BC “Kalev/Cramo” (Tallinn, Estonia) – BC “Prometey” – 80:65 (21:18, 16:13, 24:24, 19:10). January 6. Latvian-Estonian basketball league Pafbet. Tallinn (Estonia). Uibet Arena. 5908 spectators.
BC “Kalev/Cramo”: Jurkatamm (15), Dorbek, captain (15 + 7 rebounds + 3 steals), Suarez (16), Kirves (9 + 9 rebounds), Hermet (3) – starting five; Jackson (3), Kurbas (7), Bockler (8), Nurger (4), Kaukiainen (0).
BC “Ptometey”: Agada (3), Bobrov (2), Kennedy (0), Odiase (10), Gray (11) – Starting five; Sydorov, captain (10), Tkachenko (6), March (0), Lypovyy (3), Balvin (15 + 15 rebounds), Sanon (5).
The second match of “Prometey” within two days in the capital of Estonia Tallinn with no doubts was the central one in the second tour, although there is much time to go in this tour. Today’s confrontation between the current Latvian-Estonian league leader and the reigning champion of the league by and large was going to determine a favourite in the fight for the first place in the regular season. At the same time, of course, it should be taken into account that the best LEBL team will be named only in the playoff stage.
Both teams had a difficult start of the game: within first two minutes, they scored just two points each. After that, the hosting team, who probably strived to rehabilitate for the sensitive defeat in the first tour, arranged a 7:0 run. Ronen Ginzburg’s team needed certain time to find their pace. In 8 minute, after an accurate three-point shot by Illia Sydorov, “Prometey” finally reached the rival (14:14). However, “Kalev/Cramo” finished starting quarter in own favour – 21:18.
In the debut of the second quarter, with a 5:0 spurt, the hosts of the floor increased their handicap. In 17 minute, after the fantastic three-pointer by Jurkatmm, their advantage outreached a double-digit mark – 35:23. The champion of Estonia surpassed our team in quality of shots from the field and, which was rather surprising, in fight on the backboards. However, despite this fact, before the long break, the Ukrainian club halved its lag - 31:37.
In the second half of the game, the teams continued playing quite sticky basketball. “Kalev/Cramo”, due to their high percentage of three-point hits (about 40%), kept leading all through the entire quarter N3. This ten-minute segmen resulted in tie and “Prometey” had to eliminate a minor lag of two possessions.
In the decisive ten-minute, actions of both teams were far from perfect ones. However, in this quarter, as well as in the entire match in general, “Kalev/Cramo” was stronger and won with a final score pf 80:65. If yesterday, the “titans” set a record of productiveness in the season, they had an anti-record today – just 65 points scored.
Now, “Prometey” switches to the BKT EuroCup game programme. On January 10, our team resumes the tournament with a road match against “Paris Basketball”.
