Lietkabelis secured the bronze medal by defeating Neptūnas, but coach N. Čanakas emphasized underlying issues that still need to be addressed.
Lietkabelis triumphed over Klaipėda's Neptūnas 94-73 in the bronze playoff match in Šiauliai, marking their tenth recognition at the KMT competitions. Despite this victory, which followed a disappointing semifinal match, coach N. Čanakas highlighted that it only masked the team's ongoing issues this season, which he hopes to resolve moving forward.
In his remarks, Čanakas expressed optimism about the future but acknowledged a need for the team to reflect on their performance, particularly when Neptūnas initially led by a double-digit score. He refrained from calling a timeout during the match, demonstrating his confidence in the team's ability to stage a comeback, which they successfully executed.
A key factor in their victory was the effective team defense that managed to neutralize Neptūnas' star player, Arnas Velička, who scored only 3 points. Coach Čanakas credited the win primarily to the strong defensive strategies implemented rather than specific actions against Velička, showcasing the team's overall defensive strength that contributed to their success in the match.
