Žibėnas after the end of KL – on the mistakes of “Rytas”, returning pride and relief to the club / News

Photo: BNS

Photo: FIBA

Photo: FIBA

Photo: BNS

Photo: BNS

Giedrius Žibėnas, who helped Vilnius “Rytas” to victory in the FIBA ​​Champions League, accepted another baptism, this time in the international arena.

Captain Arnas Butkevičius tried to ruin the commemoration of the event immediately after the match, but the coach and the team have already calmed down after the first official victory in the LKL championship, when they bought pizzas for the students.

Relieved Vilnius neighbors ended their Champions League debut with the second win against the same team, Strasbourg IG (4-2), who had secured first place in the group and a ticket to the next stage. even before the game in Vilnius.

This duel did not theoretically determine anything for “Este” either, but the third victory in a row after a period of shame revives confidence in the club. But after a march in the Champions League, Žibėnas first addressed the team’s fans.

“We would like to award the victory to the Rytas fans, they deserve it,” began the Žibėnas press conference. – Yes, we left the Champions League, but we wanted to knock on the door. I think the players really did it, I’m very proud of them, they left everything on the field.

We really landed the opponents high, but we won the fight for the bounced balls, which was not easy. We were able to play a lot better in the last few minutes, but now we are playing completely out of our positions and the players got a bit lost in what they shouldn’t have been. But we will solve it in the near future, you will not see it in the next game. “

– You started the match at two different times. Why couldn’t it start from the beginning?
– First of all, we put a lot of emphasis on bonus situations, we didn’t commit crimes. In attack, we wanted to play something very difficult that we weren’t preparing for in training in the morning, and that led to some misunderstandings. We took a chance on Jean-Baptiste Maille, but we scored a triple. It seemed that we could break the match and there was no panic.

Man of the match

– Ryan Boatright does not shy away from breaking combinations and assuming a lot of himself. How satisfied are you with your behavior on the field and how are you to stop it?
– That’s his style of play. We would like him to take care of himself in the decisive stage of the attack than at the beginning, and I have to survive that. We have to move the ball much better, but we have to hold out a bit until all the players play in their positions and then I think we will look much more organized in attack.

– What happened at the end of the game when you had an 11 point advantage? There were mistakes, it seemed that you began to lengthen the time.
– And we tried to extend the time, and maybe we relaxed a bit, the opponent was already playing and bank. I take the last few minutes for myself. As I mentioned, we are out of positions and this will be great material before the next game on the home front.

– Considering the entire “Morning” journey in the Champions League, what did the team lack until the next stage?
– We ran out of a lot, we were not very lucky. First of all, I would highlight the mounting problems, of course the injuries, the COVID-19 has changed my leg a bit. We have made many mistakes and we recognize it, but we will learn from these mistakes and we will return to the Champions League next year much stronger.

– Keith Benson’s contract is coming to an end. What is the additional situation with this legionnaire and how much more can we wait to change the lineup?
“We haven’t decided anything with Keith yet, because we don’t know when Martin Echod will return, and we don’t know when we’ll refill.” Keith is still on our team and we are preparing for the Lietkabelius match with him.

– How is the search for the next highest?
– We have a list. We are thinking of filling up probably after the FIBA ​​window, but there is still a lot to discuss within the club. First of all, we want to find out about Echod and then react.

– Will Echod play in the FIBA ​​window?
– With a big question mark. If it is positive, it will recover. If it’s safer, maybe not.

– Were the three victories (after the crushing defeat of Utena “Juventus” – aut. Past). Were they more necessary psychologically for you or for the players?
– I think the players. Also for us as an organization and fans. We miss it. In the last 10 days, we have recovered what belongs to us: pride in what we play, what is written on our chest, the respect of those around us and trust. Confidence is most visible in the actions of the players on the field.

– What brought so much relief to the team – you, the captain or the changes made?
– All little by little. When the coaches feel the support of the players, they feel our support, the positive energy directs us in the right direction. I would not take the laurels. Weak teams do not have leaders, mediums: the leader is the coach, but the elite, the players. We want to travel to an elite team where the player is like a leader, an example on and off the field. We have those players.