Vilnius Wolves Twinsbet (15-11) did what another team from the capital failed to do just days earlier – win in Klaipėda. Alessandro Magro’s squad claimed a 97:85 (22:18, 15:23, 30:23, 30:21) road victory over Neptūnas Klaipėda (10-16), snapping a four-game losing streak in the Betsafe-LKL championship.
The win gives the Vilnius club a temporary one-game edge over CBet Jonava (14-11). Meanwhile, things are heating up for Neptūnas – with Nevėžis-Optibet Kėdainiai (9-17) breathing down their necks.
The first quarter saw a balanced game from both sides. A few successful plays by the visiting big men gave Wolves a 22:18 lead after the opening ten minutes.
In the second quarter, the hosts knocked down several three-pointers in the span of four minutes, but the Wolves stayed close (30:28). Neptūnas’ foreign players slowly built a lead (41:34), but in the final seconds of the half, Kristupas Žemaitis hit a long-range shot to cut the Wolves’ deficit to 37:41.
After the break, Anthony Cowan really stepped into the game, but on the other end, Deividas Gailius answered with crafty plays and drawing fouls on long-range attempts. Heading into the decisive stretch, everything was still up in the air, but Wolves Twinsbet held a slight edge – 67:64.
With four minutes to go, Martynas Pacevičius tied the score from the free-throw line (82:82). Still, when it mattered most, the Wolves stayed composed, going on a 12:2 run and celebrating their first double-digit lead of the night with a minute left to play (94:84). Neptūnas couldn’t produce a miracle and had to concede defeat.
The top scorer and most efficient player for the winners was A. Cowan. The American guard dropped 30 points (5/7 2PT, 3/9 3PT, 11/12 FT) and finished with a 27 efficiency rating. Remarkably, 25 of his 30 points came in the third and fourth quarters.
On the other side of the barricades, D. Gailius shone. The Neptūnas captain delivered an 18-point (1/2 2PT, 2/6 3PT, 10/11 FT) and 20-efficiency rating performance.
“Wolves Twinsbet”: Anthony Cowan 30, Marek Blaževičius 15, Kristupas Žemaitis, Tre'Shawn Thurman, and Jeffery Taylor 13 each, Garrison Brooks 11, Andrew Andrews 2. Arnoldas Kulboka, Regimantas Miniotas, and Justinas Marcinkevičius did not score.
“Neptūnas”: Deividas Gailius 18, Desure Buie 12, Myles Hesson and Martynas Pacevičius 11 each.
(Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / LKL)
Alessandro Magro’s Vilnius Wolves Twinsbet (14-11) endured a dramatic loss in the Betsafe-LKL, falling 94–99 at home to a determined Kėdainiai Nevėžis-Optibet (8-17) team that continues to chase its playoff dreams.
This marked the fourth consecutive defeat for the Wolves.
Nevėžis-Optibet jumped out to an early lead (17:6), despite Arnoldas Kulboka's efforts to keep the Wolves in the game. While the gap slowly began to shrink (19:26), the visitors still held a solid advantage at the end of the first quarter – 35:22.
However, sharp shooting from Kristupas Žemaitis and Garrison Brooks quickly cut the deficit to just a couple of points (33:35). A continued barrage from beyond the arc then helped the Wolves seize the momentum and take the lead – 43:39. Nevėžis-Optibet’s offense stalled, allowing the hosts to enter halftime with a 49:45 advantage.
In the second quarter alone, the Wolves knocked down six three-pointers.
Nevėžis-Optibet started to fight back. Although they struggled to gain momentum early in the third quarter, a three-pointer by Jonas Zakas restored the lead for the visitors – 56:54. Vitalijus Kozys extended the margin (61:55), until G. Brooks and Tre’Shawn Thurman reminded of themselves with a three-pointer each – 68:66. After the third quarter, the Wolves were ahead 74:69.
Joseph Girard, back in the Kėdainiai lineup after a short absence, took over the leadership role. His three-pointers and a free throw tied the game (76:76), and together with Ed Croswell, he pushed Wolves Twinsbet into a corner – 87:81. A spurt pulled the Wolves back when it was most needed (88:88), but Croswell stepped up to the line, hit one free throw, and shortly after added another two points – 91:88.
