By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Kevin Pangos scored a team-high 15 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, dished out 4 assists and hit the key dagger 3-pointer as Zalgiris Kaunas beat Baskonia 84 – 79 in Vitoria, getting quite the stunning victory.
The Basques were the ones seriously invested in this match since they wanted a win that would give them 5th place in the standings but they looked rather unprepared for their opponents’ determination and physical attitude and crumbled after the mid of the third period.
With the score 47 – 49, Adam Hanga received two consecutive fouls (one a technical for protesting) and with him at the bench, Zalgiris managed a 9 – 19 partial score to close the quarter.
Shane Larkin (20 points) and Rodrigue Beaubois (16 points) spurred to get the team closer, until the French guard made 79 – 81 with five consecutive points and one minute remaining. Yet Pangos’ long-range basket sealed the deal for the Lithuanians.
This result now sends Baskonia straight into the hands of either Real Madrid or CSKA Moscow in the quarterfinals, depending on which between Crvena Zvezda or Darussafaka Dogus checks the last playoffs ticket.