After killing A.Marčiulionis and M.Ndouras, D.Kairys came up to talk about the newcomer after the interview.

Alex Madsen captured three points in the “Rytas” basket and in the sixth minute Riga VEF received Vilnius 19: 2.

Guests from neighboring Latvia flew across an empty Jeep arena so much that it looked like Rytas wasn’t playing with Riga, but with the NBA team. A series of NBA episodes worth putting in the basket overhead, “alley-oops” one after the other, precise shots and a furious Latvian pace brought Vilnius residents down early.

Donald Kairis’s incense was ready to ignite a nightmare he had experienced with Rytas 48 hours ago at the Žalgiris Arena. Only this time the Vilnius club did not give up.

Andrew Goudelock, who was signed up for the match but was unable to play due to a muscle injury, did not lean on Morning’s bench, constantly reminding his teammates that they still have unused team fouls to stop opponents.

He waited for the last “Rytas” player before exiting the locker room during a long break before Donaldas Kairys shared his advice to his three defenders and accompanied each episode of Augustas Marčiulionis (15 points, 7th rep.) Who played a career match. with applause: “Go ahead, grow up!”

The injured Arnas Butkevičius captained the team at the back of the bench, and Maurice Ndour (9 points, 5 pm), who came directly from the cockpit of the plane on the parquet floor of the Jeep Arena and even 29 minutes, showed his teammates team that there could be no excuses in this fight. .

From the first second of the second half, “Rytas” pressed VEF so hard that it was difficult for the Latvians, like a poor football team, to cross the center of the field.

Within minutes Rytas, who bit the VEF players’ ankles, locked them to the ground and quickly burned all the advantage the Latvians had, reaching 33:14 in the second quarter.

“I think it was our best half of this season,” A. Marčiulionis did not hide.

“They played with so much energy that we couldn’t throw the ball out of bounds. His bench was so loud that our players did not understand what was happening. But welcome, that’s basketball. “The morning has many problems, but we knew it was a team with character,” he said after the game. 15 minutes said VEF coach Janis Gailitis.

At the end of the third quarter, the capital team advanced up to 11 points (61:50). But after biting their teeth, led by Kyle Allman (17 points, 9 passes), the VEF basketball players managed to escape in the fourth half.

Young Augustas Marčiulionis launched himself wide into Ryto’s penalty area, racking up points and distributing effective passes. But at the end of the match, he and the Rytas team lacked luck and precision.

“No, chebra, The point difference is important! ”- Arnas Butkevičius reminded the players in the back of the bench.

Rytas suffered a second loss to the FIBA ​​Champions League 81:85 in three games. But the fight for survival comes to Riga.

Two weeks later, on December 23, Vilnius residents in Latvia will be able to play this fragile four-point difference. The Vilnius club before Christmas will be much stronger: with main player Ryan Boatright, who has contracted the coronavirus, Arnas Butkevičius, who will cure his finger injury, and probably a newcomer to the front line of “Rytas”.

D.Kairys went to speak to the leaders of “Rytas” immediately after the defeat.

“I think we lacked the courage to play well at the beginning of the game. We went too far and it was a shame that this was the second game in a row. It happened due to lack of practice, pace of play, composition … But after a few minutes , I think we get angry with ourselves and show life, energy. We rebel, – said D.Kairys at the press conference. – We started to control the game. Our defense complicated the attack of the VEF, we found points under the basket where We knew we were stronger, we seemed to be in control of everything.

But at the end of the third quarter and beginning of the fourth, the problems began. Allman was too fast for us, we couldn’t stop him. We allowed him to score 10 points and we finished the third quarter with three teams. We let them come back.

I am not disappointed with how we play in all circumstances. It is a very tough defeat that leaves us with 1 victory. But we are waiting for the players to return. “

– 14 rebounds in attack and return to the game with such a deficit. With that emotional background, how did you elevate a team to such a feisty performance in 48 hours?

– We don’t change anything. We play sports without days off. We walk on our feet, work in full contact, borrowing Perl players. Many thanks to them: they allowed us to continue the process and train five to five. Nobody complained, nobody complained about anything. We went to fight.

– How inspired by the example of a teammate when he comes from the airport to the arena to play a game?

– I thanked him after the game. He acted heroically. Having contracted this disease, it is not clear how many opportunities he had to play sports, directly from the plane with police escort … The greatest respect. He has a heart. Before the game, he made it very clear that he wanted to play.

– Andrew Goudelock was injured as the game became more physical and he had to leave the field.

– I think he will want to be a good coach (smiles). He felt his help, he listened. Their support was needed. He understands basketball and has something to say.

– When will “Rytas” return to work full time: with the traumatized Arnas Butkevičius, Ryan Boatright, not returning from the coronavirus, and a newcomer?

– Regarding injuries, I still can’t say. We want it as soon as possible, but it will be as it will be. We can’t speed up the healing of Arno’s finger, but we hope to be able to use it by the end of December.

Same with Boatright. You need to start the workouts as soon as possible.

And for the newbie, I am going to speak to the best after this interview.

– What style of height does “Orient” need?

– Here’s a good question. We often dwell on it. However, we’re more focused on the fifth-place player who could trade Echod. We would like to see Ndour in fourth place. He gives us a lot there.

– What does Ndour give more in fourth position than in fifth?

– The defense sees us very well when Ndour and Echod are on the field. If we add Butkevičius, it would be very strong.

– How did Lukas Uleckas feel about the coronavirus?

– Well, and you noticed. I also noticed. As a result, it was only a few minutes (11 min.). When he returns after illness, he does not show the face we need.

– And what face did rookie Ryan Boatright show before he got sick during training?

– He managed to participate in only 2-3 workouts. It looked like it was out of shape so we really wanted to use the FIBA ​​windows, spread it out, sand the blends. Unfortunately, things did not turn out that way. We will have a lot of work to do.

– While “Rytas” lost Demetrius Jackson, how did Augustas Marčiulionis take his chance?

– It really deserves praise. And not only in this game.

He was our best defender today, but I’m also very fascinated by his courage and sharpness in practice. You really do make mistakes, a lot of things don’t get scanned that much. But with the club we have made the decision that we want to see him on the field, see him play. Yes sometimes it is wrong, but believe it.

– How does Gytis Radzevičius use that trust?

– Something was successful today – played well. He makes more mistakes in his defense, but he will have to work a lot more before he starts playing as best he can.

– What reserves will Rytas have for the second leg in Riga without the extended bench?

– I won’t analyze much. We will have a more complete line-up and we know for sure that we can win by more than four points. We will definitely have to do that.