octagon Europe) notched a double-double by scoring 26 points and 11 rebounds to lead the effort and point guard Titas Janusevicius (188-2001) supported him with 25 points and 7 rebounds. Four Vytis players scored in double figures. Even 9 points and 14 rebounds by American power forward Joshua Nurse (208-1997, college: SFC) did not help to save the game for Vilkaviskis. Point guard Mantvydas Zukauskas (192-1998) added 16 points for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Vytis moved-up to fourth place. Loser Vilkaviskis dropped to the seventh position with 13 games lost.
Top scorers:
Vytis: M.Augustinas 26+11reb+2ast, J.Titas 25+7reb+2ast, E.Dziaugys 23+8reb+1ast, E.Zilius 12+4reb+2ast, C.Gabrielius 9+2reb+4ast, L.Nojus 5+1reb+1ast
Vilkaviskis: M.Zukauskas 16+1ast, P.Titas 10+1reb+1ast, J.Nurse 9+14reb+2ast, M.Zaunieriunas 9+1reb+1ast, K.Anderson 9+3reb+2ast, D.Edvinas 7+4reb
gschID: 1111048
Zalgiris II – Silute 84-73
Not a big story in a game when 13th ranked Silute (6-20) lost to seventh ranked Zalgiris II (13-12) in Kaunas 73-84 on Saturday. Zalgiris II outrebounded Silute 33-18 including 20 on the defensive glass. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Zalgiris II made 20 blocks. Nedas Montvila (194-2002) notched 20 points and 5 rebounds to lead the effort and guard Matas Vokietaitis (206-2004) supported him with 20 points. Zalgiris II’s coach Vytautas Pliauga used a ten-player rotation and allowed the starting five to rest. Even 19 points (on 9-of-11 shooting from the field) by forward Mykolas Ivanauskas (202-2005) did not help to save the game for Silute. Point guard Laurynas Balkunas (192-1999) added 19 points for the guests. Zalgiris II moved-up to sixth place. Silute lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth position with 20 games lost.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris II: V.Matas 20+4reb, M.Nedas 20+5reb+3ast, B.Dovydas 9+4reb, B.Dominykas 9+2reb+3ast, S.Domantas 7+5reb, B.Emilis 6+7reb+3ast
Silute: I.Mykolas 19+4reb+3ast, L.Balkunas 19+2ast, Y.Balaban 17+2reb+1ast, P.Poska 8+1reb, K.Babkauskas 5+6reb+8ast, C.Tadas 3
gschID: 1111049
Jurbarkas – Palanga 84-89
An interesting game for Palanga (21-5) which played road game in Jurbarkas against 4th ranked Jurbarkas (14-12). Third ranked Palanga managed to get a 5-point victory 89-84. Palanga shot 23 for 32 from the free-throw line, while Jurbarkas only scored four points from the stripe. Great defensive blocking was one of the keys in this match when Palanga made 16 blocks. 28 personal fouls committed by Jurbarkas helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Forward Julius Kazakauskas (196-1990) orchestrated the victory with a double-double by scoring 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Marius Runkauskas (186-1986, agency: BIG) contributed with 19 points for the winners. Mintautas Bulanovas (193-1996) replied with 19 points and 5 rebounds and the former international guard Tomas Delininkaitis (190-1982, agency: Octagon Europe) added 15 points and 8 assists in the effort for Jurbarkas. Four Palanga and five Jurbarkas players scored in double figures. Palanga have an impressive nine-game winning streak. They maintain third position with 21-5 record behind leader Suduva-Mantinga. Newly promoted Jurbarkas dropped to the fifth place with 12 games lost.
Top scorers:
Palanga: J.Kazakauskas 20+11reb+4ast, M.Runkauskas 19+3reb+1ast, P.Danisevicius 19+2reb+2ast, R.Subotkevic 13+2reb, K.Guscikas 9+7reb+3ast, S.Valunta 6+1reb+1ast
Jurbarkas: M.Bulanovas 19+5reb+3ast, T.Delininkaitis 15+2reb+8ast, I.Juskevicius 12+9reb+3ast, K.Kokoska 12+4reb, V.Sarakauskas 11+8reb+2ast, M.Lukauskis 11+3reb+2ast
gschID: 1111050
