By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being eliminated by Virtus Segafredo Bologna from the 7DAYS EuroCup on Wednesday and a home loss to Pieno Zvaigzdes on Friday, Lietkabelis stormed back blowing out Zalgiris, 85-67, on Sunday.
Greek import Panagiotis Kalaitzakis scored 15 points banking in a game-high 22 efficiency rating in the Betsafe LKL Regular Season contest. Gediminas Orelik logged a game-high 16 points and Djordje Gagic added 14 more points. Zalgiris youth product Kristupas Zemaitis ended up with 12 points and Kaspars Berzins had 11 points.
Already locked in the third seed of the Playoffs, the team based in Panevezys broke out of poor form in style. Coming off five losses in seven games since late March, it improved to 22-7 in the Lithuania league. The Kaunas outfit falling to 25-4 was ensured of the second seed. Rytas, alone on the top of the table behind a 26-3 W-L tally with one game left on the schedule of the Regular Season, clinched the top seed.
Zalgiris trailed heavily for most of the 40 minutes. French big man Joffrey Lauvergne generated 14 points and Josh Nebo followed with 11 points to his name. Tyler Cavanaugh was sick, while Paulius Jankunas and Tai Webster were sidelined with leg injuries.
Mantas Kalnietis got three points over nine minutes in his first game since February 6. The experienced Lithuanian guard was sidelined after ankle surgery.
Earlier, Neptunas rolled Pieno Zvaigzdes, 82-69, on the road. Standing out with a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double, Deividas Gailius sent his side to 13-16 and the hosts down to 9-20.
Photo Credit: EuroLeagueBasketball.net