PANEVEZYS (Basketball Champions League) - Telenet Giants Antwerp spoiled the opening night party for Lietkabelis by forcing overtime in the Group C game and then winning, 91-87.

In the first-ever Regular Season game for both sides in the competition,  Antwerp led by as many as 15 points in the first half, only for their Lithuanian hosts to claw the deficit back to 41-40 by half-time.

Lietkabelis then charged into a 12-point second half advantage, yet Antwerp dug in late in the fourth quarter and mounted a comeback of their own that forced the extra period.

Paulius Valinskas, excellent off the bench with a game-high 21 points for the home side, had a chance to win the contest at the end of regulation but missed a short jumper in the lane. After an Ismael Bako breakaway dunk gave Antwerp a 90-87 lead with 7 seconds to go, the hosts almost forced a second overtime when Valinskas got open from behind the arc.

His attempt rattled out, though, and Antwerp added a Tyler Kalinoski free-throw for the 4-point victory.

David Dudzinski poured in 18 points and corralled 9 rebounds to lead a balanced attack for Antwerp. Kalinoski had 17 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists and Ismael Bako came to life late in the contest and scored 12 points and hauled in 7 rebounds. Bako was 6 of 8 at the free-throw line.

Antwerp also got a solid, all-round performance from Hans Vanwijn, who finished with 8 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal and 2 blocks.