James Bell and Luke Petrasek made five three pointers in the fourth quarter to lift Anwil Vloclawek over Šiauliai 7bet 90-79. Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz`s team won the first ever European North Basketball league`s championship on Thursday, April 7, at the Hala Mistrzow in Wloclawek.
Players of the game
James Bell scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half.
Villanova star exploded in the last five minutes of the game.
Bell made three consecutive three pointers to extend Anwil lead from 76-70 to 85-72.
A Plainfield, New Jersey, native finished the game with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting from the field, including a 4-of-7 from the three point line.
Bell added four rebounds and three assists.
Luke Petrasek fought like a Lion enroute to a game high 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field.
Columbia University star connected 7-of-9 attempts inside the three point line and 3-of-6 outside of it.
Power forward scored 14 points in the second half.
Jonah Mathews registered nine of his 16 points in the second half.
University of South California standout accomplished a perfect 8-of-8 result from the free throw line.
Point guard dished out six assists and stole the ball twice.
Kamil Laczynski acted as the main ball handler and registered nine assists before he was fouled out.
Anwil captain added three points and three rebounds.
Žiga Dimec and Kyndall Dykes scored eight and six points respectively.
Isaiah Armwood led Šiauliai-7bet with 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting from the field.
A former Villanova and George Washington star had 11 points in the second half.
Power forward added one assist and one blocked shot.
Eimantas Stankevičius also scored 16 points, including 12 in the first half.
Martynas Varnas led the final comeback attempt and finished with 15 points.
Paulius Danusevičius scored 11 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Donatas Sabeckis had seven points and a game high 10 assists.
Daniel Baslyk also finished in double figures – he scored 10 points.
Key stats
Anwil players turned the ball over just three times in the first half while Šiauliai had four turnovers.
Kyndall Dykes had four consecutive points early in the second quarter for a 26-23 lead.
Eimantas Stankevičius became the X-factor and scored 12 points in the second quarter to put the Lithuanian team in front 42-45.
Thanks to Stankevičius, Šiauliai bench outscored Anwil 11-16 at the halftime.
Isaiah Armwood scored six points early in the second half to extend the Sun City lead up to seven points 42-49.
Anwil involved multiple players in offense and tied the game at 56 after a layup by James Bell.
The hosts jumped in front for a 64-58 lead with 10 minutes to go.
Luke Petrasek opened the final frame with two three pointers to increase Anwil`s lead up to 10 points 70-60.
Šiauliai cut the gap to six points 76-70.
Bell took over and scored nine consecutive points for a 85-72 lead with 03:13 left.
Martynas Varnas scored five quick points, Daniel Baslyk added two free throws and Šiauliai got within striking distance 85-79 with 01:45 to go.
Both teams didn`t scored from the field rest of the way.
Mathews and Bell connected 5-of-6 throws to put an exclamation point 90-79!
Game notes
James Bell won the EuroCup 2018 together with Darussafaka Istanbul.
Villanova star won the ENBL trophy, while playing against former Villanova player Isaiah Armwood.
Šiauliai-7bet put up a great fight, despite missing Jon Elmore and Nemanja Bezbradica.
Antanas Sireika`s team finished third in the regular season but earned the silver medal at the Final Four.
Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz and Anwil Wloclawek finished the season undefeated to win the first ever ENBL title.
Anwil Wloclawek fans supported their team in a big way.
ENBL final, April 7, Hala Mistrzow
Anwil Wloclawek – Šiauliai 7bet 90:79
Anwil: Luke Petrasek 25, James Bell 21, Jonah Mathews 16, Žiga Dimec 8, Kyndall Dykes 6, Michal Nowakowski 6, Kamil Laczynski 3 (9ast), Szymon Szewczyk 3, Maciej Bojanowski 2, Marcin Woroniecki; Alex Olesinski, Sebastian Kowalczyk. Coach Przemyslaw Frasunkiewicz.
Šiauliai: Eimantas Stankevičius 16, Gerald Isaiah Armwood 16, Martynas Varnas 15, Paulius Danusevičius 11, Daniel Baslyk 10, Donatas Sabeckis 7, Arminas Urbutis 4, Mantas Litvinas; Giedrius Staniulis, Kajus Leliukas.
Officials: Andris Aunkrogers (Latvia), Michal Scholze (Czech Republic), Mart Uuehendrik (Estonia).
All Star team
James Bell | Anwil Wloclawek
Gerald Isaiah Armwood | Šiauliai 7bet
Martynas Varnas | Šiauliai 7bet
Richard Balint | Basket Brno
Emmanuel Wembi | Tartu Ulikool
MVP
Luke Petrasek (Anwil Wloclawek)
Final 4 partners: Anwil Wloclawek, Uzdrowiska Wieniec Zdroj, Toyota Jaworski Auto, Starodebska Music Bar, Hotel Garage.
Custom made shoes for MVP: Pro Basketball LV and Bluz Art.
Trophy: designed by Armands Jēkabsons.
Aftermovie: Mārcis Birste.
Final Four 2022
Wednesday, April 6, semifinals
Šiauliai/7bet 84–73 Basket Brno
Anwil Wloclawek 80–74 Tartu Ulikool Maks&Moorits
Thursday, April 7
Tartu Ulikool 74–80 Basket Brno
Anwil Wloclawek 90–79 Šiauliai 7bet
Follow the ENBL
Website: www.enbleague.eu
Facebook: @ENBLeague
Twitter: @ENBLeague
Instagram: @enbleague