By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
BC Rytas is the first finalist of the Basketball Champions League, having defeated Tenerife in the semifinal match held in Badalona with a score of 87-69.
In their first appearance at the Final Four, Rytas played an excellent game and advanced to the final, where they will compete for their first BCL trophy.
Jerrick Harding shone with 29 points (10/19 field goals, 9/12 free throws), Speedy Smith showcased his experience and contributed to the victory with 12 points, same as Gytis Masiulis.
On the other hand, even the brilliant Marcelinho Huertas couldn’t help, finishing the game with 21 points despite being 42 years old. However, support from others was lacking, with Fran Guerra adding 13, Giorgi Shermadini 10 and Patty Mills having only seven.
After a somewhat slow start on both sides, Rytas was the first to pull away with a 15-5 run to gain a significant lead (33-24). The Lithuanian team maintained their advantage for most of the game, with Tenerife unable to make a comeback.
At the start of the final quarter, Rytas extended their lead to an unassailable +14 (70-56). There was no coming back from that, and the Lithuanian team calmly brought the game to a close, celebrating a significant victory.
In the grand final, Rytas will face the winner of the second semifinal between AEK Athens and Unicaja, which starts at 21:00 CET.
Postgame press conference: