KAUNAS, Lithuania — Žalgiris have overcome perennial title rival Lietuvos Rytas to reign supreme as 2009 Baltic Basketball League Cup champions.

Having effectively qualified for the tournament as fourth seeds by being last year’s BBL runners-up and hosts of this season’s opening tournament, Žalgiris used the home crowd advantage to full effect in winning a close fought final.

Žalgiris qualified for the final after dispatching of Latvian champions Ventspils with relative ease on Friday night (81-69). Dainius Šalenga lead his team with 17 points. American import Travis Watson also had a strong night for the home-side producing 12 points and 8 rebounds. Ronalds Zaķis lead the way for the Latvians top-scoring with 17 points, while also grabbing 8 rebounds.

In the second semifinal, Lithuanian champs Lietuvos Rytas made easy work of beating Estonian champs Kalev/Cramo. The Estonians were never really in the game as the Lithuanians annihilated them 117-69. It was an all-round effort for Leituvos Rytas with seven players getting into double figures on the score sheet. Milko Bjelica top-scored with 19 of the bench.

This set up an all Lithuanian final but first the minor placings had to be decided. Ventspils beat Kalev/Cramo in a similar fashion to Leituvos Rytas an evening previous, taking third place with a 91-67 victory. Artūrs Strēlnieks lead his team with a game-high 18 points.

In front of a sold-out crowd, the final promised to be big as two old adversaries went head to head. Unfortunately the battle did not just take place on the court as rival fans also clashed in and around the stadium, leading to calls for better security for future match-ups between the two teams. After a see-saw battle it was the home team Žalgiris who managed to prevail in the end 83-78. Šalenga again lead the scoring for the home side with 18.

Following the opening tournament, the competition proper will begin later this week.