May 22, 2013
Regular Season Game 8 - December 18, 2008 CET: 18:45 Local time: 19:45 - S.DARIUS AND S.GIRENAS SPORT CENTER
Zalgiris 79 - 68 Asseco Prokom

Records

Ave.   Ave.
0-0 Final Four 0-0
0-0 Playoffs 0-0
0-0 Top 16 0-0
0-7 Regular Season 2-5
0-7 Overall 2-5

Referees

Crew Chief
PITSILKAS, NIKOLAOS, Greece
Referee
MUHVIC, DUBRAVKO, Croatia
Umpire
PILOIDIS, ANASTASIOS, Greece

Team Stats

Ave.   Ave.
66.3 Points 70.0
33.3 Rebounds 35.9
10.7 O. Rebounds 11.0
22.6 D. Rebounds 24.9
12.4 Assists 12.0
8.0 Steals 7.9
2.7 Blocks 2.9
17.4 Turnovers 15.6
47.1 % 2PT 48.7 %
32.6 % 3PT 34.5 %
58.2 % FT 70.4 %
63.4 Index 67.4
Team Stats - Zalgiris
Team Stats - Asseco Prokom

Player Stats

Ave.   Ave.
13.0 / WOODS, LOREN Points 17.6 / Logan
8.3 / WOODS, LOREN Rebounds 8.1 / BURRELL, RONNIE
3.4 / WOODS, LOREN OR 3.0 / BURRELL, RONNIE
4.9 / WOODS, LOREN DR 5.1 / BURRELL, RONNIE
2.4 / Kalnietis Assists 3.1 / Logan
1.6 / Maciulis Steals 2.3 / Logan
1.7 / WOODS, LOREN Blocks 1.1 / BURRELL, RONNIE
2.6 / WOODS, LOREN Turnovers 3.3 / Logan
60.0 % / WOODS, LOREN 2PT 100.0 % / Szczotka
40.0 % / Janavicius 3PT 50.0 % / BURRELL, RONNIE
80.0 % / Kalnietis FT 100.0 % / Dylewicz
20.0 / WOODS, LOREN Index 15.4 / BURRELL, RONNIE
Team Roster - Zalgiris
Team Roster - Asseco Prokom

THE TAKE

Two teams in desperate need of a win will clash on Thursday when Zalgiris Kaumas hosts Asseco Prokom Sopot. The Lithuanian champs are in the midst of their worst start to a Euroleague season ever – winless through seven games. Zalgiris has dropped 11 in a row dating back to last season. Meanwhile Prokom has dropped four in a row to fall to 2-5 and is in danger of losing its lead in the race for a ticket to the Top 16. The Polish champs have not won since beating Zalgiris 65-60 last month as Dan Ewing drilled 5 three-pointers en route to 19 points. Ewing has totaled 5 triples in the last four games combined, shooting 19.2% from downtown over that span. The guard matchup will be at center stage again this time as Prokom, coached by former Olympic medallist playmaker Tomas Pacesas, leans heavily on the trio of Ewing, David Logan and Aleksej Nesovic. Zalgiris on the other hand has split from its starting point guard, Willie Deane, leaving more responsibility on the shoulders of its young backcourt featuring Zygimantas Janivicius, Sarunas Vasilauskas and Mantas Kalnietis, who is coming off a career-best performance. Small forward Dainius Salenga will be called upon to help out on the perimeter as well. Head coach Gintaras Krapikas has a strong frontcourt that carries the team, led by the tandem of Loren Woods and Paulius Jankunas. Jonas “The Bull” Maciulis compliments them at small forward, while Tadas Klimavicius brings energy off the bench. Prokom features Ronnie Burrell and Koko Archibona at the forward spots, while Adam Hrycaniuk and veteran Pat Burke man the center position. The first few minutes could play an important role in the battle inside, as Prokom generally starts the rookie Hrycaniuk before bringing in Burke. How well he can stand up to Woods will be a factor that influences both teams’ substitution patterns. This game will surely be a true battle of wills as neither team can afford to lose. The keys may well rest with some unlikely heroes. If Kalnietis can come up with another big game, this time against Prokom’s stars, he could fuel the hosts to the win. And if Hrycaniuk can hold his own against the Zalgiris frontline, Prokom’s guards will have a chance to control the game and score a big win for the club.

