Four of its summer recruits were key in a win over Crvena Zvezda
A special day for Zalgiris and its new signings
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3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 6 of 34
Group Regular Season
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What a night for Zalgiris Kaunas. Not only did Andrea Trinchieri’s squad move to 5-1, giving them the joint best record in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, but four of the team’s summer signings had pivotal roles in an 86-84 win over Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet Belgrade.
Zalgiris made seven signings for its first-team roster this past summer, of which six remain after Tyrone Wallace’s departure from the club. On Wednesday night, the fantastic four of Sylvain Francisco, Deividas Sirvydis, Alen Smailagic and Bryant Dunston all stepped up to the plate at various points of what proved to be a very thrilling contest.
Sirvydis was the first to get going, knocking down a three-pointer off an out-of-bounds play with 2 minutes remaining in the first quarter before getting the shooter’s roll on another triple. That allowed Zalgiris to enter the second quarter with a 24-18 lead. He stayed hot for the rest of the first half, entering the break with 14 points, with the hosts 47-33 up. Come the end of the night, he had tied his career high with 17 points, the same total he managed against Olympiacos Piraeus in Round 2.
He also got some assistance from Smailagic, who scored 7 of his 10 first-half points in the second quarter. The ex-Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade forward went on to finish with 14 points, his highest tally in a Zalgiris jersey. Together, Sirvydis and Smailagic were the two driving forces for Zalgiris, while Zvezda had very few answers for the two 24-year-olds.
The third quarter became the Francisco show as the French made up for a slow first half that saw him go scoreless, dish 2 assists, make 1 steal and commit 2 turnovers. After the break, he ensured that Zvezda’s fightback was quickly thwarted by amassing 9 points, 2 rebounds and 4 assists in the third quarter alone; the visitors got within five points on a few occasions (48-43, 50-45, 52-47, 60-55), but Francisco’s efforts meant Zalgiris entered the fourth with a nine-point advantage, 66-57. What’s more, Francisco got 6 points in the fourth quarter to help see Zalgiris home.
Last but not least, Mr. Dunston. Second all-time in EuroLeague blocks, there is little that Dunston hasn’t experienced in his 12-year EuroLeague career… well, he was missing one thing – a game-winning shot. But first, let’s talk about a play in the first quarter. The 38-year-old might not move like he once did, but he is still among the smartest players in the EuroLeague, as he showed by stealing the ball from Nemanja Nedovic and finding Dovydas Giedraitis for a fast-break layup. That was a play that set a 15-12 score – hardly revolutionary – but it received a loud roar from the Zalgiris fans due to the effort Dunston showed.
Then, the play of the night. With 1.3 seconds left, Edgaras Ulanovas inbounded the ball from the sideline and found the towering Dunston, who was the calmest man inside Zalgirio Arena, catching the ball, gathering himself and sending up a hook shot that dropped, leading to incredible scenes among everyone of a Zalgiris persuasion – the players, coaching staff, the fans in the stands, and the many fans watching on from their homes.
“The EuroLeague is always like this,” Francisco told EuroLeague TV. “(…) It was tough, but we made it. [Dunston’s shot] was amazing. I know that’s his magical hook, he barely works on that, but it went in so I’m really glad.”
Zalgiris, which has started 5-1 for just the fourth time in the EuroLeague and the first time since 2020-21, next faces AS Monaco, meaning that Donatas Motiejunas will return to his hometown of Kaunas. There will be no time for sentiment, though, as Coach Trinchieri’s new recruits prepare for another battle and the chance to show why Zalgiris means business this season.