Review of Round 1 of Final Stage

Beko - Valur 82-71

The game was mostly controlled by Beko. Valur managed to win third quarter 23-20. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Beko won last quarter 27-18. They also forced 25 Valur turnovers. Strangely Valur outrebounded Beko 51-37 including a 17-6 advantage in offensive rebounds. Luka Cabrilo (-2008) nailed 24 points, 7 assists and 4 steals for the winning side and Damjan Andric accounted for 13 points and 11 rebounds. Five Beko players scored in double figures. Larus Olafsson came up with 20 points and Pall Einarsson added 10 points and 13 rebounds respectively for Valur in the defeat. Valur's coach let to play ten players, but that didn't help to avoid defeat in this game.
Top scorers:
Beko: L.Cabrilo 24+3reb+7ast, V.Maric 14+6reb+4ast, O.Zivkovic 13+4reb+1ast, D.Andric 13+11reb+2ast, A.Stankovic 10+6reb+1ast, V.Spalevic 4+2reb
Valur: L.Olafsson 20+3reb+1ast, S.Traustason 11+3reb+1ast, P.Einarsson 10+13reb, B.Andrason 8+13reb, T.Gudmundsson 6+2reb, A.Halldorsson 5+3reb

Zalgiris - Jesi 87-60

The game was mostly controlled by Zalgiris. Jesi managed to win fourth quarter 14-13. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Jesi 59-27 including a 18-5 advantage in offensive rebounds. Zalgiris looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists comparing to just 11 passes made by Jesi's players. Tadas Graizys nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points and 12 rebounds for the winning side and Eimantas Kuprys accounted for 19 points and 4 steals (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Jacques Egbende came up with 18 points and 5 rebounds and Lorenzo Giannattasio added 12 points respectively for Jesi in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: E.Kuprys 19+3reb, T.Graizys 16+12reb+3ast, V.Stuikys 10+7reb+3ast, J.Jarockis 8+4reb, T.Pocevicius 7+4reb+3ast, T.Budrys 5+3reb+1ast
Jesi: J.Egbende 18+5reb+1ast, L.Giannattasio 12+1reb, M.Loccioni 8+2reb+3ast, E.Tamiozzo 6+3reb+1ast, F.Socci 5+1reb+1ast, M.Morino 4+1reb+1ast

BVBS - VKM 2 75-70

VKM 2 was tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Ralfs Murnieks who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 20 points, 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Nils Krastins contributed with 21 points for the winners. Matas Mikenas answered with 16 points and 5 rebounds and Simonas Jankauskas added 13 points and 5 rebounds in the effort for VKM 2. Four VKM 2 players scored in double figures. VKM 2's coach tried various players' combinations and tested in total twelve players in this game, but that didn't help.
Top scorers:
BVBS: N.Krastins 21+4reb+3ast, R.Murnieks 20+10reb+4ast, R.Ozolins 11+7reb+1ast, K.Ozers 9+4reb+5ast, K.Aumeisters 6+10reb+6ast, A.Vegeris 5+1reb
VKM 2: M.Mikenas 16+5reb+1ast, S.Jankauskas 13+5reb+2ast, L.Cijunaitis 12+4reb, G.Komparskas 10+2reb, B.Riebzda 6+3reb+2ast, R.Cibulskas 5+2reb+2ast

Tivat - Lanciano 90-46

The game without a history. Tivat led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 60 of its points in the paint compared to Lanciano's 36. Tivat forced 19 Lanciano turnovers and outrebounded them 49-33 including a 36-22 advantage in defensive rebounds. Tivat looked well-organized offensively handing out 24 assists. Relja Rajkovic nailed 16 points and 7 rebounds for the winning side and Montenegrin center Djordje Gulic (207-2008) accounted for 15 points and 5 rebounds. Senegalese Seydina Sarr (200-2008) came up with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds and Tommaso D'Incecco added 8 points respectively for Lanciano in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games.
Top scorers:
Tivat: R.Rajkovic 16+7reb+3ast, D.Gulic 15+5reb+1ast, M.Popovic 13+4reb+3ast, N.Vlaovic 10+4reb+1ast, L.Zotti 9+6reb+6ast, N.Tesla 7+6reb+4ast
Lanciano: S.Sarr 10+10reb+2ast, T.D'Incecco 8+4reb+3ast, M.Ekhaguere 6+5reb+2ast, F.Giampaolo 6+4reb, S.Mocci 5+1reb, N.Celocia 4+3reb

