Having tipped off the action on Saturday, the M40/45 age category resumed play on Sunday, with Lithuanian teams Patvanka and Impeka claiming their first wins, while Project 44 registered their second victory.
After taking the tournament opener on a day earlier, Project 44 improved to a 2-0 record with an 84-65 victory against Basketclub from Kaliningrad. Having led the game most of the way, the Moscow team allowed Basketclub to get back in the game in the fourth quarter, but survived the scare and ran away again.
After a sub-par game on Saturday, three-time Olympic bronze medalist Gintaras Einikis led his team to victory with 27 points, while Sergey Ivanov chipped in with 24 points and 10 rebounds. For Basketclub from Kaliningrad, Eduard Leshukov collected 21 points, with Ilya Fichkin scoring 20 points and grabbing 11 boards.
Meanwhile, Kraukli were handed already their second defeat, falling short 71-55 against the Lithuanian side Impeka from Mazeikiai. Only six points separated the sides midway through the game, but the Lithuanians gained control in the second half.
Having won the third quarter 25-10, Impeka established a winning advantage and started the tournament on a positive note. Erikas Uscinas led the winners with 19 points, while Arvydas Domkus and Arunas Kleinauskis scored 13 points apiece.
Kraukli’s top scorer Viktors Kulackovskis finished the game with 20 points, while Armands Alksnis added a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds despite shooting 4-of-16 from the field.
In a battle of Lithuanian teams, Patvanka had no trouble against Energetikas, cruising to take a 100-61 victory. Inspired by terrific long-range shooting in the early going, the winners-to-be ran away to a double-digit advantage already in the opening quarter and dominated the rest of the way.
Darius Lukminas led the game in scoring with 23 points on 5-of-12 shooting from beyond the arc, while Mindaugas Lukosius and Robertas Butkus chipped in with 15 apiece.
Arunas Knieta, who had 15 points, was the leading scorer for Energetikas, while Sigitas Lenktaitis collected 14. Dainius Stanaitis added 12 points and 7 rebounds.
