Moteru Lyga Round 4 (Regular Season): Rytas defeat Lietkabelis

This is still too early stage of the Regular Season in LKL and we should expect many changes in upcoming rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Lietkabelis (3-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Rytas (3-1) 84-67. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Lietkabelis. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Rytas shot 60.8 percent from the field. They outrebounded Lietkabelis 34-21 including a 25-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. 24 personal fouls committed by Lietkabelis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording 14 points and 7 rebounds. American point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) contributed with 13 points for the winners. Serbian power forward Marko Pecarski (208-2000) replied with 8 points and 8 rebounds for Lietkabelis. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Zalgiris and Lietkabelis. Rytas is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Nevezis (#10) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Lietkabelis will play on the road against Zalgiris (#3) in Kaunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
LKL top team - Neptunas (4-0) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat fifth ranked Wolves (2-2) in Klaipeda 89-74. Worth to mention a quality performance of American guard Desure Buie (182-1997, college: Hofstra) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 assists and Martynas Pacevicius who added 10 points and 17 rebounds during the contest. At the losing side American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) responded with 19 points and 4 assists. Wolves' coach Alessandro Magro rotated ten players and allowed the starting five to rest. Neptunas have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Wolves at the other side keeps the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Siauliai and Juventus. Neptunas will play against Siauliai (#6) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Wolves will play against Juventus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Bottom-ranked Mazeikiai is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to sixth ranked Juventus (2-2) 91-46 on Sunday evening. The winners were led by Sarunas Beniusis who scored that evening 13 points and 9 rebounds. Juventus' coach Vytautas Buzas felt very confident that he used entire bench saving starting five for next games. Even 13 points by AJ English did not help to save the game for Mazeikiai. Juventus moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Siauliai and Wolves. Loser Mazeikiai still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Nevezis. Juventus will meet Wolves (#7) in the next round. Mazeikiai will play against Jonava and hopes to get finally their first victory.

In the last game of round 4 winless Nevezis was beaten by Siauliai on the road 95-91.
The most impressive performance of 4th round was 23 points and 6 rebounds by Mindaugas Kupsas of Siauliai.



Lietkabelis - Rytas 67-84

The most crucial game of the last round was the first loss of Lietkabelis (3-1) in Panevezys on Saturday night. Hosts were defeated by fourth ranked Rytas (3-1) 84-67. It ended at the same time the three-game winning streak of Lietkabelis. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Rytas shot 60.8 percent from the field. They outrebounded Lietkabelis 34-21 including a 25-10 advantage in defensive rebounds. 24 personal fouls committed by Lietkabelis helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Worth to mention a great performance of the former international forward Azuolas Tubelis (211-2002, college: Arizona) who helped to win the game recording 14 points and 7 rebounds. American point guard RJ Cole (182-1999, college: UConn) contributed with 13 points for the winners. Four Rytas players scored in double figures. Serbian power forward Marko Pecarski (208-2000) replied with 8 points and 8 rebounds and swingman Martynas Varnas (196-1997) added 12 points in the effort for Lietkabelis. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Rytas have a solid three-game winning streak. Defending champion moved-up to second place, which they share with Zalgiris and Lietkabelis. Rytas is looking forward to face bottom-ranked Nevezis (#10) in Kedainiai in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Lietkabelis will play on the road against Zalgiris (#3) in Kaunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Rytas: A.Tubelis 14+7reb+1ast, R.Cole 13+3reb+1ast, M.Paliukenas 12+1reb+1ast, M.Normantas 11+1reb+4ast, S.Flagg 10+3reb, J.Graves 8+4reb+3ast
Lietkabelis: M.Varnas 12+1reb, D.Bickauskis 11+2ast, O.Kovliar 9+1reb+2ast, M.Pecarski 8+8reb, G.Kalaitzakis 8+2reb+1ast, M.Rubstavicius 7+3ast

