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Photo: BNS
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Just over a week ago, at the Cido Arena in Panevėžys, Lithuanian basketball fans caught the eye of the last four fights of the Citadele King Mindaugas Cup (Citadele KMT).
Raincoat Panev Imperžys / Schedule
It is symbolic that the host team, Panevėžys “Lietkabelis”, was led by a local player in both the semi-finals and the final. This is Gabrielius Maldūnas, burning with love for his hometown.
Although this basketball player is by far the seventh most useful player in the Betsafe-LKL Championship, he was the best member of the team statistically in both games over the weekend.
In the semifinals against Juventus de Utena, the 27-year-old, 204 cm taller, scored 14 points, bounced 6 balls and scored 22 utility points. Maldūnas remained as the team leader in the final against Kaunas “Žalgiris”. Playing against the Euroleague, he missed only one rebound for a double-double: 10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists and 20 utility points.
“I fight for my hometown as much as I can, so every point is very important in a match like this,” Maldūnas told a press conference after the semi-final match.
Still, Panevėžys is open – although “Žalgiris” is a very good team, the defeat in the final was extremely disappointing for him and his teammates.
“It seemed that Žalgiris was playing very well in the final, but now we saw the replay and it was a bit unfortunate that we didn’t get a chance to win the long-awaited title for Panevėžys at home. We were hampered by lack of experience. that when we came out in the second half we made some mistakes, we didn’t take shots “, the basketball player recalled the painful defeat.
In a detailed conversation with LKL.lt: Maldūnas thoughts on the four finalists of the Citadele KMT, awaiting the next challenges, a conversation with Žydrūnas Urbonas about a more appropriate position and personal experience in the United States and Spain.
– Let’s start with the final four of Citadele KMT. What impressions did the event leave you in terms of technical nuances?
– Although the season started with fans in the stadiums, now we are used to playing without them, so it was not felt. But it felt like an extraordinary match, everything was done technically perfectly. Of course we play in the home arena, but maybe we don’t even feel it, because Cido’s arena was redesigned in a completely different way than what we’re used to. It was really fun and beautiful, although without the spectators it created a great atmosphere.
– You definitely beat Juventus in the semi-finals. We saw that there was a lot of joy in the dressing room. Can you say that your main objective was precisely to win the semi-finals?
– The goals were the highest as we knew that the final four would be played in Panevėžys. We think about how to focus and win those four. The objective was to play the final and even win it, because we have already beaten Žalgiris, no matter how good the team is. Higher goals were set.
We were in the pits before the final four. That stress interrupted us: we lost against “Rytas” and “Dzūkija”, against “Šiauliai” we barely survived. I think it helped us focus, we played one of the best games against Juventus. The top was not reached, but we really played well. We can’t complain about second place, but it was a shame to lose the final.
– You were the most useful player on the team that weekend, the basketball world even heard rumors that the team should give you a new contract as soon as possible. And how do you feel after such a weekend? Are you more confident in your own strength?
– Everything went very well, I can’t complain. Last year we also played in the last four, but this year it all took place in the home arena. They were the two most important games of my career, I focused a lot on them, I wanted to perform better while playing for my hometown. Nobody talks about contract extensions, there is still a contract for next year. Needless to say, it was a good weekend and I look forward to continuing to show off this game. You don’t have to walk with your head up, but keep working and show that it was no coincidence.
– After the game with Juventus, you emphasized how important it is for you to fight for your hometown. You’re playing here for the second year. How much do home games contribute to personal performances as successful as last weekend?
– It helps me a lot. My goal when I returned to Lithuania was to play for my native team, which is now one of the best teams in Lithuania. This helps, and sometimes even hinders, because many people, acquaintances, childhood friends, pressure me to be the only one from Panevėžys to play in this league. Sure, there is Lukauskis, but he’s older. I am the only one of my generation. There is that pressure, but at the beginning of the season it’s a wonderful feeling to see the fans, the coaches from your childhood, the parents of friends supporting you in the stands, that’s why we play basketball.
– After the semi-finals, you jokingly said a few phrases with Juventus coach Urbon about your real position, whether you are the “fourth” or the “fifth” number. What is the prehistory of this conversation and in what position do you feel best about yourself?
