By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Lithuania was better in the overtime and beat Italy 85-95 (79-79) to qualify to the semi-final, where they will face Serbia on Friday night, while Simone Pianigiani’s squad will now fight to claim the ticket for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as they will square off against the Czech Republic on Thursday afternoon.
Lithuania entered the last minute of the game in front by two (77-79). Gallinari tied the game with 32 seconds to go (79-79) and the match went to overtime, as Bellineli missed a three-point shot at the buzzer. In the extra time, Jonas Valanciunas was dominant and gave his team a seven-point lead (83-90) with one minute to go, but it was a three-point shot from Paulius Jankunas that ended Italy’s hopes to advance to the semi-final.
Valanciunas was unstoppable and made a double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds, as Jonas Maciulis (19 points, 10 rebounds) and Mantas Kalnietis (14 points, 11 assists) made a double-double as well. For the Italians, Andrea Bargnani was the top scorer with 21 points, while Marco Belinelli and Danilo Gallinari scored 18 and 17 points respectively.
In the first quarter, Lithuania made a 7-0 run to take a seven-point advantage (13-20), however the Italians responded immediately and, behind a 7-1 run, cut the deficit to just one point at the end of the quarter (20-21). In the second quarter, it was a close derby with consecutive lead changes (eight until the end of the first half), with Lithuania ending the first 20 minutes in front by just one point (36-37).
The third quarter was exciting, as the Lithuanians made a 4-11 run to lead the game by eight (40-48), but Italy fought back immediately and with a 15-6 run they took a three-point advantage (55-52), as the game continued to be a derby with Jonas Kazlauskas’ squad being in front by just one point (59-60) after 30 minutes in the match.
Lithuania retained a small lead in the last quarter (61-65, 65-70, 68-74), but Italy tied the game with three minutes to go (74-74). Maciulis hit a crucial three-point shot (74-77) and Lithuania entered the last minute of the game in front by two (77-79). Gallinari tied the game with 32 seconds to go (79-79) and the match went to overtime where Lithuania claimed the victory and the qualification to the next round.