It was a do-or-die game for both teams on Wednesday night when Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana hosted 7Bet-Lietkabelis Panevezys. When the dust settled, the Lithuanian team won its fourth straight game in Group A, 87-94, and punched its playoffs ticket in the process.
The guests started the game rolling at 2-10, but after that they lost control of the situation and the hosts even jumped ahead, sometimes even reaching the six-point advantage that would have kept them alive for another week.
However, the solution for Lietkabelis came in the shape of three-pointers. The team ended with a solid 15 of 30 from downtown. Three players buried 13 of those 15 threes - Gediminas Orelik drained 5 of 9 for a game-best 22 points, Kristian Kullamae had an almost perfect 4 of 5 and Jamel Morris hit 4 of 8.
What the numbers do not tell is that many of those three-pointers came in key moments. Whether it was to counter a big play by the hosts to keep them from pulling away, or to silence a comeback attempt from Olimpija, the Lietkabelis snipers were always on guard to keep the game in a safe zone. Even the other two threes of the game - one by Stefan Peno, one by Paulius Murauskas - dropped just at the right moment.
The season will continue in the EuroCup for Lietkabelis, who will have a solid weapon by its side if it manages to keep shooting from long range like it did in Ljubljana.
