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Lietuvos take NEBL crown         Lietuvos Rytas are the 2002 NEBL champions after defeating reigning champions Ural Great 79-74 in this season's final on their home court in Vilnius. The hosts burst out into an early 15-5 lead and they kept up the pressure, Macijauskas slamming down efficiently to guidehis team to a promising 26-13 cushion at the end of the first quarter. The Russian players switched to a quick offensive game and reduced the deficit, closing back to with five points at half-time.  Macijauskas opened up the scores by a precise 3 after 2 minutes of the second half tp make it 42-36 to the Lithuanians a lead which they maintained into the final quarter.  Ural Great spurted back, led by Liadelis, and Pegushin’s 3-point shot made even better for the Russian squad at 65-61. However it was soon answered by a quick score from and when he added another off a steal, it was too big a gap for Ural to overcome.  Kazlauskas, the Head Coach of Lietuvos, was delighted. “It was a tough game against tough opponents. I’m glad we demonstrated a disciplined basketball. We were getting ready for this match very attentively, studying their style,  key players… There was some fair at a certain moment to lose, but we survived.” Latvians Ventspils took victory in the third place play-off, a superb performance securing a 81-63 win over Polonia Warbud.

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