In a difficult confrontation "Prometey" defeated "Liepaja" in overtime

У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"

BC "Prometey" - BC "Liepaja" (Latvia) - 96:91 (25:20, 23:25, 20:14, 14:23, 14:9). November 5. Latvian-Estonian basketball league Pafbet. 7th round. Riga (Latvia). Rimi Olympic Centre. 170 spectators.


BC "Prometey": Balvin* (8), Clavell* (16 + 2 steals), Kennedy* (6), Stephens* (12), Lukashov*, captain (8 + 5 assists), Agada (16 + 6 rebounds), Sydorov* (10 + 5 assists), Lypovyy (2), Hogue (8), Petrov (5), Tkachenko (5).


BC "Liepaja": Birkans* (4 + 7 assists), Vanags* (13), Zunda* (8), Silins* (28 + 10 rebounds), Helmanis* (9), Vitols (5), Meynarts (8) , O. Berzinsh (14 + 5 steals), Sulks (2).


The duel with BC “Liepaja” within the Latvian-Estonian league became the last one for “Prometey” before a two-week pause in the official matches. Most players of the Ukrainian best team as well as its head coach Ronen Ginzburg will start living with worries about their National teams; and it was very important today that they arrived to the National team locations with good feelings.


“Red and white” achieved their goal, coming off the seventh in a row victory in the league; however, for today’s success, which came only in overtime they expended maximum efforts. “On paper”, “Liepaja” seemed not an easy opponent, but the reality exceeded all expectations. Right from the first minutes, “Prometey” faced with the fast but, at the same time, meaningful game of the opponent. In the first half of the game, “Liepaja” was significantly inferior to our team only in percentage of three-point shots (25 against 46), but surpassed us not only in fight under the boards but also in number of productive assists.
 

У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"

It was not occasionally that the teams went for the long break with the advantage of our team by only one possession (48:45). After the first quarter, it was only two points more; and at the start of the second 10-minute segment, “Liepaja” was not upset with a 9:0 jerk by “Prometey” (hits from the perimeter by Agada and Tkachenko plus and-one by Hogue). With the score of 46:34 in favour of the hosts, their rivals responded with the identical spurt, and “-3” for the Arturs Visockis-Rubenis’ squad maintained until the end of the quarter.


In the 28 minute of the confrontation, after the spectacular individual pass by Caleb Agada, “Prometey” again reached the odds of “10+” (64:53). And once again, the “Liepaja” basketball players demonstrated that they can take the punch. It happened already in the 4th 10-minute segment, which our opponent won with confidence. In the 38th minute, an accurate three-point shot by 19-year-old Rikards Vanags lit the equal figures on the scoreboard (80:80). There also was parity on the court after today’s birthday boy DJ Kennedy and the rival’s center Karlis Silins scored in turns from under the boards. Both teams had 90 seconds to win in the regular time, but they failed to use them. Herewith, “Prometey” applied active pressing in defense, forcing the guests to attack from the arc with considerable resistance.


 

У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"

As a result, our team had to play the first in the season overtime. Initially, opponents started successfully bombarding the hoop of each other from the long-range distance (Sydorov and Clavell from “Prometey” and Zunda and Berzins fom “Liepaja”).  After the hit by Oyars Berzins at the end of the 3th minute of the overtime, the guests took a lead by 3 points (90:88), however, our team’s mastery allowed them to celebrate the victory. Caleb Agada’s floater 25 seconds before the end of overtime turned out to be decisive, “red and white” took the lead by 3 points (94:91). The last possession remained for “Liepaja” that could be saved by the accurate three-pointer. The guests attacked the “Prometey” hoop from the long-range distance twice and both times their shots were blocked (Agada, Stephens). Everything completely became clear when 6 seconds befor the final siren, Vanags lost the ball. The Berzins’ tactical foul on Clavell did not decide anything, moreover, Gian twice was accurate from the free throw line.


“Prometey” won 96:91 and extended its undefeated streak in the LEBL to 7 matches. Within this league they will hold their next official match, when on November 18, they will play on the road with the Estonian team BC “Tallinn Kalev/Audentes”.


Natural mineral water "Vytautas" is the official hydration partner of BC "Prometey"

MATCH STATISTICS
 

 

У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"
У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"
У складному поєдинку "Прометей" в овертаймi перемiг "Лієпаю"