The duo were key in the Lithuanian outfit getting off to a 1-0 start
Rubit, Kullamae stepped up for Lietkabelis against Besiktas
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Regular Season
Round 1 of 18
Regular Season
group b
Lietkabelis PanevezysLIE
8579
Besiktas GAIN IstanbulBJK
group b
Overview
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Starting its BKT EuroCup season strong by securing an 85-79 home win over Besiktas GAIN Istanbul in Round 1, Lietkabelis Panevezys set the tone for the campaign ahead.
The solid performances of Augustine Rubit and Kristian Kullamae were key factors in Lietkabelis’s win. Dusan Alimpijevic’s Besiktas came in as one of the season’s favorites, but team chemistry ultimately carried Lietkabelis to victory at Kalnapilio Arena.
Against Besiktas’s two physical big men, Ante Zizic and Ismael Kamagate, Rubit used his experience to gain the upper hand on both ends of the floor. He finished the game with 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists for a 22 PIR. Rubit made a significant impact during Lietkabelis's 15-0 third-quarter run, contributing to his team's scoring in the paint and giving an early indication of his potential impact this season.
In the post game interview, the 36-year-old emphasized Lietkabelis's team chemistry and said: ‘‘I like the way we start together, came out and fall together. I think we gotta learn from that. That was the biggest thing, togetherness in the second half.’’
Another key contributor to the win was Estonian guard Kullamae. He added 17 points on offense while being impactful on defense, finishing the game with 7 defensive rebounds and showing strong court vision for a guard. In pick-and-rolls with Rubit, he also set up his teammate effectively.
Kullamae hit back-to-back triples in the fourth quarter at crucial moments, helping Lietkabelis extend the lead. One of the game’s Magic Moments came when Kullamae hit a three-pointer off an assist from Rubit. Yet, it was Paulius Danusevicius’s touch pass that stood out on that play.
Following Rubit and Kullamae, Danusevicius emerged as another key contributor for Lietkabelis in the game. Danusevicius was highly effective in the paint, finishing with 13 points and making an impact on both ends of the floor.