LKL Round 4 (Regular Season): Neptunas are upset by Rytas

Round 4 means everything may happen in LKL as the season just started. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most important game in the last round took place in Vilnius between third ranked Neptunas (2-3) and ninth ranked Rytas (1-1) on Saturday night. Neptunas was defeated by Rytas in a tough game on the road 77-86. The former international guard Augustas Marciulionis (193-2002, college: SMC) fired 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American guard Michael Devoe (196-1999, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) produced 16 points and 8 rebounds for lost side. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas left bottom position moving up to eighth place. Neptunas at the other side dropped to the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Lietkabelis and Juventus. Rytas are looking forward to face higher ranked Siauliai (#3) on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Neptunas will play against Jonava and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Siauliai. Third ranked Siauliai faced one of their biggest challengers Juventus. Host Siauliai (3-2) defeated guests from Utena (2-3) 83-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Juventus. Worth to mention a great performance of center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) who helped to win the game recording 12 points and 9 rebounds. Simas Jarumbauskas contributed with 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Siauliai's coach Darius Songaila allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Dutch power forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi (203-1997, college: ORU) replied with 22 points and 9 rebounds for Juventus. Siauliai maintains third position with 3-2 record having just two points less than leader Zalgiris. Juventus at the other side dropped to the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with Lietkabelis and Neptunas. Siauliai will play against Rytas (#8) in Vilnius in the next round where they are favorite. Juventus will play at home against the league's second-placed Gargzdai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
An interesting game was played in Panevezys where Jonava (#8) won against host Lietkabelis (#5) 71-65 on Saturday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of Nick Johnson who helped to win the game recording 20 points. At the losing side Ivan Fevrier responded with 17 points and 5 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Jonava (2-2) moved-up to fourth place. Loser Lietkabelis keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Neptunas and Juventus. Jonava will meet at home Neptunas (#5) in the next round. Lietkabelis will play against Nevezis in Kedainiai and hope to secure a win.

In the last two games of round 4 Gargzdai crushed Taurages in a road game 102-82. Winless Nevezis lost to defending champion Zalgiris at home 76-80.



Rytas - Neptunas 86-77:
The most important game in the last round took place in Vilnius between third ranked Neptunas (2-3) and ninth ranked Rytas (1-1) on Saturday night. Neptunas was defeated by Rytas in a tough game on the road 77-86. The former international guard Augustas Marciulionis (193-2002, college: SMC) fired 17 points and 6 rebounds for the winners. American guard Michael Devoe (196-1999, college: Georgia Tech) chipped in 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. The former international center Martynas Echodas (206-1997) produced 16 points and 8 rebounds and Dutch swingman Yannick Franke (196-1996) added 16 points respectively for lost side. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas left bottom position moving up to eighth place. Neptunas at the other side dropped to the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Lietkabelis and Juventus. Rytas are looking forward to face higher ranked Siauliai (#3) on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Neptunas will play against Jonava and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: M.Echodas 16+8reb+1ast, Y.Franke 16+3reb+2ast, E.Fridriksson 14+3reb+3ast, H.Drell 10+5reb+2ast, L.Kreismontas 8+1reb+1ast, K.Zemaitis 7+5reb+3ast
Rytas: M.Augustas 17+6reb+3ast, B.Kay 15+2reb, D.Michael 12+5reb+5ast, R.Gytis 10+3reb+3ast, M.Gytis 8+5reb+1ast, G.Arturas 8+6reb+1ast

Lietkabelis - Jonava 65-71:
An interesting game was played in Panevezys where Jonava (#8) won against host Lietkabelis (#5) 71-65 on Saturday evening. Worth to mention a great performance of American guard Nick Johnson (193-2001, college: Winthrop) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and ex-international point guard Donatas Sabeckis (198-1992) who added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side French forward Ivan Fevrier (202-1999) responded with 17 points and 5 rebounds and Swiss-American guard Alex Schumacher (190-2001, college: Seattle) scored 11 points and 5 rebounds. Four Lietkabelis players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Jonava (2-2) moved-up to fourth place. Loser Lietkabelis keeps the fifth position with three games lost. They share it with Neptunas and Juventus. Jonava will meet at home Neptunas (#5) in the next round. Lietkabelis will play against Nevezis in Kedainiai and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Lietkabelis: I.Fevrier 17+5reb+2ast, A.Schumacher 11+5reb+1ast, D.Baslyk 11+5reb, M.Valinskas 10+1reb+1ast, M.Ilic 4+7reb+1ast, O.Jaramaz 3+2reb+1ast
Jonava: J.Nick 20+3reb+2ast, S.Donatas 15+5reb+4ast, R.Matas 11+4reb+1ast, M.Reggie 7+4reb+1ast, B.Clevon 6+3reb+1ast, V.Lukas 5+7reb+1ast

