In a dramatic Semi-Final at the FIBA Intercontinental Cup 2026 in Beijing, Rytas Vilnius overcame an eight-point deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Boca Juniors 77-70. This victory ensures that a team from FIBA Europe will reach the Championship Game, maintaining a consistent record across all formats of the tournament.
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Boca Juniors, attempting to make history as the first team to reach the Final without a European competitor, led 58-50 heading into the final quarter, bolstered by Lucas Faggiano's key three-pointers. However, Rytas head coach Nedas Pacevicius adjusted strategies following an ankle injury to starting point guard Cassius Winston. Michael Devoe stepped up, guiding Rytas with crucial plays, including a three-pointer that put them ahead by five with less than two minutes remaining.
Rytas’ Augustas Marciulionis sealed the victory with an offensive rebound and a putback layup, extending Rytas' lead to 75-70 with just 30 seconds left. Both Devoe and Marciulionis contributed significantly, scoring 14 points each, while Kay Bruhnke added 10.
For Boca Juniors, Micheal Warren was the standout with 16 points. In the earlier Semi-Final, the NBA G League United secured a commanding victory over their competitor, scoring over 100 points for the third time in this tournament. Lester Quinones led the game with 29 points and expressed his eagerness to reach the 30-point mark in the Final. Phillip Wheeler and Eric Dixon also had notable performances, contributing 24 and 16 points, respectively.
In the fifth-place match, the Beijing Royal Fighters defeated the Shanghai Sharks 101-87, aided by Grant Riller and Javonte Cooke's strong play, while Cui Xiaolong led the Sharks with 18 points.