“NEPTŪNAS” WORE DOWN THE PLAYERS OF “DZŪKIJA” ON A ROAD GAME (COMMENTS)
Klaipėda, “Neptūnas“ won the second victory in the 2015-2016 Lithuanian Basketball League (“Tete-a-Tete Casino-LKL”)championship - the players of Dainius Adomaitis won versus the local players of “Dzūkija” on Sunday with a result of 67:62 (23:13, 7:20, 18:14, and 19:15).
The players from Klaipėda started the match powerfully - was on a spurt of 11:0; however, the owners of the court not up to half time not only managed to catch up, but to tip the balance for their benefit as well 33:30.
“Neptūnas” played the fourth quarter more accurately and thus celebrated the victory.
“Neptūnas”: Daniel Ewing and Donatas Zavackas (5 rebounds) - 12 each, Arvydas Šikšnius - 9, Martynas Mažeika and Simas Galdikas (5 rebounds) - 8 each, and Gilvydas Biruta - 5 pts.
“Dzūkija”: Adam Lapeta - 10 (8 rebounds), Martynas Paliukėnas, Giedrius Gustas, Osvaldas Mačernis - 9 each, Nerijus Varnelis, Rytis Juknevičius and Laurynas Mikalauskas - 7 pts each.
Dainius Adomaitis (head coach of “Neptūnas”) said: “If you are watching the team “Dzūkija” play the game, you know that you cannot expect any other game otherwise. If you want to win against “Dzūkija”, you have to defend well yourself. “Dzūkija” is a team that defends well and plays aggressively. During an offensive moment we lost our discipline; in the second quarter we made seven mistakes and let them get back in the game and certainly let them feel at home. Then the game lasted up to the end. I am glad that the men held their concentration in essential moments, did what we had planned.
During the attack we played as a team: we were aggressive, passed the ball well, and provoked fouls. There was a huge rotation. We know that the opponent has problems with that. We wanted to control the tempo. That did not always happen. We should not forget that we are a new team, and I am a new person - as a coach. We still need time to adjust with each other, feel that rhythm. Regardless, we are glad about the victory.”
„Neptūnas” is going to play another LKL match on October 8th versus the team Utena, „Juventus“, on October 11th the players from Klaipėda await the match in Kaunas versus “Žalgiris”, and on October 14th in “Švytūrio Arena” the players of “Neptūnas” starts the Eurocup tournament versus the powerful team Istanbul, “Galatasaray”.
Both home and road game matches of “Neptūnas” of Eurocup tournament will be aired via LRT culture channel.
Having been placed in the F group of the Eurocup tournament, “Neptūnas” will play two more games in October - on a road game versus Jerusalem, “Hapoel” (October 21th) and at home versus Volgograd, “Krasny Oktyabr” (October 28th).
In November the players from Klaipėda await the match on a road game versus Nizhny Novgorod, “Nizhny Novgorod” (November 4th) and a match at home versus Athens, “AEK” (November 11th) and the second regular-season cycle match on a road game versus “Galasaray” (November 18th), and a home match versus “Hapoel” (November 24th).
During the month of December the anticipated matches are versus “Krasny Okyabr” (December 2nd, in Russia), “Nizhny Novgorod” (December 9th, in Klaipėda) and Athens, “AEK” (December 16th, in a road game). With these matches the Eurocup tournament’s regular-season will come to an end. The best four teams out of six will advance to the next stage.