Bench center Povilas Cukinas scored a team-high of 15 points with 7
rebounds to lead Lithuania to an 82-73 triumph over Puerto Rico in
the opening game of the Stankovic Continental Champions Cup at the
Capital Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday.
European champion Lithuania opened the scoring 4 minutes after
jump ball. The absence of Carlos Arroyo, Detroit Pistons guard,
made Puerto Rico reluctant to control the game pace. But they
bounced back soon under the leadership of guard Rick Apodaca to
lead the score 18-17 by the end of the first quarter.
The Puerto Ricans maintained their lead in the second quarter
thanks to a 6-0 burst and the fast breaks from Bobby Joe Hatton and
Rick Apodaca. They led 38-36?before the long break.
The Lithuanians?successfully used?their 3-2 zone
defense?to restrict the scoring avenues of the Puerto Rican
and took an 11-point lead at the end of the third quarter (65 to
54).
In the decisive last?quarter, the Puerto Ricans?played
more of an individual game and?failed to close the gap. The
Lithuanian dominated the boards to end the game 82-73.
Lithuania's starting lineup:
Mindaugas Lukauskis, Giedrius Gustas, Simonas Serapinas, Saulius
Kuzminskas, Martynas Andriukaitis
Puerto Rica's starting lineup:
Manuel Narváez, Rick Apodaca, Christian Dalmau, Bobby Joe
Hatton, Héctor Valenzuela
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Li Xiao July 26, 2005)
