Lithuanian champions Zalgiris Kaunas edged the best club from Latvia - ASK
Broceni-LMT Riga 83:81 in the Final match and won the NEBL Promotion Cup'99. Tyus
Edney led Zalgiris with 21 points, making 14-from-16 free throws, including clutch shots
in the final minute of the game. It was expected that Zalgiris, one of four best European
clubs, wouldn't have any trouble beating its rivals in the Final match, but ASK
Broceni-LMT gave a tough competition to Lithuanian team. Zalgiris led 45:40 after the
first two quarters, but ASK Broceni-LMT managed to overtake the lead in the third, and it
was a very close game from then until the final seconds. After Tyus Edney made only one of
two free throws, the Latvian team had enough time for its last offensive action, but
Sandis Valters missed a potential game-tying jumper at the buzzer.
Lietuvos rytas Vilnius (Lithuania) won the Third place in the NEBL Promotion Cup'99,
beating Plannja Basket Lulea (Sweden) 95:87 earlier on Monday. Andrius Giedraitis led
Lietuvos rytas with 33 points. Guard Eric Elliott of Plannja Basket became the best scorer
of the League and was named the Most Valuable Player of NEBL Promotion Cup'99.
In the semifinal games on Sunday, April 4, Zalgiris easily defeated Lietuvos rytas
103:75 and ASK Broceni-LMT outscored Plannja Basket Lulea (Sweden) 87:81