Home fan delight at night: Lithuania complete Semi-Finals lineup with second win

KAUNAS (Lithuania) - Lithuania made it two wins from two at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament with a more convincing 96-57 success against Korea to advance in the top spot of Group A.

The hosts undefeated run on home court set up a showdown with Poland in the Semi-Finals as they repelled a 26-point display from Guna Ra to cruise through. Group B winners Slovenia will take on Venezuela in the first of the last four encounters on Saturday.

Turning point: Lithuania made their move early with an 18-4 tear in the first quarter capped by six straight points from Rokas Jokubaitis. Korea managed to stay with their opponents in the second, but the hosts pulled clear in the third and ensured there was to be no way back.

Game heroes: Jonas Valanciunas had almost accumulated a double-double by halftime and it didn't take long to notch a second for the tournament before eventually rounding out his night's performance with 15 points and 13 rebounds in 17 minutes of action. The only player not on the scoresheet was captain Mantas Kalnietis, who led the offense with 9 assists.

Stats don't lie: Lithuania's size and strength inside was too much for Korea to handle and they capitalized with 54 points in the paint, whilst comfortably winning the battle of the boards by out-rebounding their opponents 53-26.

Bottom line: It was a much-improved display from Lithuania, but it still feels like more is to come from the highest-ranked team in the tournament. That may well be needed when they come up against European opposition for the first time in the form of Poland on Saturday. Meanwhile, there were encouraging signs for Korea, but their slow start against Venezuela proved detrimental for their hopes this week.

They said:

FIBA