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With some basketball players turning their heads, how to make the most of the time before next season Gytis Masiulis I took the opportunity to reappear on the parquet. And so far, the tallest 22-year-old cannot rejoice this time.
G. Masiulis initially received an invitation to go to the Vechta RASTA club, but upon considering it, the team found another stop. However, when another German team, the Frankfurt Skyliners, were invited to participate, the Lithuanian realized that the opportunity could not be launched and said “yes”.
“I was lying in the room and the agent called, saying he was interested in a German team. Initially I considered it and wasn’t sure if it would go, but then they signed a contract with another player. Still, the Frankfurt version came later and I thought I still had nothing to lose, I would take the opportunity to see a foreigner and play with him until others could do it, ”he said.
G. Masiulis, having quickly found the entrances, flew to Germany and the next day, after receiving a negative coronavirus test result, went to train to meet up with his teammates. For Lithuania, this was the first stop abroad, it was anxiety about how things would turn out.
“The first day was difficult, because I arrived in a new country without knowing the language, I had to find my own way to get from the airport to my place of residence.” But the next day he had already taken the test, he was allowed to play sports with the team and everything became easier.
I am very glad that I made this decision. It gave me a lot of confidence in my strength and I have already seen many good things and gained experience ”, I was happy.
Masiulis
On the first day of familiar faces, G. Masiulis had already seen several. He had already seen Richard Freudenberg and Leon Kratzer at youth championships, and Skyliners coach Sebastian Gleim spent several years on German youth teams as an assistant and noted the name of Lithuania.
“He knows me more than I know him because he said that after beating him in the semifinals, he started following me more.” The coach liked the way I played, “G. Masiulis smiled, recalling the 2016 18-year championship.
“It was very well received, I am well attended, the coaching staff asks if everything is fine. I am very happy, I agree with the team, I have the opportunity to learn English too,” added Gytis.
G. Masiulis has to live at an unusual rate. The match not only takes place every other day and there is little time to prepare, but all the teams are housed in a hotel and are obliged to follow the safety instructions. It is true that there are reservations in them, because the hotel can communicate with everyone, and access to the outside is not restricted, if there is no contact with strangers during the walks.
“It is possible to communicate with everyone in the hotel, because everyone is checked, we wear sensor bracelets that would help track contacts if someone gets sick.” Disinfection is frequent in the hotel, all at the highest level. And you can walk with up to three people, but I didn’t do it myself. When I have a spring allergy, I really can’t go out (laughs).
“They really didn’t want to go, because they told us that the number of contacts should be reduced, because now would be the worst time to get a virus,” he said.
Training for the first team after the break was not easy, although the taller one expected the athletic form to look worse than it really was.
“At first it was difficult because I was just playing outside with a fitness trainer, I worked harder on strength than on endurance. When I got here, I played sports for 10 days and I think I managed to be in pretty good sports form. I hope it only improves.
The Germans were able to play more during quarantine, and the Americans who had to spend time in quarantine also came with me. The first training was quite normal, I thought it would be much more difficult to start. Of course, we did not get the optimal shape, it is not possible in that time, but as in 10 days, we prepare as best as possible, “says the Lithuanian.
Masiulis
G. Masiulis’ debut in the German championship took place against ALBA Berlin, who was not represented by Rokas Giedraitis that day. The Skyliners lost after a good end to the ALBA game, while G. Masiulis scored 14 points and 3 rebounds in 20 minutes.
The basketball player who entered the field at start five expected that, because he was acquired as the team’s top tall man until L. Kratzer was injured.
“Of course there was excitement, we are still playing against ALBA, a strong Euroleague team.” It may have been weird to play without viewers, but I thought it would be even weirder. You can still hear the support from the bank, it wasn’t that uncomfortable. That game went pretty well, “G. Masiulis smiled.
In the second match, Ludwigsburg’s MHP Riesen team lost dramatically again, and G. Masiulis scored 12 points and grabbed 7 balls. Meanwhile, in the third match against RASTA, victory was achieved and here the Lithuanian hit the most important shots. Your account – 9 points.
“So far I have tried to show my best, listen to the coach’s instructions and I think we played well, especially as a team. Our team was 14th in the regular season, and now we’ve played against teams that were much taller and performed well, ”he is happy.
So far, from the first weeks in Germany, G. Masiulis’s impressions are the best. His team matures the goal of getting into the top eight: a Lithuanian also lives for that purpose. Meanwhile, the tall man who belongs to Kaunas “Žalgiris” and who represents Klaipėda “Neptūnas” is not yet thinking about the next season and the opportunities to establish himself in this league.
“This league is very strong in Europe, I tried something different than LKL.” There are many individually strong players, Euroleague teams. Being on the field and playing against capable teams when other Lithuanians don’t have that opportunity is a great time.
So far, I don’t think about next season too much, because now the most important thing is to be as solid as possible and make sure I finish this: there aren’t many games left. After that, we’ll see what to do next season, “he says.
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