GAME QUOTES

Zalgiris
  • Zalgiris is off to its worst ever start to a Euroleague season. The club has lost 11 in a row dating back to last season. Zalgiris’s last Euroleague win came in the Top 16 last season against Maccabi Tel Aviv.
  • Forward Paulius Jankunas needs just 3 more rebounds to reach 500 for his Euroleague Basketball career.
  • Guard Mantas Kalnietis is coming off the best individual performance of his career with 20 points and 4 steals – both Euroleague career highs – last week at Montepaschi.
  • Forward Tomas Masiulis returns to face his former team this week. Masiulis spent six seasons with Prokom, in which he won five Polish championships and two Polish Cups. He also played in 65 Euroleague games over four campaigns with the club.
Asseco Prokom
  • The club’s Polish League game over the weekend was postponed because several of Prokom’s players and coaching staff were battling the flu.
  • Aleksej Nesovic started at point guard in place of Dan Ewing for the first time last week. It was the first time this season that Prokom did not use a starting five of David Logan, Ewing, Koko Archibong, Ronnie Burrell and Adam Hrycaniuk.
  • Center Adam Hrycaniuk has started all seven Euroleague games so far this season, but only averages eight-and-a-half minutes per game. Pat Burke comes off the bench to spell him for 22 minutes per game.
  • Prokom has lost its last eight Euroleague road games dating back to November of last season.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Euroleague.net

Quotes Head Coaches

KRAPIKAS, GINTARAS
Zalgiris
"We heard some rumors that a flu-like virus limited a lot of their players, but it won't change our attitude. We are preparing for a very important game and the victory is the only option for us. We have to play very focused from the very start. However, we play at home were our fans give us full support despite all the losses. So now the time has come to pay them back. It's time to say our thank you's and pick up our first victory. And we still have chance to make it to the Top 16. Willie Deane left the team, but he wasn't a big factor in Euroleague games, so I believe other players will be able to step up for him."

Players

JANAVICIUS, ZYGIMANTAS
Zalgiris
"They play on a high pace and have a very strong backcourt. They have Daniel Ewing who is big threat from the outside and can take responsibility in clutch moments. David Logan is another top caliber player in their team. We have to limit those two players and then we can expect to slow down the whole team. In the first leg game against Prokom we ran good defense, but struggled in offense and that cost us the victory. I think we are better prepared now and we are really motivated. Coach gave us instructions on how to play against them and we are going to implement his game plan."
Paulius Jankunas - ZalgirisZalgirus Kaunas picked up its first win of the season in style by dominating Asseco Prokom Sopot 79-68 on Thursday evening. The Lithuanian champs ended an 11-game losing streak dating back to last season and fueled their Top 16 hopes by taking the potential tiebreaker from Prokom. Zalgiris now trails Prokom and SLUC Nancy by only one win for fourth place in Group B and hosts the French champs in their first game after the winter break. The keys to victory for Zalgiris were an all-around game that included excellent three-point shooting (11 for 20) and excellent interior defense (11 blocked shots). Zalgiris dominated early through Loren Woods and built an 18-7 lead before Pat Burke came off the bench to rescue Prokom. The Polish champs scored 12 straight points bridging the first and second periods and eventually took a slim lead before Dainius Salenga made it 37-35 at the half. Back-to-back triples by Paulius Jankunas and Arturas Milaknis – the second beating the buzzer – gave the hosts a 63-54 lead at the end of the third quarter and a Salenga steal, slam and free throw gave the hosts a 15-point lead early in the fourth as Zalgiris wrapped up its first win. Jankunas paced Zalgiris offensively with a Euroleague career-high 23 points, Salenga added a season-high 20 points, while Jonas Maciulis had 11 and Mantas Kalnietis finished with 10 points and 5 assists. On the defensive end, Loren Woods was the star with 14 rebounds and 7 blocked shots. Burke carried Prokom with 18 points and 20 rebounds, Dan Ewing scored 16 and David Logan had 14 in defeat.

