[ad_1]
Photo: BNS
BNS photo
The Citadele King Mindaugas Cup (Citadele KMT) champions will be announced at Panevėžys this weekend. Four teams remain in the tournament, who will discover, according to the beginning of the semi-finals and finals, who is better to lift their trophies above their heads this year.
The basketball festival will begin on Saturday at 2 pm, when Utena “Juventus” and Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” will enter the battle of the first semi-final.
Immediately after this duel, at 4.30 pm, the second semi-final will be started by the reigning champion Kaunas “Žalgiris”, who will face the challenge of Klaipėda “Neptūnas”.
Before the confrontation between “Žalgiris” and “Neptūnas”, the captains of both teams – Paulius Jankūnas and Martynas Mažeika – promised the fans an uncompromising fight and as if they were speaking unanimously that it is never easy in a duel of this level.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Firstly, he’s waiting for the semi-finals, we have to get through this stage, we have to come out with maximum concentration, there are no easy semi-finals,” Jankūnas said.
“It would be funny if I said that we are satisfied to be among the final four. The appetite arises without eating, we really have the strength, we will definitely go to victory, I hope not even one, ”said Mažeika.
The obvious favorite for this semi-final, according to basketball experts and the title sponsor of Betsafe-LKL, is Žalgiris. However, Jankūnas does not accept the favorite tag and says that his team tries to ignore the speeches.
“It just came to our knowledge then. Such speeches are for mind games and for our obsession. We know very well what we have to do, how we have to play. We don’t really react to other people’s speeches, we look at ourselves.
The weekend celebration can also end on Saturday. We cannot have other thoughts, we have to focus 100% on the first duel, “Jankūnas shared his opinion.
M. Mažeika, for his part, also had something to answer for people who thought that just for Neptune, entering the four finalists could already be equivalent to a celebration. The Klaipėda team captain even addressed future rivals directly with a call to properly prepare for challenges.
“Our team has yet to show what their 50 percent potential is. There is not a single team that can come to play basketball with Neptune. If you want to win, I warn your opponents, you have to prepare. If you don’t prepare, that will be it. because we are ready.
It would be funny if I said that we are happy to be among the final four. The appetite comes from eating, we really have the strength, we will definitely go to victory, I hope not even one “, – Mažeika promised to fight.
Žalgiris boss For coach Martin Schiller, this will be the first real final and he will fight for the trophy with the Lithuanian champion team. It is true that Jankūnas revealed that so far there have been no talks about the preliminary “gifts” and the first cup for his coach within the team.
“We don’t think of gifts for the coach, we just have to show a good result, and then we can present that main gift: trophies,” Jankūnas smiled.
Captain “Neptūnas” Mažeika, as he admits, is looking forward to next weekend. According to the basketball player, this is a basketball party, in which probably every player in the country wants to participate.
“It is really a very high level tournament that everyone wants to participate in. When you reach the final four, you will definitely feel great joy. I think that all basketball players who compete in Lithuania want to be in the final of this tournament, ”said Mažeika.
The decisive march of the Citadele KMT will be broadcast on LRT and DELFI television. During the weekend, basketball fans will have five games (including the final of the Copa de la Reina – aut.), As well as a sniper competition, special storylines with renowned presenters and musical performances.
[ad_2]
