Lithuania – Results and Stats from NKL Round 1 of Regular Season

AlbertasValiulis The Regular Season in NKL just started. Ezerunas-Karys edged Zalgiris II in Moletai 80-78. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 26-17. But Zalgiris II won second period 23-22. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Ezerunas-Karys shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 66.7 percentage. Worth to mention a great performance of Albertas Valiulis (201-95) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Marius Pociukonis (189-82) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Gytis Masiulis (206-98) answered with 27 points and 9 rebounds for Zalgiris II. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zalgiris II will play next round against Palanga trying to get back on the winning streak. Ezerunas-Karys will try to continue on its current victory against Suduva-Mantinga in Marijampole. The most crucial game of the last round was a loss of Delikatesas (0-1) on the court of Mazeikiai. Visitors were defeated by Mazeikiai 98-84. Swingman Kostas Jonuska (195-92) stepped up and scored 26 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals (made all of his eight free throws) for the winners and Tautvydas Paliukenas chipped in 18 points and 9 assists. At the losing side forward Darius Griskenas (194-84) responded with 24 points and 9 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Mazeikiai will play against Nafta-Uni. (#3) in Klaipeda in the next round, which may be the game of the day. Delikatesas will play at home against Perlas-MRU (#4) to get more than just one victory in their record. An interesting game was also home loss of Petrochema in a game in Jonava versus undefeated Silute 79-64. Aurelijus Pukelis nailed a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winning side. Vytautas Pikalavicius came up with a double-double by scoring 14 points and 13 rebounds for Petrochema in the defeat. Petrochema’s coach Kestutis Narusevicius rotated twelve players and allowed the starting five to rest. Silute will meet at home Rasai (#5) in the next round. Petrochema will play against KTU in Kaunas and it may be a tough game between close rivals. We should not miss anothera road victory of Telsiai (1-0) over Suduva-Mantinga (0-1) 91-79. Laurynas Kaveckis fired 22 points for the winners. Telsiai’s coach Augenijus Vaskys allowed to play the deep bench players saving starting five for next games. Telsiai’s next round opponent will be Vytis (#13) in Sakiai which should be an easy win for them. Suduva-Mantinga will play on the road against Ezerunas-Karys (#1) in Moletai and hope to win that game. And finally the game worth to mention about is Nafta-Uni.’s easy victory against Vytis 80-65. It was a very good performance for Viktoras Chodosovskis who helped to win the game recording a double-double by scoring 15 points and 10 rebounds. Nafta-Uni. will face Mazeikiai at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Vytis will play against Telsiai (#7) in Telsiu and it may be a tough game between close rivals. In the last two games of round 1 KTU lost to Perlas-MRU on the road 64-76. Rasai destroyed Palanga on its own court 97-69. Ezerunas-Karys – Zalgiris II 80-78Ezerunas-Karys edged Zalgiris II in Moletai 80-78. The hosts started the game with a very strong first quarter 26-17. But Zalgiris II won second period 23-22. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. Ezerunas-Karys shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 66.7 percentage. Worth to mention a great performance of Albertas Valiulis (201-95) who helped to win the game recording 20 points and 5 rebounds. Guard Marius Pociukonis (189-82) contributed with 18 points for the winners. Gytis Masiulis (206-98) answered with 27 points and 9 rebounds and power forward Laurynas Birutis (213-97) added 18 points and 10 rebounds in the effort for Zalgiris II. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Zalgiris II will play next round against Palanga trying to get back on the winning streak. Ezerunas-Karys will try to continue on its current victory against Suduva-Mantinga in Marijampole. Top scorers:Zalgiris II: G.Masiulis 27+9reb+2ast, L.Birutis 18+10reb+1ast, K.Zemaitis 13+3reb+2ast, L.Uleckas 7+1reb+2ast, I.Sargiunas 7+3reb+6ast, J.Svambaris 3+1reb+1astEzerunas-Karys: A.Valiulis 20+5reb, M.Pociukonis 18+2reb+1ast, L.Kirlys 15+1reb+1ast, L.Janenas 9+2reb+7ast, R.Ambrulaitis 9+4reb+3ast, P.Skurdauskas 5+4reb+1astgschID: 494745Mazeikiai – Delikatesas 98-84The most crucial game of the last round …

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