Rytas Vilnius Wins BCL Title with Epic 4th Quarter Comeback

This year's Basketball Champions League Final was one to remember. Kretis Vilnius riding the hot hand of Simis Likosius to stage a remarkable comeback from 20 points down to force overtime. Ultimately going on to beat Ike and become the first Lithuanian team to win the BCL title. Likosius would earn Final Four MVP honors for his role in the spectacular closing act, finishing with 23 points, including a BCL Final Record 7 three-pointers, none bigger than that shot to bring his team level. They get to Likosius. He's going to put it up. And they are going to pay Likosius the hottest shooter in Europe tonight. Not much was going through my mind. It was a play that we actually ran and shoot around, and I was put in the position to be the shooter, and we executed it perfectly. I just had to do a shot fake and one dribble, and yeah, I'm really glad we won it. For Likosius, the title was reward for a team that refused to give up, not just in the final, but throughout the campaign. Likosius goes to a step back, top three. Oh my goodness! Are you kidding me? What did we just witness? I think our story, we've had so many ups and downs that it just felt like we've been there before, and also the fans. With that atmosphere, it's impossible to give up. Yeah, we did it, and I think that's what brought us even more together and made it possible to have such a special comeback. Now Likosius has his next dream in his sights. Though born in Lithuania, the 23-year-old has dual citizenship and plans to represent Germany on the international stage. Saying recently that he hopes head coach Alex Moombrou selects him for next month's FIBA World Cup 2027 European qualifiers. Likosius would be joining a formidable side, the reigning champion of both the FIBA World Cup and Eurobasket, built around captain and playmaker Dennis Schroeder and star small forward Franz Wagner. Franz Wagner gets it up, looking for the foul, but he's so good he makes the shot anyway. Wagner is doing everything for Germany. While defensive ace Isak Bonga, consistent big man Johannes Thiemann, and sharpshooter Andreas Obst have all been among the contributors during Germany's incredible run. Germany sits second in Group E of qualifying with a 3-1 record, having split a pair of meetings with Croatia earlier this year. Despite already clinching a place in the second round, the Germans will be looking for two more wins over Israel and Cyprus to give them a platform for their remaining contests. And the addition of Likosius, a proven clutch performer, could be a welcome one for a team accustomed to big moments. For all the latest on the road to the FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers, head to FIBA.basketball.