The players of Anwil Wloclawek were able to get back to the game despite they were losing by 17 about four minutes to go, and cut the lead to only four. Nevertheless, they couldn't give the kiss of death and lost to Stabill Jezioro Tarnobrzeg 80:90.
Dusan Katnic' was absent because of his contract termination and Paul Graham was absent due to a skin blow-out on the hand so Anwil Wloclawek needed to play against Stabill Jezioro Tarnobrzeg without any point guard that could control team's offense in the most crucial moments of the game. Deividas Dulkys and Piotr Pamula were trying to fill in that spot but they are definitely more efficient when they can play on their natural position which is shooting guard.
That meant that the headcoach Milija Bogicevic had very narrow rotation - only seven players - but he even made that rotation narrower by letting 19-year-old Mikolaj Witlinski play only eight minutes. Witlinski is thought to be one of the most promising players of his generation in Europe but he doesn't get much chance in Anwil jersey.
However, it is really doubtful that Witlinski's longer performance could have changed anything. Anwil players played badly for the next time this year and they lost their fifth game in last six competitions. Their most serious sin is that they let the hosts find their rhythm at the very beginning of the game - Tarnobrzeg team was leading by six after 10 minutes and by 10 after 20 (46:36).
Anwil's defense was believed to be the strongest in the team a couple of months and games ago but the things have changed drastically. Stabill Jezioro scored 90 points with great ease in its game. Marcin Nowakowski finished the battle with 21 points and five assists while Andrew Fitzgerald scored 20 and had eight rebounds.
For Anwil, only Michal Sokolowski and above-mentioned Witlinski did not cross the barrier of double-digits. Deividas Dulkys was the most effective as he made 18 while Mateusz Kostrzewski had a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Stabill Jezioro Tarnobrzeg - Anwil Wloclawek 90:80 (23:17, 23:19, 22:22, 22:22)
Stabill Jezioro: Nowakowski 21, Fitzgerald 20, Allen 14, Goffney 9, Krajniewski 7, Doaks 6, Lukasiak 6, Hamilton 5, Patoka 2
Anwil: Dulkys 18, Mijatovic 15, Pamula 14, Hajric 14, Kostrzewski 10, Sokolowski 8, Witlinski 1