LTU - Lietuvos Rytas win LKL title, punch Euroleague ticket

VILNIUS (LKL) – Lietuvos Rytas coach Rimas Kurtinaitis can finally sit back, put up his feet and relax – for a few minutes anyway.

Kurtinaitis and Co needed seven games but finally won the LKL title for the second year in a row on Monday with an 80-71 triumph over Zalgiris.

In the process, the club clinched a spot in next season’s Euroleague.

While talking about another great season for Lietuvos Rytas, Kurtinaitis had no choice but to look ahead to the next.

A reporter asked him about the club’s apparent interest in Australia international Brad Newley.

“I know as much as you do about Brad Newley,” Kurtinaitis said.

“The management never declare the signings with the season still underway so as not to damage the morale of the current players.

“If Lietuvos Rytas do buy him, I’ll be very happy – he’s a strong small forward with a good shot and athleticism.

“We lacked a player like this in our team this year.”

Lietuvos Rytas have had a good experience with Australians in the past.

This year’s Eurocup MVP Matt Nielsen of Power Electronics Valencia once played for the club.

A seven-game grind

Lietuvos Rytas had been favorites to win the crown again but they needed a long title series to defend their title.

There were plenty of distractions, the biggest of which was caused by Zalgiris owner Vladimir Romanov when he decided to sack coach Darius Maskoliunas after Game 3.

Maskoliunas had been in charge as Zalgiris beat Lietuvos Rytas in the Baltic League final.

That success clearly didn’t count for very much.

The Zalgiris players acquitted themselves as well as could be expected without a coach.

The soap opera came to an end in Vilnius on Monday.

"I want to congratulate Zalgiris and I hope they don’t get too upset," Kurtinaitis said.

"They played better this year than they did the year before.

"But someone had to win and I’m happy that we did."

Lietuvos Rytas had won last year’s finals 4-1.

Milko Bjelica led the way with 24 points on Monday.

Lietuvos Rytas only led 35-34 at half-time but outscored the visitors 19-9 over the next 10 minutes to seize command.

The advantage ballooned to 63-48 four minutes into the final quarter and the home side held on, leaving the majority in the 10,000-strong crowd extremely happy.

If there was a Lithuanian player that underlined his immense potential this season in the Lietuvos Rytas line-up, it had to be Martynas Gecevicius, a 22-year-old that has been named in Lithuania’s preliminary squad for the FIBA World Championship.

Gecevicius had 15 points in the final.

"He was consistent throughout the season,” Kurtinaitis said.

"He became a leader despite his age.

"Martynas is young, talented and has a great future.

"He’ll be a great player for the national team."

FIBA