Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

POSTED BY: Eurobasket News

Gabrielius Mazeika

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Bottom-ranked Neptunas-Akv. managed to get a seventh victory on Thursday night. This time they edged eighth-ranked Stekas in Klaipeda 90-89. Neptunas-Akv. looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. 24 personal fouls committed by Stekas helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. The best player for the winners was Gabrielius Mazeika (206-2003, agency: BIG) who scored 25 points and 7 rebounds. Kristupas Keinys (202-2004) chipped in 19 points and 10 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was swingman Tadas Rinkunas (195-1991) who recorded 20 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Neptunas-Akv. maintains fourteenth place with 7-27 record. Newly promoted Stekas keeps the eighth position with 19 games lost. Neptunas-Akv. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Stekas will play at home against Palanga (#13) and is hoping to win this game.
Leader Suduva-Mantinga delivered the twenty eighth victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Silute (14-19) 86-57 in Marijampole. It was a good game for Aurelijus Pukelis (205-1994) who led his team to a victory with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Zygimantas Simonis contributed with 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Canadian guard Jalen Warren (188-1999, college: UIC) answered with 10 points and 5 rebounds for Silute. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Suduva-Mantinga maintains first place with 28-6 record. Silute lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 19 games lost. They share it with Delikatesas. Suduva-Mantinga will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Silute will play at home against Atletas (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game in Kaunas was also quite interesting. Second ranked Telsiai (26-8) played at the court of 7th ranked Atletas (14-20). Telsiai defeated Atletas 87-74 on Thursday. Rolandas Jakstas stepped up and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. The best for the losing side was Paulius Danisevicius with 19 points and 5 assists. Telsiai maintains second place with 26-8 record having just two points less than leader Stekas. Atletas at the other side keeps the seventh position with 20 games lost. They share it with Rytas 2. Telsiai will meet at home Vytis (#5) in the next round. Atletas will play against Silute and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

Other games of round 9 were quite predictable and ended without any surprises. Here they are:
Mazeikiai was defeated by Vytis in Sakiai 99-95. Palanga was beaten by Kretinga at home 66-79. Delikatesas was destroyed by Rytas 2 on the opponent’s court 112-75.
The best stats of 9th round was 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists by Andreas Kalogiros of Rytas 2.

Basketball News, Scores, Stats, Analysis, Standings

Neptunas-Akv. – Stekas 90-89

gschID: 1057675

Atletas – Telsiai 74-87

The game in Kaunas was also quite interesting. Second ranked Telsiai (26-8) played at the court of 7th ranked Atletas (14-20). Telsiai defeated Atletas 87-74 on Thursday. Telsiai forced 20 Atletas turnovers. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Forward Rolandas Jakstas (202-1992) stepped up and scored 22 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and center Mindaugas Norkus (200-1985) chipped in 17 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Five Telsiai players scored in double figures. The best for the losing side was point guard Paulius Danisevicius (178-1995, agency: BIG) with 19 points and 5 assists and Tomas Balciunas (204-2000) scored 15 points. Telsiai maintains second place with 26-8 record having just two points less than leader Stekas. Atletas at the other side keeps the seventh position with 20 games lost. They share it with Rytas 2. Telsiai will meet at home Vytis (#5) in the next round. Atletas will play against Silute and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Telsiai: R.Jakstas 22+6reb+2ast, M.Norkus 17+7reb+3ast, I.Razutis 14+9ast, L.Kaveckis 14+1reb+2ast, D.Rasys 13+4reb+4ast, E.Bruzas 5+6reb+2ast
Atletas: P.Danisevicius 19+2reb+5ast, T.Balciunas 15+3reb+2ast, M.Kuprijanovas 12+4reb, B.Tautvydas 9+4reb, V.Edas 7+3reb, G.Rokas 4+1reb

gschID: 1057676

Suduva-Mantinga – Silute 86-57

Leader Suduva-Mantinga delivered the twenty eighth victory. This time they crushed 6th ranked Silute (14-19) 86-57 in Marijampole. It was a good game for Aurelijus Pukelis (205-1994) who led his team to a victory with 21 points and 6 rebounds. Zygimantas Simonis (194-1995) contributed with 13 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. Five Suduva-Mantinga players scored in double figures. Canadian guard Jalen Warren (188-1999, college: UIC) answered with 10 points and 5 rebounds and center Povilas Gaidys (206-1991, college: Southeastern) added 14 points in the effort for Silute. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Suduva-Mantinga maintains first place with 28-6 record. Silute lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixth position with 19 games lost. They share it with Delikatesas. Suduva-Mantinga will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Silute will play at home against Atletas (#7) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Suduva-Mantinga: A.Pukelis 21+6reb, Z.Simonis 13+6reb+3ast, P.Beliavicius 11+1reb+2ast, E.Dziaugys 11+7reb+2ast, T.Kliucinykas 10+1reb+2ast, M.Uzupis 10+6reb+4ast
Silute: P.Gaidys 14+3reb, J.Alexander 12+3reb, J.Warren 10+5reb+3ast, Y.Balaban 6+7reb, J.Liesis 4+3reb+1ast, D.Anuzis 3+1reb+1ast

