EuroView: Jock Landale and Žalgiris extend unbeaten streak to 11 in Lithuania
Jock Landale's Žalgiris Kaunas had mixed results during the past week as the Australian men's fortunes fluctuated throughout Europe.
Žalgiris destroyed Sintek–Dzūkija 102-50 in a lopsided contest that ensured their unbeaten run would extend to 11 victories to open the season. With Žalgiris 15 point lead at the end of the opening term, the coaching staff were able to play the bench extensively, with every player on the 12-man roster registering 10 minutes or more in the 52 point win.
Landale started and added 6 points on 3 of 3 shooting with 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 blocked shot in 19 minutes.
It was a great way to bounce back for Žalgiris who lost a heart-breaker to Crvena zvezda 59-61 in the EuroLeague. It was their fourth straight loss in the competition, despite Landale providing 10 points and 6 rebounds.
Cameron Bairstow provided just 2 points and 4 rebounds for Rytas Vilnius in their 84-91 loss to Neptunas Klaipeda also in Lithuania. Despite a commanding opening quarter in which Rytas opened up a 9 point lead, third placed Neptunas finished the stronger of the two sides, to edge within a single game of the second placed Rytas.
Rytas also lost a challenging game in the EuroCup against Serbian outfit Partizan Belgrade, going down 81-86. Bairstow started and compiled 7 points and 5 rebounds in 19 minutes, but his team is now 3-5 and with work to do in order to qualify for the Top 16.
Across in Italy, Angus Brandt's Pistoia fell to Brindisi 67-100 in the Serie A. Pistoia were never in the contest, falling behind early and never recovering. Brandt started and played 19 minutes for 6 points and 6 rebounds. His side has a 2-8 record and is sitting in second last place in the standings.
Brock Motum's inconsistent minutes have continued this week, with the 2016 Rio Olympian playing contrasting roles across two games for Valencia this week. In a solid 89-84 EuroLeague win against Khimki Moscow, Motum came off the bench to add 7 points in 20 minutes in helping his side to a third straight win.
However in returning to the Spanish ACB, Motum hit the court for just 8 minutes in which he registered just 2 rebounds in Valencia's 74-85 loss to Saski Baskonia. It leaves Valencia with a 4-6 record and outside the top eight for now.
Bahcesehir came up with an 88-77 win against Oradea in the FIBA Europe Cup, with Mangok Mathiang continuing to anchor the middle with aplomb. The centre gathered 8 points and 6 rebounds in the 11 point win, with his team shooting a scintillating 65% from the field to outpoint their Romanian opponents.
It was a quiet night for Duop Reath in the Adriatic League as FMP Belgrade lost to Koper Primorska 81-86. The 6'10 forward added just 2 points in 13 minutes as his side lost just their third game of the season, replaced in the top 3 by their opponents.