Heiko Rannula's Legia Warsaw lose in heartbreaking fashion in Polish finals opener
Estonian basketball coach Heiko Rannula's Legia Warsaw suffered a painful away loss in the opening game of its seven-match final series in Poland's domestic league (PLK), going down by just one point to Start Lublin.
Legia Warsaw won their third Polish championship semifinal game in a row earlier this week, securing a place in the final and a chance to become domestic champions for the first time in over half a century. Legia last made the finals in 2022, when they lost to Włocławek Śląsk.
On Monday, Start Lublin came from behind to take a ten-point lead in the third after Legia had led by nine in the second, and despite Legia tying the game twice, Lublin's 10–0 run and a late three-pointer helped them win by a cat's whisker, 82–81, with Legia's shooting guard Kameron McGusty (U.S.) missing a final shot after Lublin hit two free throws with 3.5 seconds left.
Legia's Andrzej Pluta scored 21 points, while Lublin's Ousmane Drame led with 20 points and nine rebounds in a standout performance.
The best-of-seven series continues Wednesday evening in Lublin and then moves to Warsaw for two matches.
Rannula is also the Estonian national team coach.
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Editor: Andrew Whyte, Kristjan Kallaste
