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Basketball Champions League

Rytas Vilnius eliminates Tenerife to reach first-ever BCL Final

BCL - BC Rytas Vilnius qualified for the first BCL final in their history with a dominant win (87-69) in the first semi-final of the Final Four, against Tenerife.
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Rytas Vilnius eliminates Tenerife to reach first-ever BCL Final
Photo Credit : FIBA

Since 2009 and their second EuroCup title, Rytas Vilnius has not won a European competition. This Saturday evening at the Olympic Pavilion in Badalona, the Lithuanian capital club will have the chance to win their first Basketball Champions League (BCL) title. On Thursday, in the opening game of the competition’s Final Four, the Baltic side defeated the highly experienced Tenerife (87-69) in the semi-finals — a club that has won two BCL titles.

A clean and convincing victory for the Vilnius side, who made life physically miserable for the Canary Islands veterans. While Marcelinho Huertas, who will turn 43 (!!!) at the end of the month, had scored 21 of his team’s 53 points by the end of the third quarter, he and his teammates struggled against the opposition’s intensity. It must be said that BC Rytas were fired up well before tip-off by their many fans who made the trip to Catalonia.

Rytas Vilnius fans came out in force in Badalona
Rytas Vilnius fans came out in force in Badalona

Unstoppable Jerrick Harding!

Beyond their defensive discipline and physical presence, Giedrius Zibenas’s players were given a strong start by former Limoges CSP point guard Speedy Smith (6’3″, 33 years old). His compatriot Jerrick Harding (6’1″, 28 years old) then showed off his offensive talent. On the other side, Tenerife’s shooters were closely guarded, and Patty Mills couldn’t spark a comeback, nor could Giorgi Shermadini in the paint. Jordan Caroline (6’7″, 30 years old), who was seen at Saint-Quentin in the first half of the season, was relatively quiet on the winning side.

On Saturday evening in Badalona, BC Rytas will attempt to bring back to Vilnius the first BCL title in the club’s history. To do so, they will need to beat the winner of the other semi-final, between Malaga and AEK Athens.

Tenerife
Tenerife
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Image Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve
Gabriel Pantel-Jouve is the founder and editor-in-chief of BeBasket, which he has been running since 2010 (formerly known as Catch & Shoot). Having studied at the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours and two universities in North America, he has developed his expertise in French basketball, from the National League to amateur divisions, over the past 20 years. Alongside this, he is also involved in the development of clubs in the Montpellier area.
Rytas Vilnius eliminates Tenerife to reach first-ever BCL Final