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Photo: BNS
BNS photo
On Sunday, a special duel awaits Betsafe, LKL spectators, Juventus from Utena will face the brothers’ match against Julius Jucikas against Dzūkija from Alytus, where Matas Jucikas is demonstrating the best basketball of his career so far.
While this will be far from being the first time we see the Jucikai brothers clash in the square, this time it may be more interesting than usual.
If older brother Julius has already earned his name in Lithuanian basketball heaven, then Matas hasn’t played a single statistically impressive season so far. Still, the first games played this year are optimistic.
So far, Dzūkija’s center forward Betsafe-LKL ranks fifth in terms of points won (average of 15.8 points) and ninth in the utility score table (average of 17.3 points). Meanwhile, the Alytus team (1-3) is eighth in the Betsafe – LKL standings.
“I only made it to the beginning of the season, so you can say that everything went well,” said Jucikas, 26. – Of course many of us dismiss it, but it is not the way everyone talks, we can play with everyone and we will show it again. I’m good too, I like the coach and his system. He can exploit me, I can play a lot. “
Jucikas also accumulates lower numbers in some games. The tall man, who started the second season at Utena, accumulates an average of 12.7 points and 6 rebounds, which allows him to be ranked 11th among the most useful players. Juventus (2-1) represented by Šilutiškis currently occupies the fourth position.
“He was with the same coach last season, he knows his system. This year has also started successfully – from the first game it has been widely used by both teammates and coaches”, – Matas was happy with his brother’s game.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Now he is fine, but there is still a lot to improve. The main problem for our team is the errors, reducing them would allow us to gain a greater advantage and achieve easier victories,” said Jucikas as the essential direction of improvement.
What led to such a successful start to the Jucikai brothers season? A busy summer, says the older brother.
“It all comes down to that, the summer was active, we played in both the Hoptrans 3×3 tournament and the Bucket Summer League,” said the 31-year-old. – This summer we trained more than ever with my brother. There was a lot of physical activity, games, everything went well and so far they are both fine, I hope so ”.
Although competing against each other in Lithuania does not happen that often, no brother is serious: team goals are more important than the chance to beat a brother in a fight between them.
“Maybe his motivation to beat me is higher, but we will play according to the style of our teams, so I don’t think it’s anything special. There is a greater interest in the family, they are probably happier to get sick for both brothers at the same time, ”laughed the Utena player.
“It will not be an easy task, we have already talked with the coach about how we will stop Julius. He is a little more physical than I am, you will have to work hard, work hard, fight for space and not allow the ball to be easily picked up” , the younger brother reviewed about the micro fight that awaits under the baskets.
Live broadcast of the match between “Juventus” and “Dzūkija” from Utena – today starting at 5 pm. via Delfi.lt.
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