The top three prize winners were also awarded – the students of Vytautas the Great University (VDU), who became champions, the basketball players of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU), the vice-champions, and the bronze prize-winners of Klaipėda University (KU).
The little finale is full of intrigue
First, in the small final, the multiple vice-champions of the league Klaipėda University (KU) basketball players and Kaunas College students (KK), who fought for the medals for the first time, clashed. Victory as a result 98:76 (23:22, 26:19, 18:19, 31:16). However, the final result does not reflect the intrigue on the pitch.
The Kaunas team posed a serious challenge to the home team – in the third quarter, only 3 points separated the teams (58:55 in favor of the Klaipėda team), but at the end of the fourth quarter, the Klaipėda team already had a safer lead of 10 points – 53:43.
The students of Kaunas College were still close to 7 points, but then the Klaipėda team again played a more successful section, pulled away 74:60 and didn’t let their opponents down to a single-digit difference.
The Klaipėda team was led to victory by Vilnius “Ryto” player Oskaras Pleikys, who scored 22 points and collected 35 utility points. He hit 7 of 12 doubles, 2 of 5 threes, 2 of 3 free throws, 17 rebounds and 5 assists. Nojus Mineikis added 19 points to the victory, Mantas Narvilas – 12, Gediminas Leščiauskas – 11, Kristupas Leščiauskas – 10 points.
Pailius Kazlauskas, who scored 23 points, tried to push the Kaunas college. He made 4 of 9 2-pointers, 3 of 6 3-pointers, 6 of 6 free throws, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 28 points.
Justas Vieversys scored 12 points (0/2 doubles, 3//11 triples, 3/4 penalties), Erikas Stulpinas – 11 points, Mintautas Bulanovas and Tautvydas Baltrušaitis – 9 points each.
The Klaipėda team won the battle behind the baskets due to rebounds – 52:41 and made only 5 mistakes during the game. It is true that Kaunas college basketball players rarely made mistakes – only 7 mistakes per game.
“We have been happy with silver medals for several years in a row, and this time we have bronze in our hands. Diversity is needed,” KU coach Mindaugas Stašys smiled.
He immediately added with a more serious face: “In the semi-final, we were against the VDU team as it should be. Of course, it’s disappointing that in the regular season we lost a couple of times against opponents that we had to beat and it happened that we met the VDU team in the semi-finals, and all of this could have happened in the final. You can’t turn back time, so we should be happy that we ended the season with a victory and bronze medals. Playing at home and winning medals is an amazing feeling. Thank you Klaipėda fans for their sincere support”, said M. Stašys.
In the grand final, the dominance of the Žalgiris player
In the LSKL grand final, the multiple LSKL and European student basketball champions did not face serious opposition – as a result 106:86 (30:14, 19:17, 34:20, 23:35) beat the students of Kaunas University of Technology (KTU).
VDU, coached by Arūnas Juknevičius, resolved all matters already in the first quarter, when they jumped ahead 30:14.
After this cold shower, it was difficult for KTU students to straighten up and the intrigue could not be restored.
VDU won the 19th LSKL championship title, and this time Danielius Lavrinovičius from Zalgiris shone brightly for the first time. He scored 22 points in 21.5 minutes (7/7 doubles, 1/9 triples, 5/6 penalties), grabbed 10 and 4 steals, had an assist, drew 6 fouls, had one foul and one foul. and scored 32 utility points.
This flash of his did not go unappreciated – D. Lavrinović was recognized as the MVP of the LSKL final.
Titas Januševičius also stood out in the ranks of VDU, scoring 22 points in 27 minutes (6/10 doubles, 3/5 triples, 1/1 penalty, 7 assists, 23 assists), 16 points (9 rebounds Gabrielius Čelka added and Augustinas Mikštas scored 15 points.
Emilis Bartninks tried to save the KTU team, scoring 20 points in 27 minutes (6/16 doubles, 2/6 triples, 2/2 penalties, 13 rebounds, 2 interceptions, assist, 3 errors, 2 personal and 4 provoked fouls and 21 utility points). Gytis Litvaitis (8 rebounds) and Žygymantas Kerza scored 12 points each, Gedas Jucius, Augustas Gaivėnis and Mantvydas Kalinauskas scored 9 each.
“During my career as a coach in the Lithuanian Student Basketball League, I did not have an easier final – I was calm, I avoided tension. It’s great that we have become LSKL champions for the ninth year in a row, and this is already the 19th LSKL championship title in the entire history. If everything goes well next year, there will be two anniversaries – the 20th title and the tenth in a row,” said VDU coach Arūnas Juknevičius.
He said that a serious challenge awaits VDU basketball players in the summer – in the middle of July, both the 5×5 and 3×3 teams will participate in the European University Games in Hungary.
“The goal is the highest. We got used to gold, so other colors of medals are no longer satisfactory”, smiled A. Juknevičius.
The LSKL winners and prize-winners were awarded by Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) president Vydas Gedvilas, LKF general secretary Mindaugas Balčiūnas, LSKL president Rimantas Cibauskas and Lithuanian Student Sports Association (LSSA) president Indė Čelkienė.
Tags: Lavrinovic didnt points didnt stop winning LSKL gold MVP award
