Lithuania is one win away from the Tokyo Olympic games.
On Saturday, after the fierce combat Lithuania beat Poland with the final result 88:69 and secured the spot in the OQT finals.
Surrounded by the home crowd, Lithuania’s team work on the court helped to seal the deal. Six players recorded double digit efficiency; Jonas Valančiūnas (20eff), Domantas Sabonis (20eff), Mantas Kalnietis (18eff), Arnas Butkevičius (16eff), Rokas Jokubaitis (13eff) and Marius Grigonis (10eff).
In the OQT finals Lithuania will face Slovenian national team with NBA superstar, Luka Doncic, in the lead. So far in the tournament Slovenia has blown out all its opponents on average with 37.7 point difference.
Hosts had a great run at the very beginning – 7:0. Nevertheless, Poland fought well and after the first quarter there was only a slight difference – 23:19.
Halfway in the second quarter Lithuania was in the passenger seat – 33:35. However, Arnas Butkevičius scored a two-pointer and Lithuania was in the lead by minimum – 46:45.
Third quarter was a benchmark in regards to defence. Lithuania had a great 9 to nothing run – 54:45. Before the decisive ten minutes Lithuanians were up by double digit – 62:51.
At the beginning of the last quarter Lithuania maintained the lead – 74:63. In the end, Lithuania changed the gear and secured the win and spot in the finals – 88:69
LITHUANIA: Domantas Sabonis 17pts, Jonas Valančiūnas 15pts, Mantas Kalnietis 14pts, Rokas Jokubaitis 13pts, Marius Grigonis 10pts, Arnas Butkevičius 9pts, Eimantas Bendžius 8pts.
POLAND: A. J. Slaughter 19pts, Aleksander Balcerowski, Jakub Garbacz ir Mateusz Ponitka 10pts each, Aaron Cel 7pts.
