Akasvayu Girona began their EuroCup campaign with a hard fought 81-76 win over BC Siauliai.

The game was extremely close throughout as the greatest lead for either team through the first three quarters was a mere three points.

Darius Pakamanis hit four three-pointers in the opening half to pace the Lithuanian outfit.

Girona took a modest one-point lead into halftime after a jumper from Marko Marinovic just before the closing of the second quarter.

The two team continued to stay close to each other to start the second half.

German Gabriel's three-pointer with 10 seconds left in the third allowed Girona to take a 56-53 lead going into the final stanza.

The Spanish squad scored the first four points in the fourth to extend their run to 7-0 and open up a 60-53 lead - the biggest difference up to that point in the game.

Fernando San Emeterio opened the scoring by connecting on a lay-up and journeyman Darryl Middleton added a bucket of his own.

From there, Girona led until the final buzzer.

BC Siauliai clawed to within four at the 51 second mark on a Arvydas Cepulis three-pointer, but Girona's Victor Sada and San Emeterio made four free-throws down the stretch to preserve the win.

San Emeterio led the way for the victors with 17 points.

"This was a very important game, and at this level there are no easy opponents," said Girona coach Svetislav Pesic.

"We weren't at our best in the first six minutes and we gave them chances. But afterwards we improved, we were aggressive, and played to our true level to win the match."

Pakamanis tallied a game-high 21 points in defeat for Siauliai, which came away encouraged from their opening performance.

"We're pleased with the performance as our team did well against a good team with great players, and a team who are one of the favourites for the title," said Siauliai head coach Rudys Aloyzas.

"We're happy to have been able to stay in the match and keep up with them right until the end of the match," added Siauliai's Marius Prekevicius.