Pat Burke - Asseco ProkomAdam Hrycaniuk opened the scoring for Prokom with a basket on the offensive glass before Salenga answered for the hosts. The teams traded baskets for a few possessions before the hosts found their rhythm and took charge. Kalnietis orchestraded the offense as Zalgiris went ona 9-0 charge to take an 18-7 lead. Prokom took a much-needed timeout and had coach Tomas Pacesas managed to calm his troops. Ewing broke the Prokom drought with a three-pointer and Koko Archibong added a basket in transition as the visitors came back. Kalnietis stretched the Zalgiris lead to 21-12, but Ewing nailed a three at the end of the period to make it 23-17.

Three baskets by Burke and a triple from Logan made up a 0-12 Prokom run as Pacesas’s men got right back in the game. Salenga soon tied the game as a seesaw battle developed. The period would see the score tied five times before Salenga put Zalgiris ahead 35-32 on a basket-plus-foul. Logan and Jankunas traded baskets before Logan drew Prokom within 37-35 at halftime.

Dainius Salenga - ZalgirisLogan tied the game on Prokom’s first possession of the second half, but Kalnietis stepped up for the hosts with a triple and then a slam on the break. Prokom came right back through Burker and Ewing to tie the score at 42-42. Kalnietis killed the Prokom momentum when after losing the ball to Ewing, he followed the play for a stunning blocked shot from behind to prevent Prokom from going ahead. Woods then scored at the other end and Salenga soon frilled a three to make it 49-44. Ronnie Burrell and Ewing cut the gap to 2, but triples from Zygimantas Janivicius, Jankunas and Milaknis – the last one beating the third-period buzzer – put Zalgiris on top 63-54 with just one period remaining.

