LTU/BEL - The man with the hot hand

VILNIUS (Euroleague) - The European club season is only just getting started but already a mouthwatering game is taking place on Friday night in Lithuania.

Lietuvos Rytas are squaring off against Telenet Ostend for the right to play in the 2013-14 Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

In their first two qualifying tournament games, Lietuvos Rytas defeated VEF Riga, 80-71, and Ewe Baskets Oldenburg, 99-87, while Ostend upset Khimki Moscow Region, 90-79, and edged out Banvit Bandirma, 82-80.

Vilnius is buzzing about the shooting performance of Martynas Gecevicius on Thursday against Ewe Baskets.

The Lithuania international had a game-high 34 points, with 24 coming from behind the arc.

Gecevicius buried five three-balls in the second quarter when his team went in front to stay, and made eight of 10 overall.

"I thought our offense did a good job finding him," Lietuvos Rytas coach Dirk Bauermann said.

"Martynas is just a phenomenal outside shooter. When the ball is in his hands and he's half way open, you know he's going to make the shot.

"What a lot of people don't see is that he is very unselfish, he is a good pick-and-roll player.

"I think he's really trying defensively.

"Hopefully he can shoot tomorrow (Friday) like he did today.

"I don't think he's not going to be as open, though."

Ostend have a player in their ranks who has made headlines in the two wins.

Ryan Thompson has scored 19 points each time.

Right now, Ostend have every chance of advancing and Bauermann knows it.

His team's defense isn't playing as well as it will have to in order to taste success this season.

"Things are going to take time," Bauermann said.

"When we're switching, when we're not switching, how we're rotating - all these things, they just take time.

"Until that happens, hopefully our offense will be good enough to win games."

Had anyone asked the coaches and players of Lietuvos Rytas and Ostend before this week's qualifying tournament in Vilnius if they'd like to be in the position they're currently in, each would undoubtedly have answered yes.

"We're happy that we can play for our dream tomorrow night," Bauermann said.

"The dream is to play Euroleague.

"With every game it gets harder…I know my team will be ready."

FIBA