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Photo: BNS
BNS photo
The Lithuanian basketball community, which has taken over their shoulders, is organizing an ambiguous triple basketball tournament in Palanga.
The combined association LKL, LKF and 3×3 announced at a press conference the first FIBA recognized trio competitions in the world in which five to five basketball athletes will fight and be professional.
Nine LKL teams will compete in this tournament, except for Kaunas “Žalgiris”, three trio teams will join: FIBA 3×3 sixth place Šakiai “Vytis-Gulbelės”, his support team from Kaunas district and the team of legends from LKL.
A successful performance for basketball players can open the door for the selection for the Tokyo Olympics, as participants will accumulate points for the competition according to the status awarded by FIBA.
“We are pleased to have a real opportunity to have two national teams at the Olympics,” Mindaugas Špokas, LKF CEO, said at the press conference. – No one believed three years ago, but it is thanks to Rolandas Skaisgiris. A unique project in the world because everything happens on the FIBA platform. We will be the first to join the league and start a great project. “
LKF has taken over the insurance for basketball players: existing and signed contracts during the off season will be insured. The composition of most of the LKL teams is still unclear, as some are negotiating with the players. Applications can be submitted until June 10.
Prize fund – 74 thousand. of which 24 thousand. All teams will receive a participation bonus of 2,000 euros each. The team that won first place will receive 15 thousand. EUR, the second – 10 thousand. EUR, for the third – 8 thousand. euros The total budget of the tournament exceeded 200 thousand. euros
Teams will play in a unique 600-seat outdoor arena, the latest in technical equipment, light and music installation. There will be a training ground next to the main battlefield. Lithuanian referees are scheduled to judge the match.
The 3×3 tournament will consist of three qualifying rounds, which will be played from July 3 to 4, from 10 to 11. and 16-17 d. The final stage will take place from July 24 to 25. The tournament will air on TV6 TV and FIBA.
Expectations for the future.
Rolandas Skaisgirys, the head of the basketball trio association, assured him that he had hinted at Žalgiris about the possibility of such a tournament long before, but in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, those languages had vanished.
According to Skaisgiris, after the announcement of 3×3 basketball as an Olympic sport and the successful organization of this tournament in Palanga, the attitude towards the basketball trio should change both in Lithuania and across Europe in the near future.
“It is a matter of time before there is confusion when Euroleague teams have 3×3 teams,” said first-world trio champion Skaisgirys.
In response to this issue, LKL President Remigijus Milašius rhetorically hinted at an ambitious plan for Lithuanian basketball.
“We are always moving forward. We were the first to close (LKL league – aut. Past.). Now we have united, the first in the world. We close the first, we open the first (3×3 tournament – Aut. Past). Why not create a Euroleague 3×3 tournament ourselves? Who should be given to the Spanish or to whom? Are we more jealous? Milašius suggested with a smile on his face.
Until now, FIBA has entrusted Lithuania with Challenger-class competitions, but according to Skaisgiris, in the coming years the country may receive the right to organize competitions of the highest level, Masters.
Press conference:
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