Zalgiris Kaunas beat CSKA Moscow 77-61 in the Siauliai Nike International Junior Tournament’s late Friday fixture, going through to the final of the competition on Saturday. Both teams had come into the game with a 2-0 record and CSKA held the advantage in basket difference, but Zalgiris used a strong second quarter to pull away and then managed the distance for the remainder of the contest. Ernestas Serkevicius was top scorer for Zalgiris with 19 points, Lukas Aukstilkanis scored 12 and Lukas Grabauskas 10. For CSKA, Pavel Sizov (15 points), Alexander Gankevich (11 points) and Timofey Yakushin (10 points) were the players in double digits.

It was all square after the opening quarter, in which Lukas Aukstilkanis provided a hefty contribution for Zalgiris with 7 points. His shot at the end of the period made it an even 14-14, indicating that this was going to be a close, low scoring contest. Zalgiris upped its offence to score more heavily in the second quarter, while using strong defense to stifle CSKA. The main hustler was Paulius Sakinis for Zalgiris, and he claimed 4 rebounds and 2 steals to help his side limit the Russians to just 9 points. The score was 34-23 at halftime, and CSKA needed to respond in the second half of the final group game. While Pavel Sizov increased the CSKA offense in the third quarter, Zalgiris still outscored its opponent to hold a comfortable 14-point lead at the start of the final period. It wasn’t to be for CSKA, who only managed to reduce the distance to single-digits once in the fourth quarter –off Alexander Gankevich’s two-pointer- before Zalgiris went on its definitive run at the end. Zalgiris faces Lietuvos Rytas in the final after both teams topped their respective groups.