Lietuvos rytas: took 1st place (6-0) in Group F of Regular Season, took 2nd place (4-2) in Group L of Top 16, lost to Valencia 70-80 in the Semifinals (!!!)
Rudupis: took 3rd place (3-3) in Group D of Regular Season
Eurobasket.com All-Lithuanian LKL Awards 2011-12 - May 14, 2012
Eurobasket.com All-Lithuanian LKL 1st Team 2012
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Valanciunas
Kalnietis
Popovic
Seibutis
Jankunas
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Player of the Year:Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) of Lietuvos rytas Guard of the Year:Mantas Kalnietis (196-G-86) of Zalgiris Forward of the Year:Paulius Jankunas (205-F-84) of Zalgiris Center of the Year:Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) of Lietuvos rytas Newcomer of the Year:Mindaugas Katelynas (206-F-83) of Lietuvos rytas Most Improved Player of the Year:Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) of Lietuvos rytas Bosman Player of the Year:Marko Popovic (185-G-82) of Zalgiris Import Player of the Year:Cam Long (193-G-88) of Siauliai Domestic Player of the Year:Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) of Lietuvos rytas Defensive Player of the Year:TreVon Hughes (183-PG-87) of Pieno Zvaigzdes Coach of the Year:Aleksandar Trifunovic of Zalgiris
Zalgiris claim LKL title and defended their status from the previous year. The Winner of the Regular Season overcame their rivals Lietuvos Rytas 90:84 to sweep the series. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning the initial quarter 25-20. But Lietuvos rytas won second period 24-22. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. They outrebounded Lietuvos rytas 35-21 including a 17-3 advantage in offensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was Marko Popovic (185-G-82, agency: Alti Sport, college: S.Idaho JC) who scored 20 points and 6 assists. Tomas Delininkaitis (192-G-82, agency: Interperformances) chipped in 19 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). At the other side the best for losing team was the former international guard Renaldas Seibutis (195-G-85) who recorded 24 points and 8 rebounds (went 9 for 9 at the free throw line !!!) and the former international swingman Steponas Babrauskas (197-G/F-84) added 14 points respectively. Rudupis meanwhile won the Bronze medals of the Play-offs. The team overcame Siauliai 79:64 last night to win the series. Rudupis led from the first minutes and controlled entire game increasing their lead in each quarter. Buterlevicius and Labuckas top-scored for the winners with 12 points each, while Adas Juskevicius (194-G/F-89) netted 10. Povilas Butkevicius added 9 points and 9 rebounds. Gediminas Orelikas (198-G/F-90) helped with 9 points and 5 rebounds. The best for the losing side was American guard Cam Long (193-G-88, agency: KMG Sports Management, college: George Mason) with 25 points, 5 assists and 4 steals.
Lithuanian Cup. Zalgiris defend the title - Feb 19, 2012
Zalgiris - Pieno Zvaigzdes 99:62
Zalgiris overcame Pieno Zvaigzdes in Kaunas to defend their Lithuanian Cup title. Paulius Jankunas (205-F-84, agency: Interperformances) stepped up with 14 points to pace well-balanced effort from the hosts. Zalgiris gave Pieno Zvaigzdes little chance in this one. They earned a 20:9 lead after ten minutes of action. Zalgiris maintained the lead throughout the second term. Moreover the Kaunas team stretched the gap to as many as 30 points at halftime 47:17. Pieno Zvaigzdes never came back to life in the second half. Zalgiris dominated and deservedly cruised to the victory at the end. Milovan Rakovic (208-C-85) posted 11 points, while Vytenis Lipkevicius (197-F-89), Robertas Javtokas (211-C-80, agency: Interperformances, college: Arizona), Tomas Delininkaitis (192-G-82, agency: Interperformances) and Marko Popovic (185-G-82, agency: Alti Sport, college: S.Idaho JC) added 10 points each in the win. Eimantas Bendzius (203-F-90) answered with 16 points for Pieno Zvaigzdes. Aurimas Kieza (202-F-82, agency: Players Group, college: Hofstra) finished with 12 points in the loss.