– When I started my professional career, I imagined myself as the “fourth” for my composition. I went to the Utena team review, and coach Urbonas didn’t see me there in the “fourth” number, he didn’t offer a contract, and that was the discussion. My agents and I wanted to play “fourth” myself, but now it has become reality that playing “fifth” is a little better for me. I’m the type of player who doesn’t need to shoot much, I work more on defense, I pass the ball and I don’t need as many shots, so that’s the right position. In height or weight, I do not coincide with the fifth position, but with mobility and speed I can play in that position and take advantage of my strengths.
– And where would you see your greatest untapped potential? Is it probably still possible at this age to add new weapons to your arsenal or upgrade old ones?
– The main disadvantage is the throw from medium distance and from three points. I try to work with that every summer. I still don’t dare give up, but I am the type of player who wants to build on my strengths. There are pitchers on the team, so they throw, I bring my floats from a closer distance, giving defense and rebounding. These are my strengths and I focus on them. I have already improved the launch of fines, maybe it will start to launch from year to year.
– Experienced a small hole before the final four of the Citadele KMT Betsafe-LKL. A crushing defeat for the Dzuks, he landed on Rytas, barely outscoring Šiauliai. Was this the consequence of an exceptional preparation for the final four of the Citadele KMT?
– There is a truth, with the physical trainer we began to prepare for that weekend, a month before. Then the loads were increased. That fatigue bothered me a bit before the last four, but later, when the loads subsided, we reached optimal athletic form. As we can see, it helped us win the semi-finals and play the fight in the final. We sacrificed some games, but we achieved the goals in the last four.
– Now, a few months before the playoffs, the stage begins, where second place can be expected to be a very persistent fight. What will be most important for you as a team to improve in the near future?
– Those few games cost us a second place, but it’s a bit slippery. One or two victories can take you to second place or vice versa. We know we have one tournament left and we must focus on it, not share points with others. Soon we will have six matches in a row on the road, we will need to score as many points as possible and then see what happens. It is important to appear your best against direct opponents.
– Basketball journalists, players, coaches comment on you as a very kind and intelligent personality. It can also be added that he graduated from one of the prestigious Ivy League universities. What place does the academic world occupy in your life?
– All my life intellectual things, science, I’m not going to lie, I was above basketball. I’d be tired of going to exercise, watching movies on Netflix, sleeping, etc. When I played in Spain, the routine was like that and I was bored, I couldn’t suffer anymore and I was even finishing my career because I wanted to change the routine. After returning to Lithuania, I found new hobbies and entertainment here. I like to read books, to participate in battles. I appreciate it even more than basketball. At some point it will end and there will be a lot of life left after that, so you need to take an interest in various things.
– How much did your experience in the United States help you as a person, where did you go when you were 15 years old?
– I think it gave me a lot. I left when I was 15 years old, I lived alone, without my parents, without my family, I had to grow up earlier and start taking care of myself. It was necessary to get out of the situation, it helped a lot. This was followed by a few years in Spain, living abroad. In college or school, you are still not as independent as a semi-dependent parent. Normal life has already begun in Spain: he was no longer a student, he was no longer a schoolboy. It also contributed to my maturity.
– As for the crossroads of options, you graduated from a prestigious educational institution and were probably able to start a career in economics, where you could work perhaps even more paid work than a basketball player, but still started a professional career. How do you remember that choice, wasn’t it difficult?
– I knew I wanted to play basketball from the past because it was part of my life. That needed to be implemented. As for the jobs, I would have found them in the United States, I have acquaintances and I have graduated from a good university, I would live well. But I still consider myself a patriot: I was attracted to Lithuania as soon as possible, I wanted to play here, but I couldn’t get a contract. Two years later, it was time for Spain to return. I always wanted to live here, start a family. Even before I went to America, I didn’t think I would stay there, I like living in Lithuania, there are friends and family here.
– The end of your career is probably still a long way off, but you probably already have ideas where to turn after that. Perhaps the job of basketball, as a coach or agent, is tempting?
– I graduated in economics, I also did an internship in banks. Now I am more fascinated by the direction of the business. My parents have a business in Panevėžys and I have been helping them a bit since I returned to Panevėžys. They don’t have a mountain pension for them, the older brother and sister already have their own businesses, so someone will have to take over the parent company, that’s for me. I don’t think basketball will end anytime soon, but you need to put down roots to live comfortably and finish your career.
As for destiny in basketball, never say “never.” I would be more interested in the job of a club director than an agent, not a coach, I might be interested in such an opportunity one day, but you never know, maybe I will become a coach, agent or something like that, but no I know. I still have a distant future with basketball.
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