LKL Round 27: #1 Zalgiris are defeated by Rytas

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Zalgiris (22-2) in Vilnius on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked Rytas (21-3) 87-74. It ended at the same time the 14-game winning streak of Zalgiris. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. 26 personal fouls committed by Zalgiris helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for Croatian power forward Ivan Buva (207-1991) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Kenneth Smith (190-1993, college: Louisiana Tech) helped adding 16 points and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international Edgaras Ulanovas (199-1992) with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain second place with 21-3 record behind leader Zalgiris. Defending champion Zalgiris still keeps top position with two games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Siauliai (#4) on the road in the next round. Zalgiris will play against Prienai CBet and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Klaipeda. Sixth ranked Jonava (11-12) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 8th ranked Neptunas (9-14) 78-75 on Saturday evening. It was an exceptional evening for the former international swingman Edvinas Seskus (196-1995, agency: BIG) who led the winners and scored 13 points and 6 assists. Evaldas Saulys accounted for 13 points and 6 assists. The former international guard Zygimantas Janavicius (193-1989, agency: Interperformances) came up with 19 points and 9 rebounds for Neptunas in the defeat. Newly promoted Jonava maintains sixth place with 11-12 record. Neptunas at the other side keeps the eighth position with 14 games lost. Jonava will play against P.Zvaigzdes (#9) in Pasvalys in the next round. Neptunas will play at home against Nevezis and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
The game between Top Four teams took place in Panevezys. Third ranked host Lietkabelis (20-5) defeated 4th placed Siauliai (12-11) 71-66. The best player for the winners was Kristupas Zemaitis who scored 16 points and 4 steals. At the other side the best for losing team was Giedrius Staniulis who recorded 19 points. The victory was the thirteenth consecutive win for Lietkabelis. They maintain third place with 20-5 record having just one point less than leader Zalgiris. Loser Siauliai keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. Lietkabelis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Siauliai will play against the league's second-placed Rytas (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the rest of the games of round 27: bottom-ranked Prienai CBet lost to P.Zvaigzdes on the opponent's court 102-106. Dzukija managed to outperform Nevezis in a home game 93-76. Dzukija managed to beat Prienai CBet on the road 77-70.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 15 points and 5 rebounds by Vaidas Cepukaitis of Dzukija.

Neptunas - Jonava 75-78

Important game to mention about took place in Klaipeda. Sixth ranked Jonava (11-12) saved a 3-point victory on the road edging 8th ranked Neptunas (9-14) 78-75 on Saturday evening. It was an exceptional evening for the former international swingman Edvinas Seskus (196-1995, agency: BIG) who led the winners and scored 13 points and 6 assists. Guard Evaldas Saulys (191-1993) accounted for 13 points and 6 assists for the winning side. The former international guard Zygimantas Janavicius (193-1989, agency: Interperformances) came up with 19 points and 9 rebounds and the former international forward Deividas Gailius (200-1988) added 19 points respectively for Neptunas in the defeat. Newly promoted Jonava maintains sixth place with 11-12 record. Neptunas at the other side keeps the eighth position with 14 games lost. Jonava will play against P.Zvaigzdes (#9) in Pasvalys in the next round. Neptunas will play at home against Nevezis and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: D.Gailius 19+3reb+1ast, Z.Janavicius 19+9reb+3ast, J.Jucikas 15+3reb+1ast, B.Griciunas 8+6reb, N.Mineikis 5+6reb+1ast, M.Mazeika 5+5reb+3ast
Jonava: E.Saulys 13+1reb+6ast, E.Seskus 13+2reb+6ast, J.Garrett 10+9reb, L.Anderson 10+1reb, V.Kozys 9+6reb+3ast, K.Thomas 9+4reb

Lietkabelis - Siauliai 71-66

The game between Top Four teams took place in Panevezys. Third ranked host Lietkabelis (20-5) defeated 4th placed Siauliai (12-11) 71-66. The best player for the winners was the former international guard Kristupas Zemaitis (192-1996) who scored 16 points and 4 steals. Forward Vytenis Lipkevicius (195-1989) chipped in 8 points and 7 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) who recorded 19 points and American guard Jon Elmore (190-1995, college: Marshall) added 16 points respectively. The victory was the thirteenth consecutive win for Lietkabelis. They maintain third place with 20-5 record having just one point less than leader Zalgiris. Loser Siauliai keeps the fourth position with 11 games lost. Lietkabelis will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Siauliai will play against the league's second-placed Rytas (#2) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: G.Staniulis 19+3reb+2ast, J.Elmore 16+3reb+3ast, M.Varnas 10+6reb+5ast, D.Sabeckis 7+5reb+1ast, A.Urbutis 4+1reb, E.Stankevicius 4+2reb+1ast
Lietkabelis: K.Zemaitis 16+3reb+2ast, P.Kalaitzakis 12+2reb+3ast, D.Giedraitis 10+2reb+1ast, V.Lipkevicius 8+7reb+2ast, G.Orelik 7+7reb+2ast, G.Maldunas 7+6reb+1ast

