HC Dragūnas Clinches Spot in Final After Thrilling 34:31 Victory Over last year’s champions

April 12, 2025

HC Dragūnas Clinches Spot in Final After Thrilling 34:31 Victory Over last year’s champions

In an electrifying Baltic Handball League Final 4 semi-final clash held Klaipėda, HC Dragūnas delivered a powerful performance to overcome Latvian side ZRHK TENAX Dobele with a final score of 34:31 and qualified to finals.

A Dominant Start That Set the Tone

From the first whistle, Dragūnas came out firing on all cylinders, quickly establishing a commanding 5:0 lead within the first eight minutes of the match. Deividas Virbauskas and Gytis Šmantauskas spearheaded the early offensive surge, each scoring multiple times in the opening phase. The Lithuanian champions held a strong 16:12 lead going into halftime, having dictated the tempo through cohesive defense and sharp execution on the fast break.

Second Half Challenge and Response

Although TENAX found their rhythm in the second half—driven by the clinical finishing of Ņikita Pančenko, who netted an impressive 11 goals—the early deficit proved too much to overcome. Dragūnas responded with composure, matching each push from the Latvian side and maintaining a two-to-three goal cushion throughout most of the half.

Key moments included a timely timeout called by Dragūnas coach at 22:38 after a brief TENAX rally, and consecutive goals from Šmantauskas and Lapiniauskas that restored Dragūnas’ momentum and silenced any comeback hopes.

Standout Performers

  • Gytis Šmantauskas (Dragūnas) – The undisputed MVP of the match, Šmantauskas scored 11 goals from 12 attempts, terrorizing TENAX’s defense from the backcourt.
  • Deividas Virbauskas (Dragūnas) – Contributed 8 goals, including 3 from the penalty line, and was instrumental in setting the early pace of the match.
  • Ņikita Pančenko (TENAX) – A standout for the Latvian side with 11 goals, consistently keeping his team within striking distance.

Additional contributions came from Mykolas Lapiniauskas (5 goals) and Vladislav Korzhuk (3 goals), providing Dragūnas with crucial depth and scoring efficiency. On the TENAX side, support came from Antons Šuleiko (3 goals) and Intars Jomants (3 goals), though their efforts fell short against a well-rounded Dragūnas squad.

With this win, HC Dragūnas secures their place in the Baltic Handball League final. The team will now prepare to face the winner of the second semi-final in the championship match.

ZRHK TENAX Dobele, despite a hard-fought effort, will shift focus to the bronze medal match, still in the hunt for a place on the podium.