LKL All-Star Game. Lithuania edge Time Team - Mar 3, 2012
Lithuania - Time Team 115:98
Lithuania Team celebrated victory in a traditional LKL All-Star Game that took place in Klaipeda tonight. They defeated Time Team comprised of LKL import star players. Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) tallied 25 points, 13 rebounds and 6 assists to lead the winners. The centre was named the MVP after the game. The teams brought an exciting performance to the fans. The first period was an explosive mixture of offensive brilliance from both sides. Lithuania grabbed a narrow 34:33 lead after ten minutes. However Time Team changed the situation in the second term. Delas and Sonny Weems (198-G/F-86, college: Arkansas) made it 58:55 for Time Team at halftime. Lithuania took over again in the third term. Lithuania natives grabbed a 79:72 lead late in the frame. Time Team faced a 77:83 deficit heading into the fourth quarter. Lithuania went on an 11:0 run late in regulation to take a 115:94 lead and cruised to the victory at the end. Kuzminaskas provided 24 points, while Renaldas Seibutis (195-G-85) added 17 points for the winners. Sonny Weems answered with 21 points for Time Team. Rashaun Broadus (183-PG-84, college: BYU) had 20 points in the loss. Traditional contests took place right before the game. Sonny Weems turned out the winner of Slam Dunk Contest. He prevailed against Raimundas Danys in the Final. Zygimantas Sestokas claimed Three-Point Shooutout Contest crown edging Aleksandar Rasic in the final round.
Baltic League: Zalgiris outscore Lietuvos Rytas in Final - Apr 29, 2012
Zalgiris - Lietuvos Rytas 74:70
Zalgiris registered victory in the Baltic League Final. They shot down Lietuvos Rytas to claim the title for the third time in a row. Mantas Kalnietis (196-G-86, agency: Interperformances) stepped up with 19 points to pace the winners. Lietuvos Rytas spurred ahead in the first term. Nearly perfect offense propelled the Vilnius team to a 26:22 lead after ten minutes. Zalgiris changed the complexion of the game in the second frame. They shut down their opponents defensively limiting those to only 10 points. Zalgiris erased the deficit and eventually posted a 42:36 halftime lead. Zalgiris maintained the lead throughout the third term. They arrived at the final intermission up by as many as 5 points 59:54. Marko Popovic (185-G-82, agency: Alti Sport, college: S.Idaho JC) gave Zalgiris a 12-point lead midway through the final term 70:58. Javtokas then converted a layup to stretch the margin to 14-point mark. But Lietuvos Rytas answered with a 9:0 run to narrow the gap. Tyrese Rice (185-PG-87, agency: Priority Sports, college: Boston Coll.) dragged the Vilnius team within 4 points with 19 seconds remaining however Lietuvos Rytas failed to capitalize on Jankunas turnover and Zalgiris hang on to win the battle. Mindaugas Kuzminskas (205-F-89) and Marko Popovic provided 11 points each for Zalgiris. Tyrese Rice answered with 20 points for Lietuvos Rytas. Predrag Samardziski (214-C-86, agency: Beo Basket) added 15 points and 8 rebounds in the loss.
VTB League: Lietuvos Rytas clinch Bronze medals - May 3, 2012
Lietuvos Rytas - Lokomotiv Kuban 91:83
Lietuvos Rytas stepped onto the pedestal in VTB League. The Vilnius powerhouse held off Lokomotiv to earn the Bronze medals. Six Lietuvos Rytas players scored in double digits. Jonas Valanciunas (210-C-92) knocked down 15 points to pace the winners. Lietuvos Rytas started the game aggressively. They unloaded 29 points in the opening quarter to take 3-point lead. Teams paid more attention to defence in the second term. Lietuvos Rytas limited Lokomotiv to just 10 points in the period to boost the margin to 11 points at halftime 47:36. Lietuvos Rytas maintained the lead throughout the third term. They stretched the margin to as many as 20 points before the final frame. Lokomotiv refused to surrender as they unleashed 36 points in the fourth quarter but Lietuvos Rytas withheld the challenge and earned the victory at the end. Steponas Babrauskas (197-G/F-84) notched 13 points, while Renaldas Seibutis (195-G-85) nailed 12 points in the winning case. Jeremiah Massey (202-F-82, college: Kansas St.) replied with 22 points for Lokomotiv. Nikita Shabalkin (205-F-86) netted 19 points in the loss.
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