By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After suffering a narrow loss in Game 1, Lietkabelis stormed back with three wins in a row, including the 86-75 victory versus Zalgiris to seal a berth in the Betsafe LKL Playoffs Finals Saturday.
Experienced forward Gediminas Orelik scored a game-high 19 points as the Panevezys club guided by Nenad Canak won the Semifinals best-of-five series, 3-1. Youngster Dovydas Giedraitis threw in 12 more points. Nikola Radicevic, Kristupas Zemaitis, and Djordje Gagic all generated ten more points apiece.
Leading in double-digits for most of the second half, the hosts launched a 9-2 run after the deficit was cut to five points. Back in a double-digit distance, there was not enough time for Zalgiris to avoid the misstep and elimination in this stage of the Lithuania league’s Playoffs for the first time in team history and after 11 consecutive domestic titles.
Lukas Lekavicius and Tyler Cavanaugh shared a team-high 14 points in Game 4’s losing effort. Joffrey Lauvergne had 11 points. After being sidelined for nearly one month due to a calf injury, Edgaras Ulanovas scored eight points in 26 minutes but Tai Webster picked up an injury late in the third quarter.
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas was in attendance for the key game of his country’s domestic league.
Wrapping up the 2021-22 campaign, Lietkabelis will collide with Rytas in the championship best-of-seven series, while Zalgiris and head coach Kazys Maksvytis will take on Siauliai-7bet for the third spot in another best-of-seven series.
Photo Credit: BC Zalgiris Kaunas Twitter