00:04This year's Basketball Champions League final was one to remember.
00:08Lekotius, he's got it.
00:10Well, just like that, it's a 15-point game.
00:14Preetis Vilnius riding the hot hand of Simis Lekotius
00:17to stage a remarkable comeback from 20 points down to force overtime.
00:22Lekotius comes out, gets it from the wing.
00:24Oh, my God, what the same.
00:28Unbelievable.
00:30Rising from the deck.
00:31Ultimately going on to beat Ike
00:33and become the first Lithuanian team to win the BCL title.
00:38Lukosius.
00:39Yeah, and the goal.
00:42It's Wago.
00:43Lukosius.
00:44Lekotius.
00:45Preetis Vilnius win it over Ike BC
00:48to win the Basketball Champions League.
00:53Lukosius would earn Final Four MVP honors
00:56for his role in the spectacular closing act
00:58finishing with 23 points,
01:00including a BCL final record seven three-pointers,
01:04none bigger than that shot to bring his team level.
01:08They get to Lukosius.
01:09He's going to put it up.
01:11Oh!
01:12They didn't foul.
01:14They didn't foul.
01:15Let's go.
01:16And they are going to pay the price.
01:17Let's go.
01:19Lukosius, the hottest shooter in Europe tonight.
01:22Let's go.
01:23Not much was going through my mind.
01:24It was a play that we actually ran and shoot around,
01:27and I was put in the position to be the shooter,
01:31and we executed it perfectly.
01:33I just had to do a shot fake and one dribble,
01:35and, yeah, I'm really glad we went in.
01:39For Lukosius, the title was reward for a team
01:42that refused to give up,
01:44not just in the final, but throughout the campaign.
01:47Lukosius goes to a step back, top three.
01:49Oh, my goodness!
01:51Are you kidding me?
01:53What did we just witness?
01:55I think our story.
01:58We've had so many ups and downs
02:00that it just felt like we've been there before,
02:02and also the fans.
02:04I mean, with that atmosphere,
02:06it's impossible to give up.
02:09Yeah, we did it,
02:10and I think that's what brought us even more together
02:13and made it possible to have such a special comeback.
02:16Now, Lukosius has his next dream in his sights.
02:20Though born in Lithuania,
02:21the 23-year-old has dual citizenship
02:23and plans to represent Germany on the international stage,
02:29saying recently that he hopes head coach Alex Mumbrou
02:33selects him for next month's FIBA World Cup
02:352027 European qualifiers.
02:42Lukosius would be joining a formidable side,
02:45the reigning champion of both the FIBA World Cup
02:47and Eurobasket,
02:49built around captain and playmaker Dennis Schroeder
02:51and star small forward Franz Wagner.
02:54Franz Wagner gets it up, looking for the foul,
02:57but he's so good, he makes the shot anyway.
02:59Wagner is doing everything for Germany.
03:02While defensive ace Isaac Vonga,
03:05consistent big man Johannes Thiemann,
03:07and sharpshooter Andreas Obst
03:09have all been among the contributors
03:11during Germany's incredible run.
03:19Germany sits second in Group E of qualifying
03:22with a 3-1 record,
03:24having split a pair of meetings with Croatia
03:26earlier this year.
03:27Despite already clinching a place in the second round,
03:30the Germans will be looking for two more wins
03:32over Israel and Cyprus
03:34to give them a platform for their remaining contests.
03:40And the addition of Lukosius,
03:42a proven clutch performer,
03:44could be a welcome one for a team
03:46accustomed to big moments.
03:48Well, Hughes 3 and La Bonna, good nights!
03:52It's your moment, Simonis!
03:54It is your moment!
03:55Thanks!
03:56Thank you!
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