JELGAVA, Latvia — The past week has been the busiest yet on the Baltic Basketball League calender with nine games taking place.
Valmiera started of the action on Tuesday, hosting fellow [private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]countrymen Ventspils. History would suggest that this would be a walkover for the guests, but then again history would also show just how tough Valmiera are to play at home. Unfortunately for Valmiera their run of near misses was to continue, with Ventspils able to lift their game in the final period to claim the win 57-54.
Thursday night and Lietuvos Rytas were back on court after a lengthy layoff, in part brought on by their failure to progress to the Eurocup final 16. Regardless, time spent away from the court made to change to their ruthlessness on it, waltzing home 110-80 over guests Nevėžis. The win goes further to cementing their place as the regular season champions.
On the same evening, Liepāja Lauvas were at home to Rock, looking to pick themselves off the foot of the table. However, it was not to be with the Estonians making easy work of the Lauvas, winning 85-60.
VEF Riga have been one of the real Jekyll and Hyde packages of the current season, winning when they had no right doing so, only to turn round and give away easy games. However, on Friday it was a case of winning when few thought they had the right to, upsetting Lithuanians Šiauliai 90-77. VEF held complete domination over their opponents, beating them on the stats sheet in all facets of the game. If VEF can bring this type of game to their remaining games, they are sure to be a force to reckoned with come playoff time.
As if Valmiera had not already suffered enough heart-break for one week, more was to follow when they visited Kaunas on Friday to take on Žalgiris. Žalgiris have often looked vulnerable when returning from European action, with Friday being no exception. Valmiera took full advantage of this vulnerability, dominating significant facets of the game, only to again suffer in the final quarter, again falling by the tightest of margins 84-81.
After being on the winning side of a tight affair earlier in the week, Ventspils were about to learn how it felt to be sitting on the other side of the ledger. Hosting Rock who were coming off their big victory over Liepāja Lauvas, Ventspils were not able to use a sell-out crowd to their advantage when attempting to overcome a five-point deficit in the final quarter, eventually falling by a mere point, 74-75.
Saturday evening provided what many had suggested would be a tight interesting affair, if only because it saw the two bottom of the table teams go up against each other. However, those that had been hoping for a match full of intrigue were to be disappointed with homeside Liepāja Lauvas completely destructing their guests Nevėžis 85-63.
VEF Riga were finally able to string some wins together, taking on high-flying Estonians Kalev Cramo on Saturday night. A particularly strong first-quarter put VEF well and truly in the driving seat, developing a strong lead that they were to never relinquish, claiming the victory 96-88.
Able to keep up with that so far? In the final match of the round Lietuvos Rytas were again on the court, looking to protect their unbeaten record to date. In the other corner were Šiauliai, who were still licking their wounds after a smarting at the hands of VEF Riga. As the old adage goes, never back a dog into a corner, as Lietuvos Rytas were soon to learn. Šiauliai created some of their most spirited basketball to date this season to pull off what many will record as the upset of the season, rewarding their home fans with a 107-100 victory.
Valmiera will be gunning for a tight game to finally go in their favor when BBL action resumes on Feb. 23. However, standing in their way will be VEF Riga, who as already mentioned, are building some real momentum heading into the playoffs.
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