Rytas exhausted victory in Alytus, lagged by double-digit deficit / News

Photo: Rokas Lukoševičius

Photo: Rokas Lukoševičius

Photo: Rokas Lukoševičius

Photo: Rokas Lukoševičius

Photo: Rokas Lukoševičius

Awakening from slumber at a crucial moment, Vilnius Rytas (16-5) grew tired of a difficult victory in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL).

Giedrius Žibėnas students on the trip 95:86 (24:21, 16:29, 22:16, 33:20) defeated the basketball players of Alytus “Dzūkija” (7-13).

This was the ninth consecutive victory for Vilnius residents and the capital’s basketball players who won tonight rose to second place in the tournament table, beating Utena’s “Juventus” (16-6).

The game was started better by the hosts, who led in the second half by Paolo Marinelli 19: 8 and after the free throws of Modestas Paulauskas they gained a 10-point advantage (42:32) and managed to keep it until the long break (50: 40) .

The third quarter was better started by the Dzuks, who had a 14-point lead at the same time (56:42), but the Vilnius team responded with a 14: 2 streak and tied the result at the beginning of the fourth quarter after Two points ahead of Ivan Buva (66:66).

6 minutes before the end of the match, the score was 75:75, but the Vilnius team accelerated 12: 2 and after a long shot from Mindaugas Girdžiūnas, they escaped by 10 points 3 minutes (87:77).

For the rest of the time, the people of Alytus were unable to create a miracle and had to admit defeat.

Victory club rookie “Rytas” Buva, who scored 21 points in 21 minutes (7/8 double, 0/1 trit., 7/8 penalty), bounced 7 and lost 1 ball, blocked the opponent’s shot , caused 8 fouls and scored 32 utility points.

Dzinija was not spared from defeat by Marinelli’s career match. The Italian scored 26 points (9/14 dvit., 2/5 trit., 2/2 penalties) in 35 minutes, bounced 2 and took 3 balls, made 7 assists, made 2 errors and scored 26 utility points.

Man of the match

Despite the defeat, Dzūkija boss coach Nikola Vasilevas praised the performance of his players and, as one of the reasons for the defeat, highlighted the high problems with fouls.

“It is a difficult game, but I am happy with my players as they have turned out today. In the first part we control the situation both in defense and in attack.

They made a strong shot at the start of the match, but after a long break we had problems at the high-altitude line with fouls and that changed the course of the match. After losing the aggression, we no longer control the rebounds and the rivals took advantage of it, “said the strategist.

Morning boss Coach Žibėnas was not satisfied with the performance of the students in the first half of the match, but praised the players for the corrections made.

“There is no better emotion, there is nothing to hide. This match consisted of two different parts. Luckily, no one recorded a loss in the first half of the match. Respect for the players who came out with completely different faces, different emotions, another confidence and, most importantly, pride in the defense in the second half of the game, the strategists shared their thoughts.

When we started to defend ourselves, we had no problems and attacked. In the second half of the game we scored 55 points, but not because the ball moved well, but because we started playing defense, ”added Žibėnas.

“Dzūkija”: Paolo Marinelli 26 (9/14 diat., 2/5 trit., 7 res.), Tadas Rinkūnas 15 (3/6 trit.), Kristupas Žemaitis 12 (2/2 trit., 5 res. ( trans.), Artūras Jomantas 9 (3/7 dvit.), Simas Jasaitis 8 (2/2 trit.).

“Tomorrow”: Ivanas Buva 21 (7/8 doubles, 7/8 penalty, 7 reps, 32 users), Martynas Echodas 16 (7/9 doubles, 5 reps), Mindaugas Girdžiūnas 11 (8/8 penalty, 4 res.), Andrew Goudelockas 10 (3/7 doubles), Lukas Uleckas 9 (3/3 trit.), Arnas Butkevičius 7.

Coach Comments:

Match summary: