BC "Lietkabelis Panevezys" (Lithuania) - BC "Prometey" - 72:80 (24:12, 10:21, 17:22, 21:25). January 11. 7DAYS EuroCup group tournament. Group A. Tour 10. Panevezys (Lithuania). Arena "Cido".
BC "Lietkabelis Panevezys": Morris* (15 + 3 steals), Rubstavicius* (5), Goloman* (13 + 10 rebounds), Kullamae* (6 + 5 assists), Griciunas* (12), Peno (5), Maldunas (3), Lipkevicius (10 + 9 rebounds), Vasiliauskas (3).
BC "Prometey": Kennedy* (4 + 7 rebounds), Balvin* (10 + 8 rebounds), Clavell* (19), Stephens* (14 + 8 rebounds), Lukashov*, captain (0), Klassen (5) , Sanon (2), Agada (19 + 9 assists), Lypovyy (0), Tkachenko (0), Dickey (7).
The second round in the Group A of the 7DAYS EuroCup started the day before with the home victory of Italian “Brescia” over Spanish “Joventut”. This result created a background for the unique situation in our group: following the results of the 10th tour, 5 first teams at once could have 60% of wins. Simultaneous successes of Turkish “Frutti Bursaspor”, our “Prometey” in Lithuanian “Panevezys, Romanian “Cluj-Napoka” in the confrontation with one of the leaders – French “Bourg” and any result in the confrontation “Reyer Venice” – “Ratiopharm Ulm” were needed for that.
To turn this situation into reality, “Prometey” needed a victory in the battle with “Lietkabelis”. The best club of Ukraine approached this confrontation with a record victorious streak of nine matches in two tournaments. Certainly, the basis of this streak included successes in the LEBL, however, exactly last matches of our team within this league has demonstrated its excellent condition.
In the debut of the confrontation, both teams successfully attacked from the opponent’s “paint” and from the mid-range distance. The hosts of the court were more productive, which according to the results of the first 4 minutes is brought them a little gap of 6 points (10:4). Three-point shot by Morris, American guard of “Lietkabelis”, increased the advantage of his team by 3 more points, after which Ronen Ginzburg had to take a time-out. The coach of our team completely changed the starting five, however, the situation did not get better. “Red and white” completely lost the starting quarter – 12:24.
In the second quarter, DJ Stephens managed to give a long awaited impuls to the team. His assist to James Dickey, accurate three-point shot and the final part of a shared with Issuf Sanon alley-oop immediately reduced the lag to 5 points (19:24). Besides that, the guests acted aggressively and reliably in defense. The opponents distinguished for the first time in the quarter only in 4th minute, in total, they managed to score just 10points. It was not surprising that after “3+1” by Gian Clavell, the teams went for the long break with just a symbolic lag of “Prometey” - 33:34.
After 15-minute break, our team took the lead (individual drive by Caleb Agada). “Red and white” (together with Caleb – Stephens and Kennedy) continued working effectively in the opponent’s 3-second zone, in addition, as reliable defense as it was in the previous quarter and Clavell’s shooter qualities became the components of the constant leading of "Prometey" in the score.
This leadership lasted until the 34th minute, when Stefan Peno brought “Lietkabelis” ahead – 63:62. However, opponent entered the last 5-minute segment with “+3” in favour of Ukrainian club. The last minutes of the match predictably became the tensest in the game. Herewith, “Prometey” confidently left the clutch in the own favour, attaining the tenth victory in a row in the 7DAYS EuroCup and the LEBL.
Natural mineral water "Vytautas" is the official hydration partner of BC "Prometey"
