“Success bought”: how “Žalgiris” came out of the needle hole / News

Photo: BNS

Photo: BNS

Photo: BNS

Photo: BNS

Photo: BNS

Five seconds. On Friday, three attacks by Kaunas “Žalgiris” lasted, snapping and snapping the spine of Piraeus “Olympiakos” in a tense thriller on the island of Nemunas.

The ball taken by Thomas Walkup and the two points in the final second of the match will be deservedly called in every review of this match, but as in all winning stories, there was more than one component of victory in this one.

It all started with a successful smile. When Shaquille McKissic left Marius Grigonis behind in the final minute of the game and exploded under the basket, he landed the easiest shot possible to close the game.

Had he hit, the Olympiacos athletic defender would have increased his lead to 81:72 and everything would have been clear.

Yes, the 9-point lead is wiped out in 2 minutes, but the entire course of the match was so tilted towards Olympiacos that it seems that such a shot would have solved all the problems.

However, McKissicas managed to grab the rebound and shoved the ball into the empty net, although the shot went wide. The attack lasted only 5 seconds and during this short section “Žalgiris” recovered as if it were connected to a life apparatus.

After Olympiakos failed to attack for 24 seconds in the next attack, Artūras Milaknis flew a three-point shot from eight meters and Kaunas residents took a breath – 77:79.

Olympiakos then had three chances to increase his lead, but two pitches by Vassilio Spanouli and one by Kostas Sloukas flew past, and Žalgiris made another 5-second quick attack: Augustine Rubit noticed Lauvergne, running for a quick attack, and this lying, 21 seconds from the end, equalized the score.

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It was Lauvergne’s 21st point in the match, the 17th after a long break and the fourth in the final two minutes of the match, both on top of a quick attack.

“He’s not like most centers,” Walkup said of the Frenchman after the game. – The way he dances, runs, makes decisions on time: it is a pleasure to play with him. We like to play with him because we can throw the ball anywhere and he will put it in. “

Lauvergne, who won three fouls in the first half of the match, shone after a long break, when he scored 11 of the team’s 18 points in the third half, using the opponents’ changing defense, which left him behind the shorter opponent. .

“The coaches prepared a good plan, we knew how to attack their tall people, how to take advantage of their advantages. We did a great job, “said Rokas Jokubaitis.

“The main change was looking for more of a man on the court,” said coach Schiller. – To do this, you need to get out of the barrier faster, otherwise there is no advantage anymore. We tried to slide quickly from the barriers, we were looking for someone to pass the ball to ”.

Following Lauvergne’s launch, coach Bartzok decided not to take a minute off and Kostas Sloukas took the initiative into his own hands.

It started this week with a three-point takeoff in Vilerbana, where Olympiacos ultimately won, and on Friday in Kaunas, Sloukas was the leading candidate to close out the match.

Only Thomas Walkup had his own plans.

Knowing he had to leave the field, Walkupas’ shot went over the crossbar, making an attempt to take the lead when a ball that entered from the right left Liivio Jeano-Charleso completely alone with goalkeeper Alessandro Ciccio, who made a spectacular block.

This attack reflected all that incredible undressing of Žalgiris in the last two minutes through the needle hole. It was enough somewhere for something to happen differently, and the outcome of the duel would be completely different.

“We have bought some success this season,” Grigonis said after the match with Žalgiris TV.

Walkup’s colon was the ninth point in a row for Žalgiris: 81:79, after which Olympiaka’s attack had 0.8 seconds left.

That crazy attack lasted only 5 seconds, but it seemed much longer than Lauvergne’s quick attacks.

“Before taking control of the ball, I knew we had a foul in reserve and we had to play hard, try to take control of the ball. If there is a foul, the judges will whistle and the fines will not be issued yet. As it happened, I managed to touch the ball with my hand, I took it, it took me a long time to get to my feet normally and before I did, Sloukas caught up with me. I hit the ball to the ground a couple of times, Vasillis Spanoulis was behind me, I dribbled again, I looked at the clock that showed three seconds, I took a shot and everything ended well.

“This is the most memorable moment of my career,” added Walkup.

After a minute of rest, Olympiacos tried to throw the ball to Jeane Charles, but Grigonis raised his hand and Žalgiris triumphed.

After the final siren, Bartzok was quick to argue with one of the match officials, but it was too late to change anything. Olympiakos lost to Žalgiris for the second time this season in the closing seconds and, overall, in the last 12 mutual games, Kaunas lost for the 10th time.

“In the end, you also need some luck,” Schiller said. – I think we made a couple of hard shots and then Thomas played very well on defense. However, our success must come through hard work, so we congratulate the team on that. “