Cinematic Teodosic, but Zalgiris beats Virtus

A monumental Teodosic is not enough to beat Kaunas who violate the Segafredo Arena, 77-87, and go up 2-0 in the direct clash with Virtus. The 10-point gap is generous to tell a match instead fought, with Vu who after a sinking, 6-18 at the start, made his comeback and overtaking, 59-58 at the end of the third quarter, to play everything in flown. Better Kaunas that coldly instead put the decisive extension with 17 points each of Smits and Brazdeikis, the executioner of Virtus hopes also in the first leg. And Vu can complain for long stretches of an attack without ideas and without aim, when Milos was not on the pitch and a beating suffered on loose balls, 38 for the Lithuanians compared to 21 carambola for Vu. For the Serbian ace 21 points and 12 assists which allowed Vu to play it all the way in practice. But he got little from Mickey, 3 points and from the dull Lundberg-Hackett directing duo in an evening of suffering.

At the start, Vu suffered the pains of hell: always stuck by penetrations from Kaunas, in a great rush of ideas in attack, she found herself naked and lost, down by 10 points, 6-16, after having spent 3′ for the first basket of the game. From the obvious time out and from Teodosic’s entry, Vu got a shock. A handyman Milos producing points, assists and rebounds prevented Vu from getting lost in a match that was immediately uphill. Schengelia on hand formed a comforting 22-29, but Zalgiris had the points of Taylor and to further extend to +10, 26-36. There again Teo took everyone by the hand and, with a basket caught in the middle of the forest, Ojeleye at the siren scored the two points that sent the challengers to rest at 36-40. Unhoped for after the nightmare start-up for Segafredo.

In his best moment, Vu made a comeback in the third quarter: Milos again leading his team and a triple by Pajola after stealing the ball in defense set the Segafredo Arena on fire: 53-54 with 12′ from the last siren. 59-58 with Weems and finally the 60 all signed by Lundberg to start the last decisive 10′. With 4 from the Taylor elf the greens extended: 60-65 to keep away a Vu who chose the short quintet, Mickey from 5, to try to win it in the sprint.

Cold blood for the Lithuanian attack that found the points with Brazdeikis to stay ahead: 72-78 at 1′ 50”. Smits to hit from the low post, knocking down Hackett on 74-81 effectively closed the contest.

We return to the arena on Thursday for the match against the Greek red and white Olympiakos.