Taurages - Gargzdai 82-102:
There was no surprise when 9th ranked Taurages (1-3) was crushed at home by second ranked Gargzdai (4-1) 102-82 on Sunday. Gargzdai dominated down low during the game scoring 62 of its points in the paint compared to Taurages' 28. They outrebounded Taurages 40-28 including 17 on the offensive glass. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jaquan Carlos (183-2002, college: Syracuse) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 6 assists and the other American import Langston Wilson (206-2000, college: Milwaukee, agency: 011 Sports) who added 17 points and 11 rebounds during the contest. Wilson is a former Eurobasket Summer League player, which is considered top international summer league in the market. Four Gargzdai players scored in double figures. At the losing side American guard James Blackmon Jr (193-1995, college: Indiana) responded with 24 points and 4 assists and ex-international Vaidas Kariniauskas (199-1993) scored 18 points and 7 assists. Gargzdai have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 4-1 record behind leader Zalgiris. Taurages lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the ninth place with three games lost. Gargzdai will meet Juventus (#7) in the next round where they are favorite. Taurages will play against the league's leader Zalgiris in Kaunas and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Taurages: J.Blackmon Jr. 24+1reb+4ast, V.Kariniauskas 18+2reb+7ast, N.Mineikis 12+8reb+1ast, A.Voinalovych 8+4reb+1ast, D.Jackson 7+2ast, V.Kozys 6+2reb+1ast
Gargzdai: C.Jaquan 27+4reb+6ast, W.Langston 17+11reb+1ast, D.Stanley 14+7reb+5ast, S.Evaldas 14+1reb, K.Ben 13+3reb+1ast, M.Arunas 9+7reb+1ast

Nevezis - Zalgiris 76-80:
No shocking result in a game in Kedainiai where top-ranked Zalgiris (5-0) defeated bottom-ranked Nevezis (0-4) 80-76 on Sunday. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international guard Marius Grigonis (198-1994) who helped to win the game recording 19 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and German guard Maodo Lo (192-1992, college: Columbia) who added 10 points and 4 assists during the contest. At the losing side American guard Dylan Andrews (190-2002, college: Boise St.) responded with 15 points and 5 rebounds and his fellow American import forward Jacob Wiley (203-1998, college: Marian, IN, agency: Helping Ballers) scored 10 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Four Nevezis players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Zalgiris have an impressive five-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 5-0 record. Loser Nevezis still closes the standings with four games lost. Zalgiris will meet at home Taurages (#9) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Nevezis will play against Lietkabelis and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: A.Dylan 15+5reb+2ast, P.Petrilevicius 13+4reb, B.Nojus 12+1reb+2ast, J.Wiley 10+7reb+4ast, D.Lavrinovicius 9+4reb+2ast, A.Gray 8+4reb+2ast
Zalgiris: G.Marius 19+5reb+6ast, B.Marek 14+1reb+1ast, L.Maodo 10+3reb+4ast, U.Edgaras 9+4reb+4ast, S.Deividas 8+2reb+2ast, G.Dovydas 7+2reb

Siauliai - Juventus 83-71:
An exciting game between Top Four teams was played in Siauliai. Third ranked Siauliai faced one of their biggest challengers Juventus. Host Siauliai (3-2) defeated guests from Utena (2-3) 83-71. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Juventus. Worth to mention a great performance of center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) who helped to win the game recording 12 points and 9 rebounds. Forward Simas Jarumbauskas (200-2000) contributed with 14 points and 5 rebounds for the winners. Four Siauliai players scored in double figures. Siauliai's coach Darius Songaila allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Dutch power forward Emmanuel Nzekwesi (203-1997, college: ORU) replied with 22 points and 9 rebounds and American guard Tevian Jones (201-2000, college: SUU) added 11 points and 13 rebounds in the effort for Juventus. Siauliai maintains third position with 3-2 record having just two points less than leader Zalgiris. Juventus at the other side dropped to the fifth place with three games lost. They share the position with Lietkabelis and Neptunas. Siauliai will play against Rytas (#8) in Vilnius in the next round where they are favorite. Juventus will play at home against the league's second-placed Gargzdai and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Juventus: E.Nzekwesi 22+9reb+1ast, T.Jones 11+13reb+1ast, C.Hunter 8+1reb, J.Furmanavicius 7+4reb, K.Pohto 6+4reb+2ast, J.Pagenkopf 6+1reb+3ast
Siauliai: F.Selim 15+1reb+2ast, J.Simas 14+5reb+2ast, M.Dayvion 13+5reb+3ast, P.Martynas 12+9reb, C.Mike 8+3ast, J.Tauras 8+5reb+1ast