[ad_1]
At the end of October, the positive COVID-19 tests unpleasantly surprised 9 basketball players from the Utena team, but two weeks was enough for all the Juventus representatives to meet again in the hall after recovering.
According to Ž. Urbon, the most important thing now is not to rush or exaggerate: “We cannot run in front of a train. We have even received recommendations from the Euroleague structures about what people with coronavirus do. We cannot rush, put heavy loads on the players, our training is optimal. Step by step, we move forward.
Of course, the sporting form of the players has fallen, it is physically impossible to achieve it in a few days. We try not to prepare to the maximum, but optimally for the match with Vilnius “Rytas”, and we will see if that is enough. “
You won’t do a miracle when you don’t have players. I had time to rethink team play. We probably won’t get sick a second time anytime soon, as they say, we have at least a six-month guarantee that the virus will no longer get us out of cancer.
Žydrūnas Urbonas
– Have you taken a closer look at the COVID-19 virus? – I asked Ž. Urbono.
– I did not get sick, like the entire Juventus coaching staff. The coronavirus has the least impact on coaches. There is no significant effect on the brain, it is more taxing on the body and the respiratory tract. This is true in any sport. I even think that maybe it would be better if the coaching staff got sick than the players.
– Both in Lithuania and in Europe, the format is the same: the team goes up and, as if nowhere, plays the game almost the next day. To what extent does this affect the results? Is it correct to evaluate the principle of sport?
– This season, maybe I’d even call the winning finale chocolate, childish. Some capture that happiness, they get rivals after illness, not the best sports uniform. It’s definitely not going to be a peak testing season, you have to admit. Some teams will have “lucky points” in this situation.
Until there were no diseases, in the LKL Championship it was possible to judge teams by ability, and then we found ourselves in the realm of distorted mirrors. 80 percent occurs. basketball and 20 percent. happiness: successful program, competitor, situations. Of course, after 10 years, no one will remember: the champion will remain the champion, silver – silver, bronze – bronze. Many teams face COVID-19 outbreaks: Kazys Maksvytis and Rimas Kurtinaitis in Russia, other basketball teams.
It is difficult to say when Juventus will return to the maximum sport. I feel like the team was already almost full speed in the match with Panevėžys Lietkabelis (7-round matches), I was especially satisfied with the defense, and now I need to make adjustments again. I wonder how much the virus will be, because if someone gets in a situation like that before the playoffs …
– Protection against coronavirus is probably not possible; after all, do teams follow all recommendations very carefully?
– We have looked responsibly and we are seeing this situation. However, it is difficult not to “catch” the coronavirus, because there are social contacts, we play with other teams, we can catch it. After infection, it takes 2-3 days before symptoms appear, during which time you can guess someone and split the coronavirus. In the general sense of a pandemic, we got sick, there was no need for resuscitation or lung ventilation, the young organisms recovered. It is not a fear, parents and the elderly are the ones who must protect themselves the most.
– In sport, we always try to see any situation in a positive way. How do you plan to take advantage of the situation at Juventus?
– You won’t do a miracle when you don’t have players. I had time to rethink team play. We probably won’t get sick again anytime soon, as they say, we have at least a six-month guarantee that the virus will no longer get us out of cancer. After the morning game, we will have the so-called team window, through which we will try to catch up with at least the physical form that most prevents us from playing well. A rest is very necessary, we can prepare the bodies. And during that time of isolation, I was able to calm down, look at myself, at the team, which is better. As a coach, I had time to reflect.
– If it is not a secret, what knowledge did you have?
– I care how the team can better defend itself in the match. Mistakes happen, but I want us to make as few mistakes as possible on defense. I would be satisfied as a coach if we played at least similarly to Panevėžys Lietkabelis. I would like to get back to defensive rhythm as soon as possible. I am not happy with the amount of errors. Ideally, there would be 10 to 12 errors per game. Sure, we are reducing their numbers, but we are starting at 20. We are making a lot of effective passes, which shows that the team is playing mature enough in attack. This is very important for the overall mood of the team.
Žydrūnas Urbonas
– This year, the Utena Juventus-Uniclub Casino (Ignas Vaitkus, Darius Tarvydas, Vytautas Šulskis, Gintautas Matulis) successfully debuted in 3×3 basketball battles; in the summer he triumphed in the Hoptrans 3×3 tournament and placed second in the Debrecen Masters stage. From 20 to 21 November he will travel to Qatar to participate in the final stage of this year’s world tour. How did you think about going to threesome basketball in general?
– The idea came from doing nothing during the first wave of the pandemic. That project was the perfect platform to start. In general, for those who do not play in national teams, especially the youngsters, this platform is ideal to improve and grow. In general, whoever participated in the Hoptrans 3×3 tournament was in good shape for the beginning of the season. One of the most striking examples is the Lavrinovich brothers, who play well in the National Basketball League.
When we beat Hoptrans 3×3, we inevitably won qualifying points and the situation itself started to turn into a trio. We misunderstand it a bit. The first trip to Debrecen was the result of that: we had to take it, we couldn’t throw everything in the middle of the road.
Cherry on the cake: the warmth of the Olympics. Heats and attracts. There is an opportunity to seek a place in the Olympic tournament. This is one of the dreams of the life of an athlete. We are doing well, we have a good classification. Now we definitely have to participate in another Masters tournament to get Olympic points and even participate in the super final. We hope you are successful.
– What would be the result in Doha?
– First, it is important to participate. Even without winning anything, we can enter the final stage in December in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Of course, after winning once or twice, or leaving the group, 100 percent. in a month we would participate in the super final. The strongest teams in the world will compete there, which will be divided into the Olympic team.
– Are you going to go to Doha yourself and how much does the trio need from the hand of a coach in general?
– I promise to go to Doha. 3×3 basketball doesn’t have a nominal coach, but unofficially everyone does. I had to sacrifice myself this summer. No, not sacrifice, but have fun working. I really liked it. I am the unofficial coach of Utena Juventus-Uniclub Casino. I turn my head, I do exploration, I solve problems. Sure, the details here are different, you have to understand it, but it broadens my horizons and allows me to adapt something while playing 5v5.
It is strictly forbidden to use the information published by DELFI on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any way without consent, and if consent has been obtained, it is necessary to cite DELFI as the source.
[ad_2]
