FIBA Europe Cup clubs crowd the Baltic Basketball League podium
PASVALYS (FIBA Europe Cup) - Vytautas Prienai-Birstonas celebrated their maiden Triobet Baltic Basketball League title in Lithuania, while fellow FIBA Europe Cup participants Tartu also stepped on the podium, claiming bronze.
The newly-crowned Baltic champions overcame a narrow first-leg deficit to clinch the trophy with an 89-74 victory against Pieno Zvaigzdes on the road in Pasvalys after losing the first meeting in Prienai by a three-point margin.
Former Lithuania international Tomas Delininkaitis earned the Finals MVP award after following up his 30-point performance in Prienai with 18 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals in Game 2.
21-year-old power forward Regimantas Miniotas was also a key contributor in the second-leg win with a game-high 20 points on 5-of-7 shooting from three-point range, as well as 4 rebounds and 3 steals.
"I really believed that we'll succeed before the second leg. We changed our entire defense for this game and that's what really have us an edge. Good defense also fueled our offensive game. We allowed them to make it a two-point game in the third stanza, but I'm happy the guys managed to hold them off," Virginijus Seskus, the head coach of Vytautas, told BasketNews.lt after the game.
The 50-year-old specialist has made the little-known Lithuanian town of Prienai a basketball haven, guiding his hometown club to two Lithuanian Cup titles and a pair of third-place finishes in the Lithuanian Basketball League in recent years.
"We have already won the Lithuanian Cup, now we managed to add the Baltic trophy to our collection. All that's left is to win the top flight in Lithuania," smiled Seskus.
More success followed for teams with FIBA Europe Cup experience, as last year's Baltic League runners-up Tartu secured third place this time around in an all-Estonian bronze-medal tie.
The #TriobetBBL bronze medals reach their rightful owners! Congratulations to @BCTartu! 🥉 pic.twitter.com/Qe0JEI9KHf
— Triobet BBL (@TriobetBBL) April 6, 2017
After winning the first game against Kalev/Cramo in the capital Tallinn 72-60, coach Gert Kullamae's side lost the second leg by a single point, but held off their principal rivals 139-128 on aggregate.
"Even though it's a slight step down from last season, a medal is medal," Kullamae said. "The only slight prick is that we didn't win the second game, there were some definite issues in the last few minutes, but we won the series and that's what matters."
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