It wasn't as successful new year's beginning as it was expected - Anwil Wloclawek lost against Asseco at Gdynia 72:78. Thus the Anwil's series of six wins was broken as A.J. Walton, Asseco's leader, dished almost half as much again assists than the whole team of Wloclawek.
Last time when Anwil Wloclawek won seven games in a row took place in the 2006/2007 season. That means that the game against Asseco Gdynia had a historical value because the Rottweilers had won last six previous games before coming to Gdynia. Unfortunately, Asseco throw the guests off stride even in the first periods of the Sunday battle, when they scored 25 points.
Had it not been for Devidas Dulkys, who made 15 of Anwil's 23 in the first quarter, the Rottweilers would have had little chance of keeping the game tight. Lithuanin shooter started very actively and he called the tune of Anwil, missing his first shot in his seventh attempt. Nevertheless, his good attitude and shape weren't enough for the guests to control the game. Asseco Gdynia played with extreme three point shots efficiency, making 7-of-9 attemps before the break. This is why the hosts were leading 42:34 after two quarters.
When Anwil limited that element in the third quarter, the team of Gdynia started to have some difficulties in offense so not only did the guests cut the whole lead, but they also worked for an advantage of a point with the end of the third quarter, 54:53.
The game got tight and every single basket gathered worth. Unfortunately, that were the hosts who put on a brave face and thanks to some important three pointers from Lukasz Seweryn and Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz, they started to pick up speed. Three minutes to go, Asseco were leading 72:62 but Anwil came back because Dusan Katnic made two distance shots in a row and Seid Hajric added four points. Nonetheless, the last action belonged to the team of Gdynia as Fedor Dmitrev made a triple.
Russian forward got passed from A.J. Walton and it was American player who was the game hero. 23-year-old playmaker scored only eight points but had... 14 assists while the whole team of Wloclawek dished only... eight of them.
Dulkys finished the battle with 22 points and Keith Clanton added 15. Seid Hajric was the last guy who crossed the barrier of a double digit.
Asseco Gdynia – Anwil Włocławek 78:72 (25:23, 17:11, 11:20, 25:18)
Asseco: Dimitrev 15, Szczotka 12, Seweryn 12, Galdikas 11, Frasunkiewicz 8, Walton 8, Matczak 7, Szymanski 3, Kowalczyk 2, Zolnierewicz 0
Anwil: Dulkys 22, Clanton 15, Hajric 10, Sokolowski 9, Katnic 9, Mijatovic 5, Kostrzewski 2, Pamula 0, Witlinski 0