Zalgiris – Villeurbanne 68-72: Took the thriller with Okombo and Webanyama and awaits Olympiakos

With Okombo taking the baton from the impressive Weybaniyama, Villeurbanne picked up a big win over Zalgiris 72-68 for Game 31 of the EuroLeague. The game was a thrill throughout and the Lithuanians filled the Zalgirio Arena giving Zdovch’s players a boost.

THE Webaniama set a career record with 14 points, had 5 blocks, campaigned hard for the hosts and kept Villeurbanne alive when he needed it. The young Frenchman took over the baton from Okombo, who finished the match with 21 points, speaking at critical points when the ball burned, especially in the fourth period. At Zalgiris, Ulanovas stood out with 15 points, while Milaknis had 11 and Yankounas had 10 (as did Lekavitsios).

The race

The first ten minutes in Kaunas were quite even, with the two teams close, but Zalgiris found ways to end the first half at +2 in a game that initially didn’t offer much of a spectacle to the crowd. With Webanyama making a very good game, his best of the year, Villeurbanne took control of the game until halftime, which ended by the tiniest of a point difference.

And the game was a thriller in the second half as Yankounas came on for Zalgiris and led the Lithuanians with his experience. With the match lit forever and the youngster Webaniama To make the difference for the French, the fourth third was very critical and perfectly balanced up to the middle (60-60). Okobo’s big baskets provided solutions for the French, who took the lead in victory.

Zalgiris struggled but Villeurbanne had laid a solid foundation, clinched victory and now await Olympiakos for the next game.

THE REFEREES: Garcia, Panter, Cardum

THE TEN MINUTES: 17-15, 32-33, 47-49, 68-72

ZALGIRIS (Zdovts): Nibo 4 (2/5 two points), Yankounas 10 (2/3 two points, 2/2 three points), Lukosiounas 3 (1), Lovern 2, Gifai 5 (2/5 two points), Ulanovas 15 (6/8 two points, 1/2 three points, 5 assists), Webster, Blazevic, Lekavitsius 10 (2/3 two points, 1/4 three points, 5 assists), Milaknis 11 (3), Strelnieks, Cavano 8 (2).

VILLARBAN (Parker): Knight 4 (2/2 two points), Fall 8 (3/4 two points), Light 5 (3/4 shots), County, Dio, Jones 16 (4/8 two points, 2/2 three points, 2 steals), Gist 4, Strazel, Okombo 21 (3/8 two points, 4/5 three points, 5 assists), Webaniama 14 (6/7 two points, 5 rebounds, 5 blocks)

Zalgiris team stats: 17/32 two points, 10/28 three points, 4/7 shots, 26 rebounds (16+10), 17 assists, 8 steals, 17 errors, 3 blocks.

Villeurbanne team stats: 20/38 two points, 6/10 three points, 14/18 shots, 31 rebounds (23+8), 12 assists, 7 steals, 20 errors, 8 blocks

Team games: In the 32nd game of the tournament, Villeurbanne hosts Olympiakos (25/3, 21:00), while Zalgiris has no obligation to play due to the postponement of the games with the Russian teams (they will face CSKA Moscow).