Estonian Tartu Ulikool Rock and Latvian VEF Riga won the games in the first day of the Kasztelan Basketball Cup 2012. The hosts of the tournament, Anwil Wloclawek, lost to the team of Ramunas Butautas.
Estonian Tartu Ulikool Rock and Latvian VEF Riga won the games in the first day of the Kasztelan Basketball Cup 2012. The hosts of the tournament, Anwil Wloclawek, lost to the team of Ramunas Butautas.
Ryan Wright made an easy basket at the very beginning of the Friday’s game against VEF Ryga, but it was the first and the last lead for the hosts tonight. VEF Riga easily found the rhythm and they quickly proved that they will be fighting for reaching the most important trophies not only in Latvia, but also in EuroCup.
Earl Rowland played as the general who led his army to the victory as he split his time on the floor into both: scoring points (12) and creating the offense (six assists). Kristaps Janicenoks was shooting from behind the arc, while Antanas Kavaliauskas and ex-Anwil member Donatas Zavackas dominating in the post so VEF had a 13-point margin before the break (41:28).
The headcoach of Anwil, Dainius Adomaitis, made some changes in the roster after the second quarter and the third one turned out to be for the hosts. Krzysztof Szubarga scored some difficult shots, Marcus Ginyard and Ruben Boykin activated themselves in the offense and Anwil started to approach to the opponent. In the middle of the last quarter the hosts cut the VEF’s lead to only four twice (51:55 and 57:61) but in the last minutes Latvian team proved their skills as Janicenoks made his third three-pointer.
Krzysztof Szubarga was the leader for Anwil as he finished the game with 14 points, six assists and five rebounds, Ryan Wright added 12 points while Ruben Boykin had 10 points and eight rebounds.
It is worth adding that Anwil's ex-player, Donatas Zavackas had eight points and rebounds while another player having the brand "Anwil" in his sports CV, Gatis Jahovics, hasn't arrived in Wloclawek due to the injury.
Anwil Wloclawek - VEF Riga 64:75 (14:23, 14:18, 19:14, 17:20)
Anwil: Szubarga 14, Wright 12, Boykin 10, Ginyard 9, Frasunkiewicz 6, Hajric 6, Bartosz 3, Seweryn 2, Sokolowski 2, Maciejewski 0
VEF: Janicenoks 16, Kavaliauskas 14, Daniels 12, Rowland 12, Bertans 9, Zavackas 8, Berzins 4, Blaus 0, Loucks 0, Strelnieks 0
The Polish champion, Asseco Prokom Gdynia didn't play in a full roster and it was visible in the first tournament's game against Estonian Tartu Ulikool Rock.
Frank Robinson, Julian Khazzouh will come to Wloclawek tomorrow while Adam Hrycaniuk hasn't arrived because he is currently recovering after an injury. That meant that Piotr Szczotka played as a center, being supported in the post by Robert Witka and Drew Viney. The last two players noted a good performance as they combined with 34 points but it wasn't enough for the Gert Kullamae's team.
Estonian team easily noticed that Asseco Prokom was trying to hide its post shortages and the guards passed all of the balls to their big men. This is why Russian Ivan Nelyubov and Lithuanian Egidius Dimas collected 33 points and 11 rebounds altogether and they led Tartu Rock to the first tournament victory.
In the second half Jerel Blassingame was trying to tip the balance but his extremely good performance (double-double of 18 points and 13 assists) turned out to be fruitless.
Asseco Prokom Gdynia - Tartu Ulikool Rock 75:81 (19:26, 14:17, 23:15, 19:23)
Asseco Prokom: Viney 19, Blassingame 18, Witka 15, Koszarek 12, Szczotka 4, Pamuła 3, Ponitka 2, Snieg 2, Berisha 0, Roszyk 0
Tartu: Nelyubov 18, Dimas 15, Ingram 13, Leppik 9, Allingu 6, Kurbas 6, Saage 6, Kriisa 5, Toome 3