P.Zvaigzdes - Prienai CBet 106-102

The game between closely ranked teams ended with 11th ranked Prienai CBet's (3-22) road loss to tenth ranked P.Zvaigzdes (5-18) 102-106 on Sunday. P.Zvaigzdes forced 22 Prienai CBet turnovers. The best player for the winners was American point guard Randy Culpepper (183-1989, college: UTEP) who scored 32 points and 4 assists. His fellow American import guard Markell Johnson (185-1998, college: NC State, agency: Network Sports International) chipped in 14 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was Montenegrin swingman Jovan Kljajic (198-2001) who recorded 26 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and forward Rapolas Ivanauskas (208-1998, college: Cincinnati) added 20 points and 6 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Prienai CBet's coach Marius Leonavicius rotated ten players in this game, but that didn't help. P.Zvaigzdes moved-up to ninth place, which they share with Nevezis. Prienai CBet lost their third game in a row. They stay dead last with 22 lost games. P.Zvaigzdes will meet higher ranked Jonava (#6) on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Prienai CBet will play against Dzukija (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Prienai CBet: J.Kljajic 26+5reb+4ast, R.Ivanauskas 20+6reb, J.Durham 14+8reb+1ast, M.Staniulis 12+3reb+2ast, I.Sargiunas 12+2reb+6ast, E.Venskus 7+2reb+3ast
P.Zvaigzdes: R.Culpepper 32+3reb+4ast, D.Skapintsev 16+7reb, K.Guscikas 15+3reb+3ast, M.Johnson 14+7reb+4ast, Z.Skucas 14+6reb+2ast, A.Berucka 13+4reb+4ast

Dzukija - Nevezis 93-76

Rather predictable result in Alytus where seventh ranked Dzukija (10-13) defeated 9th ranked Nevezis (5-18) 93-76 on Monday. Dzukija looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) who had a double-double by scoring 16 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. American point guard Josh Newkirk (185-1994, college: Indiana) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists. Four Dzukija players scored in double figures. Dzukija's coach Ramunas Cvirka used entire bench and allowed the starting five to rest. At the other side the best for losing team was guard Marius Valinskas (187-1999) who recorded 25 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists and forward Paulius Murauskas (203-2004) added 17 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Dzukija maintains seventh place with 10-13 record. Nevezis lost their seventh game in a row. They keep the ninth position with 18 games lost. They share it with P.Zvaigzdes. Dzukija will meet bottom-ranked Prienai CBet (#11) on the road in the next round. Nevezis will play against Neptunas in Klaipeda and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Nevezis: M.Valinskas 25+5reb+6ast, M.Paulius 17+5reb, S.Smajlagic 13+3reb+2ast, D.Vilys 9+2reb+2ast, A.Sylla 8+10reb+1ast, A.Plintauskas 2+1reb
Dzukija: J.Newkirk 16+2reb+4ast, A.Aranitovic 16+14reb+6ast, D.Frye 12+2reb+2ast, M.Lukauskis 12+4reb, J.Furmanavicius 9+2reb+3ast, T.Pacesas 6

Rytas - Zalgiris 87-74

The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of top-ranked Zalgiris (22-2) in Vilnius on Sunday night. Visitors were defeated by second ranked Rytas (21-3) 87-74. It ended at the same time the 14-game winning streak of Zalgiris. It may be a crucial game in the contest for the top position in the league. 26 personal fouls committed by Zalgiris helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. It was a great evening for Croatian power forward Ivan Buva (207-1991) who led his team to a victory scoring 18 points and 5 rebounds. American guard Kenneth Smith (190-1993, college: Louisiana Tech) helped adding 16 points and 8 assists. The best for the losing side was the former international Edgaras Ulanovas (199-1992) with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists and American power forward Tyler Cavanaugh (206-1994, college: GWU) scored 12 points. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have an impressive series of six victories in a row. They maintain second place with 21-3 record behind leader Zalgiris. Defending champion Zalgiris still keeps top position with two games lost. Rytas are looking forward to face Siauliai (#4) on the road in the next round. Zalgiris will play against Prienai CBet and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Zalgiris: T.Cavanaugh 12+2reb, T.Webster 10+1ast, J.Lauvergne 10+3reb, J.Nebo 9+4reb, E.Ulanovas 8+6reb+5ast, J.Strelnieks 7+3reb+2ast
Rytas: I.Buva 18+5reb+1ast, K.Smith 16+8ast, J.Williams 10+4reb, V.Kariniauskas 8+1ast, A.Butkevicius 8+5reb+3ast, M.Normantas 6+1reb+1ast

Prienai CBet - Dzukija 70-77

Not a big story in a game when 11th ranked Prienai CBet (3-22) was defeated at home by seventh ranked Dzukija (10-13) 77-70 on Thursday. The best player for the winners was the former international power forward Vaidas Cepukaitis (207-1989, agency: Interperformances) who scored 15 points and 5 rebounds. Polish center Adam Lapeta (217-1987) chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds. Five Dzukija players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Montenegrin swingman Jovan Kljajic (198-2001) who recorded 15 points and 7 rebounds and American forward Juwan Durham (211-1997, college: Notre Dame) added 13 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Dzukija maintains seventh place with 10-13 record. Prienai CBet lost their third game in a row. They stay dead last with 22 lost games. Dzukija will meet higher ranked Juventus (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Prienai CBet will play again against Dzukija (#7) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Prienai CBet: J.Kljajic 15+7reb+2ast, J.Durham 13+6reb+1ast, T.Eaddy 11+4reb+4ast, E.Venskus 7+4reb, G.Stankevicius 6+5reb, I.Sargiunas 6+5reb+1ast
Dzukija: V.Cepukaitis 15+5reb+1ast, A.Lapeta 12+6reb+1ast, J.Newkirk 12+2reb+3ast, A.Aranitovic 11+4reb+2ast, J.Furmanavicius 10+7reb+1ast, D.Frye 8+2reb+4ast



Tags : IVAN BUVA, BC RYTAS VILNIUS, LITHUANIAN BASKETBALL