On Friday evening, Zalgiris secured their third victory in the EuroLeague, this time leaving Bayern Munich with no chance, 98-70.
Sylvain Francisco, who celebrated his 28th birthday on the day of the game, was the most productive player in Zalgiris with 19 points and shared his thoughts after the victory.
“We started with defense, and most importantly, we turned good defensive plays into offense. We forced them to work on defense, take difficult shots, and we didn't let up until the end of the game,” the guard commented on Zalgiris’ performance in the game.
Francisco opened the scoring with two accurate three-pointers in the middle of the first quarter, sparking Zalgiris’ offense, and emphasized the importance of such shots in away games.
“Three-pointers boost your confidence, and we were playing away, so accurate long-range shots at the start of the game always help. Today, they helped us even the score and take the lead before the long break. I’m glad we stayed focused until the end of the game," said the Frenchman.
Francisco also assessed his performance on his birthday.
“I liked it. I felt good on the court, so I’m glad I helped the team. Today is also my mother and aunt’s birthday. I wish them all the best,” shared Francisco.
When asked if he felt he could play well on his birthday, the Zalgiris player replied that he felt normal.
“It was a normal day for me. The most important thing was my mother’s birthday, and I had to focus before the game, not put any extra pressure on myself, and I managed to do that,” said Francisco, downplaying his birthday.
