Bad night for PAOK in Vilnius, who didn’t decide on their future in the Basketball Champions League

The trip to Vilnius wasn’t easy, but at best PAOK will have to return to the Lithuanian capital to play their rest in two weeks. The Thessalonians were defeated at the house of Rita (85-62) and are now invited to play the second game of the series in Palataki to “get out” of the play-in and participate in the TOP-16 of the Basketball Champions League with the four groups of four teams each.

Marcus Foster and Margiris Normantas created excellent scoring chances, Ritas hit the racquet easily and got a lot off the bench, while Dikefalos couldn’t find ways to compensate for the absence of mainly Nate Renfro and then Kamberidis-Slaftsakis. Apart from Jalen Riley, no one was in tolerable shape on a night where the home side dominated against an opponent who had more quality than they showed.

PAOK’s start to the game wasn’t ideal, especially in terms of defensive returns, but steals and Riley kept Dikefalos close late in the third (23-16) before a quick 2-7 early in the second put pressure on the hosts . Rita’s timeout led to her own breakout and a personal 13-2 for 38-25 in 17 minutes, with the Lithuanians on 26 rebounds and the Thessalonians on 12 at halftime, but also on just five assists.

The difference was too big to be made up, PAOK tried early in the second half but were ineffective from the three (57:40 in the 27th minute) and failed to claim even the slightest of being competitive. With the crowd on her side, Ritas maintained high levels of energy in defense and attack, enjoying the 1-0 lead that gives her two chances for the result that continues on her European course.

THE REFEREES: Zurapovic, Horozov, Mategek

THE DECADES: 23-16, 46-32, 65-44, 85-62

RITA VILNIUS (Zibenas): Ehontas 11 (5/5 doubles, 1/2 shots, 5 rebounds, 3 assists), Lekounas 5 (1), Masioulis, Uletskas 3 (1), Varadi 11 (4/8 doubles, 1/3 trebles , 5 rebounds, 2 assists), Foster 14 (5/10 2-pointers, 1/4 3-pointers, 1/1 shot, 4 rebounds, 5 assists), Fredrickson 10 (1 3-pointer , 5 assists), Kairis 5, Normandas 14 (2), Radjevicius 4, Williams 8 (4/4 2 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals)

PAOK (Lykogiannis): Hunts 11 (5/8 twos, 4 rebounds), Kalliontzis, Poli 8 (1 threes, 5 rebounds), Seibert 5 (1/5 threes), Tsiakmas 4, Christidis 2, Franke 6 (2/12 shots ), Margaritis 5 (1), Riley 17 (2/2 2-pointers, 2/6 3-pointers, 7/7 shots, 4 assists, 5 turnovers), Saloustros 4

Rita Vilnius team stats: 26/41 2-pointers, 7/20 3-pointers, 12/14 shots, 49 rebounds (34 defensive – 15 offensive), 20 assists, 4 steals, 6 blocks, 18 fouls

PAOK team stats: 17/35 2-pointers, 5/29 3-pointers, 13/16 shots, 29 rebounds (15 defensive – 14 offensive), 10 assists, 14 steals, 12 fouls

The next game between the two teams: Ritas and PAOK meet in Palataki (11/1) for the second game of the series. If a third is needed, it will take place on 17.1. held in Vilnius.