VKM - YMCA 117-77

The game was mostly controlled by VKM. YMCA was better in fourth quarter 24-23. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. VKM dominated down low during the game scoring 78 of its points in the paint compared to YMCA's 42. VKM forced 38 YMCA turnovers. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 29 assists. Pijus Kugauda stepped up and scored 16 points and 5 assists for the winners and guard Benas Redecki (194-2008) chipped in 15 points and 6 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Five VKM players scored in double figures. At the losing side guard Daniel Koivisto (-2008) responded with a double-double by scoring 19 points and 10 rebounds and guard Lasse Sellman (191-2008) scored 12 points and 6 rebounds. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games.
Top scorers:
VKM: P.Kugauda 16+4reb+5ast, B.Redecki 15+6reb+1ast, G.Kerys 14, G.Norkus 11+5ast, A.Zibuda 11+3reb+4ast, N.Janeliauskas 10+3reb+2ast
YMCA: D.Koivisto 19+10reb+3ast, L.Sellman 12+6reb+3ast, S.Korpijarvi 12+4reb+1ast, P.Laajasalo 10+2reb, E.Gustafsson 9+1reb+1ast, P.Santos 4+8reb+3ast

Pesaro - SKM Eagles 75-61

SKM Eagles were tied after three quarters but could not keep up in the last quarter eventually losing the game. Pesaro forced 19 SKM Eagles turnovers. Ziah Francis nailed 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and Riccardo Leonardi accounted for 13 points. Four Pesaro players scored in double figures. Ugnius Burdaitis came up with 28 points and 9 rebounds and Tomas Daraskevicius added 5 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists respectively for SKM Eagles in the defeat. Both coaches used bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Top scorers:
Pesaro: S.Grasso 14+2reb+3ast, N.Virgili 14+1reb, Z.Francis 14+5reb+1ast, R.Leonardi 13+4reb+3ast, N.Michelazzo 7+8reb+1ast, E.Sakine 5+6reb+1ast
SKM Eagles: U.Burdaitis 28+9reb, A.Rogalskij 8+1reb+3ast, M.Makarov 8+5reb, T.Daraskevicius 5+6reb+7ast, M.Lazko 4+1reb, J.Solomovas 3+8reb+1ast

Lucenec - USK Praha 52-80

The game was mostly controlled by USK Praha. Lucenec managed to win fourth quarter 17-13. But it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. USK Praha dominated on the defensive end, holding Lucenec to just 6 points in third quarter. They dominated down low during the game scoring 56 of its points in the paint compared to Lucenec's 32. They outrebounded Lucenec 63-38 including a 40-20 advantage in defensive rebounds. USK Praha looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Lucenec's players. JadenLucas Schilb nailed a double-double by scoring 16 points, 17 rebounds and 8 assists for the winning side and Ondrej Skakal accounted for 19 points and 11 rebounds. Simon Durian came up with 11 points and 9 rebounds and guard Matus Zlocha (190-2008) added 9 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Lucenec in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Top scorers:
USK Praha: O.Skakal 19+11reb+1ast, J.Schilb 16+17reb+8ast, L.Sadovsky 16+14reb, J.Broda 6+8reb+7ast, J.Chaloupka 6+5reb+1ast, M.Sklenarik 6+1reb+1ast
Lucenec: S.Durian 11+9reb+2ast, M.Zlocha 9+8reb+3ast, R.Rosko 7+5reb+1ast, M.Zachar 7+1reb, A.Hlinka 6+1reb, O.Kovacik 6+2reb+2ast

SKM Lions - Nordvast 80-52

SKM Lions trailed by 1 point after first quarter, but they stormed back to get the 9-point lead at the halftime and eventually won the game 80-52. SKM Lions outrebounded Nordvast 47-34 including a 34-23 advantage in defensive rebounds. Karolis Anuskevicius nailed 18 points for the winning side and Giedrius Sulga accounted for 12 points and 6 rebounds. Four SKM Lions players scored in double figures. Theodosis Kalpakas came up with a double-double by scoring 20 points and 11 rebounds and Axel Palsson (-2008) added 7 points and 5 rebounds respectively for Nordvast in the defeat. Since the result was very predictable, it gave the chance for the coaches to test many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest.
Top scorers:
SKM Lions: K.Anuskevicius 18+2reb+2ast, G.Sulga 12+6reb+2ast, P.Bakans 12+4reb+2ast, J.Zvironas 10+6reb+1ast, A.Skomskis 8+3reb+4ast, P.Daukas 7+3reb+2ast
Nordvast: T.Kalpakas 20+11reb+2ast, A.Palsson 7+5reb+1ast, M.Siri 6+5reb+1ast, B.Agbozoke 5+4reb, M.Almedar 4+2reb, N.Hayes 3+2reb+1ast