Prokom looked determined to get back as the fourth quarter began, but found an equally motivated Zalgiris team waiting. Eurelijus Zukauskas’s block of Logan and another Jankunas triple gave Zalgiris a 12-point advantage and after a few more missed shots for Prokom, Salenga stripped Ewing and darted to the hoop for a slam, foul and free throw that ignited the passionate home fans. Przemyslaw Zamojski fought for a three-point play for Prokom, but soon Jankunas hit from downtown to make it 74-57. Prokom continued to fight for points, but Zalgiris seemed to have an answer at every turn. Maciulis buried a three at the top of the key to stretch the lead to 19 and end any doubt as to the winner, allowing the fans to applaud their heroes in the last few minutes.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Euroleague.net
Referees: PITSILKAS, NIKOLAOS (GRE), MUHVIC, DUBRAVKO (CRO), PILOIDIS, ANASTASIOS (GRE)
Attendance: 4951
By Quarter1234
Zalgiris23142616
Asseco Prokom17181914
End of Quarter1234
Zalgiris23376379
Asseco Prokom17355468
Head coach: KRAPIKAS, GINTARAS
Zalgiris
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
4 VASILIAUSKAS, SARUNAS 2:20                 1         1 2
7 WOODS, LOREN 31:01 7 3/8   1/2 3 11 14 2 2 3 7   3 2 22
8 MACIULIS, JONAS 23:11 11 1/5 3/6   1 4 5 1 2 1 1   3   9
9 KALNIETIS, MANTAS 31:52 10 1/4 2/3 2/2 1 4 5 5 1 2 1   1 1 16
10 JANAVICIUS, ZYGIMANTAS 5:48 3 0/1 1/1         1 1       1 1 4
11 ZUKAUSKAS, EURELIJUS 9:07 2 1/3       2 2       2   3 2 3
12 KLIMAVICIUS, TADAS 3:12   0/2 0/1   1   1               -2
13 JANKUNAS, PAULIUS 36:40 23 5/5 3/5 4/5   5 5     3 1   2 7 28
20 SALENGA, DAINIUS 35:22 20 5/9 1/4 7/8   4 4 2 1 3     2 7 21
21 MILAKNIS, ARTURAS 21:27 3   1/2   1 1 2           2   2
Team                                
Totals 200:00 79 16/37 11/22 14/17 7 31 38 11 8 12 12 0 17 21 105
43.2% 50% 82.4%
Min: Minutes played; Pts: Points; 2FG M-A: 2-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); 3FG M-A: 3-point Field Goals (Made-Attempted); FT M-A: Free Throws (Made-Attempted); Rebounds: O (Offensive), D (Defensive), T (Total); As: Assists; St: Steals; To: Turnovers; Bl: Blocks (Fv: In Favor / Ag: Against); Fouls: Cm (Commited), Rv (Received); PIR: Performance Index Rating
Head coach: PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
# Player Min Pts 2FG
M-A
 3FG
M-A
 FT
M-A
 Rebounds As St To Bl Fouls PIR
O D T Fv Ag Cm Rv
7 ARCHIBONG, KOKO 33:07 3 1/6 0/1 1/2 1 3 4 1 1 1   3 2 2 -2
8 DYLEWICZ, FILIP 16:11 2 1/2   0/1 1 4 5   1     1 4 1 2
10 NESOVIC, ALEKSEJ 19:15 4 2/5 0/1     2 2     2     2   -2
12 LOGAN, DAVID 28:16 14 4/15 1/6 3/4   2 2 1 1 3   4 2 6 -2
15 SWIETONSKI, TOMASZ DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
16 LAPETA, ADAM DNP - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
17 ZAMOJSKI, PRZEMYSLAW 6:12 3 1/1   1/1                 2 1 2
20 SZCZOTKA, PIOTR 0:56                              
30 BURRELL, RONNIE 23:14 6 3/6 0/1   4 2 6     2     3   3
31 BURKE, PAT 28:03 18 8/13 0/1 2/4 7 13 20 1 1 1   1 1 4 33
32 EWING, DANIEL 32:22 16 4/13 2/5 2/2 2 1 3 3 3 3   2 3 3 8
34 HRYCANIUK, ADAM 12:24 2 1/2     3 2 5   1     1 2   4
Team                                
Totals 200:00 68 25/63 3/15 9/14 18 29 47 6 8 12 0 12 21 17 46
39.7% 20% 64.3%
This game is not yet played

Head Coaches

KRAPIKAS, GINTARAS
Zalgiris
"We couldn't afford to lose this game. Our players tonight were better and we outplayed them in almost every aspect of the game. The only bad thing was that we let them grab too many offensive rebounds. We started fourth quarter very well and built a significant lead, but we didn't manage to keep it till the buzzer. But a win is a win. We have chance to go further and we'll try to take this chance."
PACESAS, TOMAS
Asseco Prokom
"My congratulations go to Zalgiris, but it's sad that their first victory in Euroleague came from a match against us. Tonight we had an awful game. My backcourt players couldn't get through and couldn't get to the basket. We couldn't pick ùp our game in the second half and my two key players couldn't find their rhythm, either. Our field goal percentage was too low and we missed too many easy baskets. However, our goal remains the same and we will do our best to make it to the Top 16."

Players

SALENGA, DAINIUS
Zalgiris
"It was a very important game for us. We wanted to win this game and save chances for the next round. Our goal was to win at least by six points. We needed to win by a big margin, but a few mistakes in the final two minutes reduced our lead. Now we need to win by a big margin against SLUC but I think it's possible if we continue to play like we did tonight. We started off well tonight, but later we lost concentration and in the third quarter we finally took the control of the game. We were getting better game by game and finally it paid off with a victory."
BURKE, PAT
Asseco Prokom
"This gym is a very tough place to play. They 've got a group of the fans that put a lot of pressure on the team that's coming in. In the third quarter, Zalgiris started making big shots and big three-pointers. I had a good game in the first half and they changed the defense against me. They started to double team me at the baseline. I needed to see this situation a little bit earlier and look for other people on my team when some of the guys were cutting through, but I was still looking to attack."
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