Kauno „Žalgiris“ opened the LKL semifinal series with an 85:75 home win over Panevėžio „Lietkabelis“, but the first game was tighter than the final score suggested. „Žalgiris“ led only 63:61 entering the fourth quarter before Sylvain Francisco buried two three-pointers to push the margin to 71:63. Moses Wright, Ąžuolas Tubelis and Nigelas Williamsas-Gossas then stretched the lead to 82:68 and gave the hosts the cushion they needed in the best-of-three series.
The teams meet again today in Panevėžys, with „Lietkabelis“ now facing a chance to answer immediately on its own floor. After the game, coach Nenadas Čanakas said his side would try to be better and would fight with the same energy it showed in Kaunas. „Bandysime būti geresni. Tikiuosi, kad mano žaidėjai kausis taip pat kaip Kaune – parodėme, kad galime būti konkurencingi“, he said.
Tubelis was not just part of the result on the court. The 24-year-old, 208 cm forward has extended his contract with the Kaunas club on a 2+1 formula that keeps him tied to „Žalgiris“ through the end of the 2028-2029 season. The deal is guaranteed for the next two seasons, with a buyout clause available before the third year and a possible route to an NBA team in the summer of 2027 if that buyout is used.
This season in the EuroLeague, Tubelis averaged 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 12.7 efficiency, making him the third leading scorer and third most efficient player for „Žalgiris“. Paulius Jankūnas said the club sees him as one of its main players, while Tubelis said the atmosphere and expectations in Kaunas have made the move feel natural. „Žaidžiu dėl žmonių, ateinančių į areną pažiūrėti varžybų. Man reikia žaisti gerai ir aš stengiausi. Manau, neblogai pavyko“, he said, adding: „Man „Žalgiris“ suteikia visas sąlygas – tereikia dirbti“.
The extension also fits a wider pattern for the Lithuanian champions, who had already renewed contracts with Maodo Lo and Dustin Sleva. In a playoff series that is still very much alive, Kaunas is trying to keep both its current edge and its future core intact at the same time.