gschID: 1057677

Vytis – Mazeikiai 99-95

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Sakiai where 4th placed Mazeikiai (21-13) was defeated by fifth ranked Vytis (20-14) 99-95 on Thursday. Vytis made 17-of-21 free shots (81.0 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Augustinas Mikstas (203-2001, agency: Octagon Europe) stepped up with a double-double by scoring 22 points and 14 rebounds for the winners and point guard Titas Janusevicius (188-2001) chipped in 24 points and 5 assists. Vytis’ coach Erikas Kuciauskas used a ten-player rotation in such tough game. The best for the losing side was point guard Sarunas Valunta (192-2000) with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Karolis Guscikas (206-1992, agency: BIG) scored 17 points and 9 rebounds. Four Vytis and five Mazeikiai players scored in double figures. Vytis maintains fifth place with 20-14 record. Loser Mazeikiai keeps the fourth position with 13 games lost. Vytis will meet league’s second-placed Telsiai on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Mazeikiai will play against Zalgiris II and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Vytis: J.Titas 24+2reb+5ast, M.Augustinas 22+14reb+1ast, R.Maciulis 14+2reb+3ast, K.Kokoska 12+3reb, E.Zilius 11+5reb+2ast, E.Jonkus 9+9ast
Mazeikiai: S.Valunta 19+6reb+4ast, K.Guscikas 17+9reb, A.Jomantas 14+7reb+3ast, K.Babusis 13+2reb+2ast, S.Jasaitis 12+8reb+2ast, R.Jokubas 11+5ast

gschID: 1057678

Palanga – Kretinga 66-79

There was a small surprise when thirteenth ranked Kretinga (13-21) defeated on the road 11th ranked Palanga (13-21) 79-66 on Thursday. Ukrainian swingman Maksym Lutsenko (188-1993, agency: BIG) stepped up and scored 20 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) for the winners and guard Martynas Mazeika (193-1985, agency: Interperformances) chipped in 16 points and 5 assists. The best for the losing side was American guard Dee Franklin (196-1992, college: FVSU) with a double-double by scoring 13 points and 10 rebounds and the other American import point guard Zac Owens (180-1998, college: Bethel, IN) scored 22 points. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Kretinga moved-up to twelfth place, which they share with defeated Palanga. Kretinga will meet at home higher ranked Rytas 2 (#10) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Palanga will play against Stekas in Vilnius and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Kretinga: M.Lutsenko 20+4reb+1ast, M.Mazeika 16+4reb+5ast, R.Nacius 12+6reb+1ast, E.Danys 10+1reb+1ast, M.Jurkaitis 7+1reb+7ast, O.Misyats 6+3reb+2ast
Palanga: Z.Owens 22+2ast, J.Ernestas 13+2reb+2ast, D.Franklin 13+10reb+2ast, B.Tadas 10+7reb+3ast, T.Kymantas 5, L.Mantas 2+1reb+1ast

gschID: 1057679

Rytas 2 – Delikatesas 112-75

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams in Vilnius where 9th ranked Delikatesas (14-19) was rolled over by tenth ranked Rytas 2 (14-20) 112-75 on Thursday. Rytas 2 outrebounded Delikatesas 48-29 including a 38-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. They shot the lights out from three sinking 17 long-distance shots on high 53.1 percentage. Rytas 2 looked well-organized offensively handing out 30 assists comparing to just 15 passes made by Delikatesas’ players. Greek Andreas Kalogiros (198-2002) stepped up and scored 16 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners and Adas Simonis (192-2001) chipped in 22 points. Rytas 2’s coach Andrius Slezas felt very confident that he used 10 players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. The best for the losing side was American Darion Rackley (187-1992, college: JSU) with 11 points and 7 rebounds and Vilius Valuntonis (202-2002) scored 14 points and 4 assists. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Rytas 2 moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Atletas. Loser Delikatesas dropped to the sixth position with 19 games lost. They share it with Silute. Rytas 2 will meet Kretinga (#12) on the road in the next round which should be theoretically another easy game. Delikatesas will play against Vilkaviskis (#11) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Rytas 2: A.Simonis 22+3ast, K.Andreas 16+9reb+6ast, K.Augustinas 16+4reb+1ast, S.Kristupas 16+2ast, V.Lukas 15+7reb+2ast, A.Adomavicius 12+6reb+7ast
Delikatesas: V.Vilius 14+2reb+4ast, S.Kulevicius 13+3reb+2ast, B.Corey 11+4reb+1ast, D.Rackley 11+7reb+2ast, F.Salsamendi 10+6reb+3ast, M.Ugnius 6+1reb+2ast