KEDAINIAI, Lithuania — Valmiera have survived a late onslaught to prevail over Nevėžis 57-56 in Tuesday evening’s latest BBL action.
Valmiera have grown somewhat accustomed to being involved in tight tussles, but typically they are with top-of-the-table teams and more often than not, they come out on the wrong side of the ledger. Having already beaten Nevėžis once this season 93-58, no one was predicting another such victory for Valmiera on the road, but at the same time, few were predicting the tight tussle that ensued. For Valmiera, the tight game finally went in their favor.
It was clear from the outset that Valmiera were building their game around outstanding American import Daviin Davis, who has carried the team in a number of previous games. Nevėžis were not stupid and were quick to switch onto Valmiera’s game-plan, leaving Davis a heavily marked man. Be that as it may, it was still Davis calling the shots throughout the first period, scoring 8 of his team’s 12 first-quarter points as the teams left the court all tied up at 12.
Nevėžis struggled to maintain the momentum of Valmiera as they slipped completely off the pace as the game edged its way towards half-time. Fourteen missed shots from the field proved costly as they allowed their guests to develop a healthy 13-point advantage.
Nevėžis made the slightest of in-roads following the break as they managed to maintain Valmiera a lot better than they had in the previous quarter but when they managed to cut the lead by just two, even the staunchest of fans began to think they were staring down the barrel of yet another defeat.
Fortunately for Nevėžis, few had taken into consideration that their opposition had all but considered the game already over as Valmiera completely imploded in the final period. Their shooting completely evaded them as they managed just three points in the first six minutes of the final quarter. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court Nevėžis could seemingly do no wrong, shooting with confidence to see the game tied at 51 apiece with just under four minutes remaining.
However, the task became too much for Nevėžis, whose players wilted under the pressure, giving away crucial ball at clinical moments. Valmiera, having been in similar situations on a number of occasions this season proved calmer under the pressure. Three points from Darius Gvezdauskas with 34 seconds remaining kept the hopes of the locals alive but ultimately it was to no avail as Valmiera held on for the closest of victories.
The BBL action continues in Tartu, Estonia this Saturday when Rock play hosts to VEF Riga. Valmiera again feature when they host Liepāja Lauvas, whilst in the biggest match up of the weekend, the undefeated Lietuvos Rytas do battle with the best that Latvia has to offer when they take on Ventspils. The game will air live on Viasat Sport Baltic.
