Lithuania – NKL Round 13: Palanga defeats leader Suduva-Mantinga

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Updated: November 19, 2016

NKL is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 13 rounds left. The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Suduva-Mantinga (11-3) on the court of eighth ranked Palanga on Thursday night. Visitors were defeated by Palanga 90-82. The hosts took control from the first minutes by winning first half. But Suduva-Mantinga won third quarter 21-19. However it was not enough to take a lead and get a victory that evening. The game was decided in the last minutes when Palanga won last quarter 28-22. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. Worth to mention a great performance of American point guard Jonathan Hudson (180-87, college: Texas A&M) who helped to win the game recording 27 points and 9 assists. Canadian forward Kadeem Green (206, college: Ryerson, agency: Interperformances) contributed with 26 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. The former international Aurimas Kieza (199-82, college: Hofstra) answered with a double-double by scoring 18 points and 13 rebounds for Suduva-Mantinga. Despite that victory Palanga went down to ninth position due to points difference. Suduva-Mantinga at the other side still keeps top place with three games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest. Another interesting game for Nafta-Uni. (10-3) which played in Vilnius against 3rd placed Perlas-MRU (9-4). Fourth ranked Nafta-Uni. had an easy win 95-77. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Perlas-MRU. It was a key game for the second position in the league. Forward Edvinas Alunderis (202-92) stepped up and scored 17 points and 9 rebounds for the winners and Deividas Anuzis chipped in 12 points and 5 assists. At the losing side power forward Lukas Kvedaravicius (206-97) responded with 14 points and 8 rebounds. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Nafta-Uni. moved-up to second place, which they share with Rasai. Perlas-MRU at the other side dropped to the fourth position with four games lost. They share it with Telsiai. Nafta-Uni. will have a break next round, and it should allow them to practice more before next game. Perlas-MRU will play again on the road against Nafta-Uni. (#3) in Klaipeda and it may be a tough game between close rivals. NKL top team – Suduva-Mantinga (11-3) had no problems winning another game on Friday. This time they crushed eighth ranked Palanga (6-8) in Marijampole 116-83. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Palanga. Gintautas Matulis nailed 38 points (!!!) for the winning side. Jonathan Hudson came up with 26 points and 6 rebounds for Palanga in the defeat. Suduva-Mantinga maintains first place with 11-3 record. Loser Palanga dropped to the ninth position with eight games lost. Both teams do not play next round, which will be an opportunity for some rest. A very interesting game took place in Kaunas. It ended with only three-point defeat on the road of higher ranked Silute (8-5) to tenth ranked Zalgiris II (5-8) 78-75 on Friday evening. Laurynas Birutis fired a double-double by scoring 15 points, 13 rebounds and 7 blocks (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) for the winners. Zalgiris II maintains tenth place with 5-8 record. Silute at the other side keeps the sixth position with five games lost. Zalgiris II’s next round opponent will be again higher ranked Silute (#6) on the road and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Other games in round 13 were not that significant. Vytis beat Mazeikiai on the road 73-65. Bottom-ranked Ezerunas-Karys lost to Telsiai on its own court 69-75. Delikatesas managed to outperform Petrochema in Joniskis 71-62. Rasai managed to beat KTU at home 76-63. Mazeikiai – Vytis 65-73No shocking result in a game when ninth ranked Vytis (6-7) beat on the road 11th ranked Mazeikiai (4-9) 73-65. Mazeikiai was tied at the half but could not keep up in last two quarters eventually losing the game. Vytis made 22-of-28 charity shots (78.6 percent) during the game. They also forced 19 Mazeikiai turnovers. 24 personal fouls committed by Mazeikiai helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Guard Edgaras Stanionis (194-88, agency: Dynamics Global Management) fired 21 points and 8 rebounds for the winners. Guard Paulius Beliavicius (194-88) chipped in 20 points. Swingman Kostas Jonuska (195-92) produced 10 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists and point guard Ernestas Bruzas (183-96) added 15 points respectively for lost side. Four Mazeikiai players scored in double figures. Vytis moved-up to seventh place, which they share with KTU. Mazeikiai at the other side keeps the eleventh position with nine games lost. Vytis will have a break next round. Mazeikiai will play again on the road against Vytis (#7) in Sakiai and hope to win that game. Top scorers:Vytis: E.Stanionis 21+8reb, P.Beliavicius 20+4reb+1ast, E.Jezukevicius 8+3reb, M.Uzupis 8+2reb, P.Butkevicius 7+8reb+4ast, S.Jackson 5+6rebMazeikiai: E.Bruzas 15+4reb+2ast, R.Biliartas 12+2reb+3ast, A.Mikalauskas 10+8reb+2ast, K.Jonuska 10+5reb+7ast, T.Miskinis 8+6reb+1ast, M.Serksnas 5+5rebgschID: 494853Ezerunas-Karys – Telsiai 69-75Very expected game when 14th ranked Ezerunas-Karys (1-12) lost to fifth ranked Telsiai (9-4) in Moletai 69-75. The guests were tied after three quarters but managed to speed up in last quarter eventually winning the game. Telsiai forced 20 Ezerunas-Karys turnovers. Strangely Ezerunas-Karys outrebounded Telsiai 43-26 including 16 on the offensive glass. Gintautas Kybartas (201-94) fired a double-double by scoring 17 points and 11 rebounds for the winners. Tomas Domarkas (184-91) chipped in 16 points and 5 steals. Forward Raimundas Ambrulaitis (200-82) produced a …

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