Neptunas - Wolves 89-74

LKL top team - Neptunas (4-0) managed to deliver another win. This time they beat fifth ranked Wolves (2-2) in Klaipeda 89-74. Worth to mention a quality performance of American guard Desure Buie (182-1997, college: Hofstra) who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 18 points and 10 assists and center Martynas Pacevicius (206-1997) who added 10 points and 17 rebounds during the contest. Five Neptunas players scored in double figures. At the losing side American point guard Anthony Cowan Jr (183-1997, college: Maryland) responded with 19 points and 4 assists and his fellow American import center Garrison Brooks (208-1999, college: MSU) produced a double-double by scoring 11 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Wolves' coach Alessandro Magro rotated ten players and allowed the starting five to rest. Neptunas have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain first position with 4-0 record. Wolves at the other side keeps the fifth place with two games lost. They share the position with Siauliai and Juventus. Neptunas will play against Siauliai (#6) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Wolves will play against Juventus and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Neptunas: D.Buie 18+3reb+10ast, N.Johnson 16+2reb, A.Berucka 15+5reb, Z.Waterman 12+2reb+2ast, M.Pacevicius 10+17reb, Z.Janavicius 9+2reb+4ast
Wolves: A.Cowan Jr. 19+4reb+4ast, J.Taylor 16+1reb+4ast, G.Brooks 11+11reb+4ast, M.Jogela 7+3reb+1ast, K.Zemaitis 7+3reb+3ast, A.Andrews 6+4reb+1ast

Mazeikiai - Juventus 46-91

Bottom-ranked Mazeikiai is still unable to win any game. This time they could not use their home court advantage losing their fourth consecutive match to sixth ranked Juventus (2-2) 91-46 on Sunday evening. Juventus dominated down low during the game scoring 108 of its points in the paint compared to Mazeikiai's 36 and made 38-of-50 free shots (76.0 percent) during the game, while Mazeikiai only scored twenty points from the stripe. Juventus forced 40 Mazeikiai turnovers and outrebounded them 94-54 including a 34-12 advantage in offensive rebounds. Juventus looked well-organized offensively handing out 36 assists comparing to just 16 passes made by Mazeikiai's players. The winners were led by the former international center Sarunas Beniusis (206-1993, agency: BIG) who scored that evening 13 points and 9 rebounds and American forward Dominic Green (198-1997, college: Washington) supported him with 17 points. Five Juventus players scored in double figures. Juventus' coach Vytautas Buzas felt very confident that he used entire bench saving starting five for next games. Even 13 points by American guard AJ English (192-1992, college: Iona) did not help to save the game for Mazeikiai. Giedrius Staniulis (206-1991) added 8 points and 6 rebounds for lost side. Juventus moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Siauliai and Wolves. Loser Mazeikiai still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Nevezis. Juventus will meet Wolves (#7) in the next round. Mazeikiai will play against Jonava and hopes to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Juventus: D.Green 17+4reb, I.Miller 14+2reb+3ast, S.Beniusis 13+9reb, G.Orelik 11+2reb+3ast, L.Beliauskas 10+4reb+4ast, Z.Skucas 8+4reb
Mazeikiai: A.English 13+3reb+2ast, S.Valunta 8+3reb+2ast, G.Staniulis 8+6reb, D.Fenner 7+4reb+1ast, T.Zdanavicius 5+3reb, J.Harris 2+4reb+2ast

Siauliai - Nevezis 95-91

No shocking result in a game when seventh ranked Siauliai (2-2) beat at home bottom-ranked Nevezis (0-4) 95-91 on Sunday. Siauliai dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Nevezis' 34 and made 26-of-34 free shots (76.5 percent) during the game. Siauliai looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The winners were led by center Mindaugas Kupsas (216-1991, agency: BIG) who scored that evening 23 points and 6 rebounds and American guard Shaq Buchanan (190-1997, college: Murray St.) supported him with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists. Even 17 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists by Israeli point guard Amit Ebo (180-1999) did not help to save the game for Nevezis. American guard Joseph Girard III (185-2000, college: Clemson) added 18 points and 5 assists for lost side. Five Nevezis players scored in double figures. Nevezis' coach Gediminas Petrauskas tried various players' combinations and tested in total eleven players in this game, but that didn't help. Siauliai moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Juventus and Wolves. Loser Nevezis still closes the standings with four games lost. They share the position with Mazeikiai. Siauliai will meet at home league's leader Neptunas in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Nevezis will play against the league's second-placed Rytas (#2) and looks forward to get finally their first victory.
Top scorers:
Siauliai: M.Kupsas 23+6reb+3ast, T.Jogela 17+5reb+2ast, S.Buchanan 12+10reb+8ast, M.Valinskas 12+1reb, L.Uleckas 9+5reb+3ast, G.Blakes 9+5reb+4ast
Nevezis: J.Girard III 18+2reb+5ast, A.Ebo 17+5reb+9ast, F.Manjgafic 13+6reb+3ast, D.Doualla 12+1reb+2ast, L.Nkereuwem 11+10reb+1ast, J.Zakas 6+1reb+1ast