[ad_1]
This Saturday the opening match of the new Betsafe-LKL season took place in Vilnius, where Ryto and Juventus players met, and one of the most intriguing young Lithuanian basketball players made his debut in the top national championships.
Or – August Marčiulionis, the eighteen-year-old son of the legendary Lithuanian basketball player and the first president of LKL Šarūnas Marčiulionis.
So far, the 193cm tall defender has only played in the National Basketball League (NKL), where he posted impressive numbers last season: 15.3 points, 5.8 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 interceptions. per game.
The player gave one of the most memorable performances earlier this year, when Tauragė’s team scored a powerful triple-double: 27 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds, plus 9 fouls provoked.
Such a successful year brought Augustas even two individual awards: the laurels of the best young basketball player and the most improved player, as well as the Vilnius resident was chosen for the five best symbolic players of the NKL.
Naturally, after such a season, it’s time for the young talents to step up their careers. Believing in the “Morning” system and the role he was promised here, Augustus decided to stay in Vilnius and fight for new heights in his hometown.
The league rookie spoke to LKL.lt about the new stage of life, the start of the season in Vilnius and the aspects of the game that would take away from my father.
– What thoughts and moods do you find this season, what will be the first at this level?
– First of all, I’m glad I can concentrate on basketball, not having to go to school. It won’t be easy because I need to catch up with other players, learn a lot, but I find a new stage of life with positive thoughts and a lot of desire.
– In what aspects did you work more during the summer and how was that work?
– In the beginning, I worked to improve my physical condition and spent a lot of time this summer. Once I had a chance to go to the gym, I worked with the coaches on my individual skills. I improved the dribbling, the launch. I paid a lot of attention to the launch, so I feel more confident in it.
– How did the new colleagues meet you? Maybe you had a baptism or something?
– At first, only Lithuanians met. Veterans, older players kindly welcome, both help and advise. There was nothing special. As a younger player, I have my tasks to do during the season: I will have to bring something or do it when asked.
Later the legionaries arrived, who also fit in well with the team. We help each other and so far everything is fine, the team atmosphere is good. There are people in the wardrobe who don’t play here in the first season: Arnas Butkevičius, Mindaugas Girdžiūnas. It would also include Martynas Echodas, who, although not a veteran, has been playing for the Morning for more than the first season, so he also has a voice in the locker room. We talk, we joke with all the Lithuanians who are in the team and everything is really very good.
– In training, you mainly have to play against Demetrius Jackson and Dovi Bičkauskis, how do you manage to resist the more experienced players?
– As players, they are very strong physically, both Demetrius and Dovis. The hardest part is when it comes to overcoming their defenses because they stand up well and have a strong upper body. I have to find other ways to outwit them because I can’t shoot them, but it’s a good experience – I have to turn my head and play smarter. It helps me a lot.
– What would you like to improve the most in your game this year?
– There are many things that need to be improved. This is another level, different speeds, a different game. First of all, I need to adapt to the speed so that it is not so unusual for me to feel the game. There are many details that I can learn both from other players and from the coach. Read details, game situations – here I want to improve as much as possible.
– You are not only a newcomer to the team, but also head coach Donaldas Kairys. How would you describe working with this specialist, what is the most demanding of you?
– The coach, as they say everywhere, likes fast basketball, with quick attacks, but also without getting caught in a lot of mistakes or unsuspecting shots. From me, as from other players, I will be asked to lead the team, push towards the penalty area, distribute passes to teammates, be the person to call and tell everyone how to play, what combination to do or how to defend. The role of the player is important, so there will be many tasks on the court.
– You probably still get dad’s advice, but how much do you have to fight him on the court or at least challenge in Minus?
– Most of the time we train, he helps me, shows me or teaches me various things. He hasn’t played basketball in a long time, so it would be difficult to do so, but it turns out that they play a “less” together. To remember how to pitch, you don’t need much, and then you already start burning the grill. I still have work to do before I can challenge.
– What would you most like to take out of your game and have in your arsenal?
– I would like to have your physical strength and your data. I’m not complaining either, I think the data is not bad. His strength, character, very good qualities. I would like to make a breakthrough in the game itself, which was its strongest side. He would master the ability to distance a person, to make contact.
Help us create good content: become a Krepsinis.net sponsor >>
[ad_2]
