Zalgiris Kaunas ended the Gloria Cup tournament in Turkey with a defeat. Andrea Trinchieri’s team lost to Anadolu Efes Istanbul 64-75 (14-19, 20-17, 21-19, 9-20).
Laurynas Birutis started the game with two dunks after passes from Edgaras Ulanovas and Brady Manek. Sylvain Francisco and Deividas Sirvydis also scored nice points, while Birutis added two more, 10-13. Matt Mitchell scored 3 points and Bryant Dunston finished the first quarter with a free throw, 14-19.
Sirvydis and Dovydas Giedraitis scored at the beginning of the second quarter, Alen Smailagic hit a three-pointer from the corner, Francisco made a basket, but the opponents gained a double-digit lead, 23-33. Ignas Brazdeikis scored a two-pointer with a foul, and then Zalgiris finished the first half with 8 unanswered points, as Brazdeikis and Francisco scored a three-pointer each and Giedraitis added two more points, 34-36.
The run was extended to 11-0 by a three-pointer from Francisco, 37-36. The opponents responded with 7 points, but then another Zalgiris spurt followed, as Brazdeikis, Dunston, Arnas Butkevicius and Smailagic made it 47-43. At the end of the third quarter, Butkevicius scored on a fast break, while Sirvydis and Mitchell hit a three-pointer each, 55-55.
In the fourth quarter, Zalgiris quickly pushed the opponents over the foul limit and after free throws by Brazdeikis, Giedraitis, Sirvydis and Dunston, Kaunas’ team went ahead 62-60. However, Zalgiris didn’t make a field goal in the remaining 5 minutes of the game and eventually fell to their opponents 64-75.
The trio of Brazdeikis, Francisco and Sirvydis scored 10 points each for Zalgiris.
