By Aris Barkas
Valencia beat Lietuvos Rytas 80-70 and will play in Sunday’s Eurocup Final. The Spanish team was the boss from the first minute, they exploded in the first quarter (29-15) and with a balanced offense they cruised the rest of the way, leading even by 20 points (58-38).
Eurocup “Rising Star” Jonas Valanciunas played just 8,5 minutes before fouling out in the third quarter. Without him in the court Lietuvos Rytas seemed lost and could not even get close to Valencia. The Lithuanians also didn’t have any luck behind the three point line (3/15) and their point guard, Tyrese Rice, banged his knee in the first half, tried to play hurt in the second, but he was out of the game by the fourth quarter due to pain.
The best that Lietuvos Rytas could do was to cut Valencia’s lead to six points (66-60) six minutes before the last buzzer, but the Spaniards reacted with a three pointer (69-60) and got the win without any real drama in the end. Steponas Babrauskas with 21 points did his best, but he could not save his team. Valencia’s Brad Newly and Nik Caner-Medley with 12 points each were the top scorers of their team.
Valencia – Lietuvos Rytas 80-70
VALENCIA: Markovic 9, Newley 12, Claver 10, Lishchuk 3, Faverani 10, Martinez 6, Pietrus 8, De Colo 10, Caner-Medley 12
LIETUVOS RYTAS: Babrauskas 21, Rice 9, Roberts 6, Seibutis 15, Dilys, Samardziski 2, Katelynas 5, Valanciunas 4, Rasic 4, Jomantas 4