Anthony Cowan’s and-one play brought the game level again (91:91), but Girard’s shot forced Magro to call a timeout – 94:91. With 51 seconds left, Nedas Montvila drained a three-pointer that practically sealed the deal.
The Wolves were without Andrew Andrews.
Wolves Twinsbet: Anthony Cowan 18 (20 eff.), Arnoldas Kulboka and Garrison Brooks (6 reb.) 15 each, Regimantas Miniotas 12 (7 reb.), Kristupas Žemaitis (5 ast.) and Tre’Shawn Thurman 9 each, Jeffery Taylor 8 (5 ast.), Marek Blaževič 6, Justinas Marcinkevičius 2.
Nevėžis-Optibet: Joseph Girard 23 (5/9 3PT), Vitalijus Kozys 21 (3/6 3PT, 10 reb., 30 eff.), Amit Ebo 15 (11 ast.).
(Photo by Elvis Žaldaris)
For the remainder of the season, physiotherapist Ilma Pašluostaitė will be responsible for overseeing the health, recovery, injury rehabilitation, and prevention of the Vilnius Wolves Twinsbet team. She steps into the role previously held by Gintarė Katkutė-Lackė, who has paused her professional career due to family circumstances.
Since 2021, Pašluostaitė has been running a private practice with her partners at a sports club, where she specializes in rehabilitation and post-injury or post-surgery treatment, as well as leading both individual and group training sessions.
In the 2022–2023 season, she worked as a physiotherapist for the Vilnius district football club TransInvest.
Last summer, she also contributed to a training camp for middle- and long-distance runners organized by the Lithuanian Athletics Federation.
Pašluostaitė studied bioinformatics at Vilnius University and earned a professional bachelor’s degree in physiotherapy from Vilniaus Kolegija.
Vilnius "Wolves Twinsbet" (14-9) remain winless against Panevėžys "7bet-Lietkabelis" (12-11) this season. Nenad Čanak’s squad defended their home court with a 78-64 (24:15, 23:18, 14:15, 17:16) victory, securing their fourth win in March.
This marks the fourth consecutive win for "Lietkabelis" over the Wolves this season, having previously defeated them twice in the "Betsafe-LKL" and again in the Citadele KMT bronze medal game.
With this loss, the Wolves’ firm hold on third place in the standings is now in question, as both "7bet-Lietkabelis" and Jonavos "CBet" (who share the same win-loss record) are closing in.
The Wolves travelled to Panevėžys without Matas Jogėla, while Marek Blaževič was also unavailable. On the other side, the hosts played without Vytenis Lipkevičius and Georgios Kalaitzakis.
At the start of the game, both teams kept pace with each other, and after six minutes, the Wolves still held a slight lead (13:12). However, a strong finish to the first quarter allowed "7bet-Lietkabelis" to take control and build a comfortable advantage (24:15).
Jeffery Taylor sparked a Wolves response, cutting the deficit to four points (24:28), but the hosts quickly regained momentum. Martynas Varnas hit a three-pointer to give Panevėžys their first double-digit lead (36:26), which grew slightly by halftime (47:33).
After the break, Lietkabelis' offense slowed down, but the Wolves failed to capitalize, struggling to find their rhythm on offense as well. Heading into the final quarter, the hosts remained in control (61:48).
The Wolves never threatened to mount a comeback in the closing ten minutes, as they failed to bring the deficit back into single digits. The final buzzer confirmed a confident home victory for Lietkabelis.
The key figure in the win was former Wolves center Djordje Gagic, who punished his former team with 16 points, 9 rebounds, and a game-high 26 efficiency rating.
For the Wolves, Anthony Cowan led the way with 19 points, 3 assists, and a 17 efficiency rating.
"Wolves Twinsbet" Stats: Anthony Cowan 19, Jeffery Taylor 15, Garrison Brooks 11, Arnoldas Kulboka 9, Andrew Andrews 5, Kristupas Žemaitis and Tre'Shawn Thurman 2 each, Regimantas Miniotas 1. Justinas Marcinkevičius did not score.
"7bet-Lietkabelis" Stats: Djordje Gagic 16, Martynas Varnas 15, Mantas Rubštavičius 12.
Coaches Comments:
(Photo by Rokas Lukoševičius / LKL)