Lithuania opened the game with a 16-0 run in route to a 92-79 victory over Bulgaria in the the two teams´ final games of Group B Preliminary Round play in Podgorica.

The defending EuroBasket champs, with a revamped roster, earned a trip to Belgrade for the quarter-finals with a perfect 3-0 record.

“This means a lot, especially to our younger players,” said forward Robertas Javtokas.
 

		Lithuania celebrate a job well done

Bulgaria committed turnovers on their opening four possessions of the game and Lithuania scored at will with an array of wide open three-pointers and dunks inside. After Bulgaria finally broke a scoring drought that lasted for more than four minutes to start the game, Lithuania responded with another 6-0 run, giving them a 22-2 lead.

“We did our homework and this was evident from the start of the game,” Lithuanian head coach Antas Sireika said.

“After our first two losses, I was worried we wouldn't be ready mentally,” said Bulgarian head coach Rossen Barchovski.

The Lithuanians made nine of their first 13 field goat attempts and finished the first quarter with 30 points.

Bulgaria, following two emotionally draining losses to Croatia and Turkey, did not fold and tied the game at 39 in the second quarter.

“We relaxed too much after our quick start and allowed them to get back in the game,” Sireika said.

Lithuania answered with a 10-3 run to close the first half with a 49-42 lead.

Simas Jasaitis hit a pair of three-pointers to start the second half and Lithuania opened the third quarter with a 8-0 to open up a double-digit lead, allowing them to cruise to to the finish.

Despite an 0-3 mark, Bulgaria played gritty basketball, challenging Europe's top teams in their first EuroBasket appearance in 12 years.

“Bulgaria showed a lot of character in these three games,” Sireika said.

“I am satisfied with the way we battled back in this game,” Barchovski said. “Overall, we played well in this championship.”

Once again, the Lithuanians used a balanced scoring attack as six scored in double figures, led by Jasaitis' 17.

“Our goal is to play as a team because we don´t have some of the stars we did in the past,” said Robertas Javtokas, who tallied 15 points. “Right now, we are doing this.”

“Our strength is that we play as a team,” added Ramunas Siskauskas. “We played like a team in the past when we had stars, but without some of those players, it is even more important that we play together.”

Filip Videnov put on an outstanding offensive performance in defeat for Bulgaria, finishing with 34 points. He was 12-for-30 from the field, including 5-for-10 from three-point range. Todor Stoykov, who scored 20-plus points in his first two games, was held to eight.   

The win for Lithuania marks the team´s ninth consecutive EuroBasket victory. They will open quarter-final play on Thursday against the winner of the D2-C3 elimination game which will be played in Novi Sad on Tuesday.     

Lithuania will look to finish preliminary round play with a 3-0 record when they take on Bulgaria this evening at the Moraca Sports Center in Podgorica.

Lithuania, having already secured first place in Group B following Bulgaria's loss to Turkey last night, will look to win their ninth EuroBasket game in a row dating back to 2003. Against Croatia last night, Lithuania trailed throughout the first half, took the lead in the third quarter and dominated the fourth in route to an 85-67 win.

		Todor Stoykov is the danger man for Bulgaria

Underdog Bulgaria, playing in a EuroBasket for the first time since 1993, have made quite an impression in Group B after leading Croatia and Turkey for good portions of their games before ultimately losing nail-biters down the stretch. Bulgaria led Turkey by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter, but the Turks rallied for a 94-89 overtime win. The road in EuroBasket for Bulgaria gets know easier as they take on the defending champions.

“We'll give them everything we have,” Bulgarian head coach Rossen Barchovski said. “We'll try to forget the emotions from the last two games and do everything we can to leave our trace on this EuroBasket.”

“I expect a difficult game,” Lithuanian coach Antanas Sireika said. “We never underestimate our opponents.”

While a loss is a loss, there are many positives that can be taken away from Bulgaria's play in EuroBasket.

“We are a young and if the team continues to play the way it does, we will be in many more EuroBaskets in the future,” Bulgarian center Boyko Mladenov said.

Offensively, Lithuania has been led by Ramunas Siskauskas, who has averaged 19 points in his team's two wins. Todor Stoykov has provided valuable leadership and leads Bulgaria in scoring with 24 points per game.

Lithuania have defeated Bulgaria on two different occasions in the past, the most recent a 117-72 decision in 2002.