“We were lucky today. Today we didn’t deserve the victory as we didn’t have the right mindset for a semifinal game,” Maskoliunas explained. “We can’t play any worse… The only good thing is that we can learn from our mistakes. We’ll play the next game much better.”
Deivydas Gailius, who scored 21 points in the second half, had given Siauliai a 68:61 lead and Mindaugas Zukauskas’ triple allowed the visitors to maintain a slight lead – 73:67.
Martynas Pocius knocked in a three-point shot off the backboard, Tadas Klimavicius netted two points and Marcus Brown and that same Klimavicius converted from the free-throw line to bring Zalgiris in front at 76:73.
“Why did Zalgiris win? Pocius knocked down a three-pointer off the backboard and our Derrick couldn’t make an open shot. One shot decided the outcome of the game,” Antanas Sireika was disappointed after the game.
Five last-minute points from Derrick Low got Siauliai within two points with the score at 81:83, but Zalgiris got an offensive rebound on their possession and the guests didn’t even manage to extend the game by fouls.
“Marius Prekevicius said that there wasn’t enough energy to give ourselves a chance by fouling. It might have been the disbelief that Salenga got that offensive rebounds,” said Sireika, the coach of Siauliai.
Marcus Brown and Martynas Pocius had a team-high 17 points, Tadas Klimavicius added a 14 point and 9 rebound effort as Dainius Salenga finished the game with 10.
“Only the coaches and a couple of players understood that Siauliai is a better team than Prienai. I can’t explain how some players couldn’t concentrate in a semifinal. The plan, how we were planning to defend didn’t work at all,” Zalgiris coach Darius Maskoliunas said. “We looked very fresh on Tuesday, but today we played with flat tires. Some players were so nervous as if they were playing against an NBA team.”
Deivydas Gailius set the pace for Siauliai, tallying 24, Vytatutas Sarakauskas dropped in 16 and Derrick Low was the last Siauliai player to get into double-digits with 11
