Zalgiris Kaunas – the winner of Lithuanian Cup 2015! 0

Zalgiris Kaunas won the Lithuanian Cup, topping its arch-rival Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius 82-76 on home floor on Sunday.

Rytas stormed out of the gate with 6-16 lead, but Zalgiris made an 11-0 run early in the second, run which included a triple from Arturas Milaknis, to take the lead for good. Another run in the second quarter, this time 12-0, with threes from Will Cherry and Edgaras Ulanovas opened a 15-point advantage, and Zalgiris held 46-32 at halftime.

After the break, Rytas came within 57-53 late in the third, but that’s as close as it got. Zalgiris restored control, and with a pair of triples from Siim-Sander Vene and Ulanovas midway through the fourth increased the margin to 72-59, and the hosts cruised to victory.

Ulanovas had 16 points and 6 rebounds in victory, Cherry, Vene and Paulius Jankunas each scored 12.

Antanas Kavaliauskas led Rytas with 18 points and 8 boards, while Martynas Gecevicius netted 13.

Zalgiris Kaunas eased to the final past Juventus Utena 65-91 in the Saturday semifinal clash. Zalgiris opened the game with a 11-0 run, and never looked back. It kept the margin in double-digits and held 48-34 halftime lead, before breaking a 20-point barrier in the third quarter and closing out the game. Milaknis paced to victory with 19 points, Arturas Gudaitis scored 12, while Vene had 10 points. A day earlier in the quarterfinals, Zalgiris crushed Lietkabelis Panevezys 86-58 in the quarterfinal.