A man from Kaunas who miraculously ran the ball all over the court quietly dreams of “Žalgiris”

Those who saw the match on screen as Paul Sorok’s father did not understand what was happening.

Because not even an operator who filmed the game captured the most impressive moment of the game, and perhaps the entire Italian basketball season.

The Roman team led by 3 points and still took a penalty in the Italian Second League match as the match clock counted the final seconds.

But there was an idea: the misdirected ball became a cross towards Paulius Sorokas, who was waiting for it in the area.

“It just came to our attention then. When the opponent missed the free throw, there was never anything to think about, I just took the ball and threw it, talking to 15 minutes recalled a Lithuanian representing the Kietis Club. “A friend of the team still managed to say: there is time, throw, throw.”

The length of the usual basketball court is 28 meters, P. Sorokas cut the distance after catching the ball and taking a step, but he was still so far from the basket that even the opponent did not jump and remained standing with his arms open without turning your head.

Filmed: another video has appeared

At that moment, the ball thrown by the Lithuanian basketball player flew across the field on a high trajectory.

And then a burst of joy echoed down the hall, and even the stubborn operator woke up to film the heads of the Kjetis basketball players who had lost their joy and crashed into an impressive Lithuanian three-point.

“After throwing the ball, I saw that the ball was going well. And when it fell, everything happened very fast, – said P. Sorokas. – You want to run, scream, jump, some kind of mess in mind.

Happiness is really great, although not expected. Today, I believe more, because I finally saw the full video of running the ball, someone from the team leaders found a better video. “

Importantly, the pitch gave Chieti’s team a chance to fight through overtime.

“After a big surprise, we were very upset during the extension. The desire was great to play and win, unfortunately we couldn’t win ”, sighed P. Sorokas.

Eurobasket Roma, which won extra time 12: 8, scored 94:91, despite Lithuania’s powerful play throughout all matches.

The six-foot forward scored 29 points, bounced 15 times with the ball and played for up to 43 minutes Sunday. He scored 9 of 14 points, the 8 penalties, only one in 6 three points, one but only.

Even the father couldn’t believe it

Šarūnas Jasikevičius, representative of the Lithuanian national team in the match with Spain, accurately shot over the entire field in the last second of the quarter with a semi-circle: the legendary player would sometimes try his luck if the opportunity presented itself.

Sorok made no secret that making such launches requires only one thing: success.

“You don’t train such pitches. The only thing you have to learn is to try until there is time, Sorok said.” And when hitting … I would like to say something very profound, but I have to admit I was lucky.

Enduring the embrace of his teammates, he only regretted that the match could not be won. “If we had won, the launch would really be like a cherry on a cake. Whatever you do, at least we had a chance to fight, “Sorok said.

At first, it was a bit disappointing for him that the operator missed the shot, especially since he was not seen by the basketball player’s father, who saw the game directly.

“Dad watched the game and then he said, ‘I can’t believe it, because I didn’t see it fall that way,’ laughed P. Sorok. “It’s good to have a better record, there will be something to remember.”

Rampant in the second league

This is the sixth season that P. Sorokas has competed in Italy.

The forward, who was born in Kaunas and entered the men’s basketball team through the “Žalgiris” youth team, went abroad after the season on Pasvalys’ “Milk Stars.”

He went to Italy in 2014, where his sister Indrė Sorokaitė plays volleyball at the highest level.

Soror started from the third team in the league, but kept climbing.

Last season, the heavyweight forward had already moved to the Italian Premier League and played for the season on the Sicilian island of Dynamo Club Sassari, where Eimantas Bendžius now shines.

“It was a pleasure to play there,” said the Lithuanian, who scored 4.7 points and 2.3 rebounds for Sasaris. – I had other suggestions in the summer, but the pandemic ruined the plans. He was determined to parizar and wait. I had to wait, but I received an attractive offer from the Chieti team.

I can play a lot here. There can only be two foreigners in the team, I like to carry responsibility on my shoulders. I accepted this challenge. Now, personal success is not bad, only the team is average. “

Basket de Chiquette 1994 with 3 wins and 6 losses ranks ninth in Group B of the Italian Second League, with P. Sorok at the top of the statistics.

He scores 17.2 points and rebounds 10.8 points, mainly in the league.

“I am well prepared and I came here to show that I am worthy to be where I was last season,” Sorok emphasized.

He almost always competes in fourth position: “I have good physical data, so a slower opponent can be hit from the front, and a physically weaker one can be hit from the back. I try to discover my strengths in each game ”.

It is typical in Italy, but Lithuania is very attracted

He has already made himself his in Italy, where he is fluent in Italian, is used to Italian culture and now lives with his most sincere friend.

Only in southern Italy, where there are 50 thousand. Chiet, with its population, is even less familiar, having played in northern Italy and Sicily so far.

One of the countries most affected by the pandemic continues to live in strict conditions.

“The type of quarantine now in Lithuania and Italy has been since October. I was still able to visit the sea in September, but everything is closed since October, we cannot move from one region to another, for example, we could not go to Rome. We followed the law as it should be, we have not yet been able to get to know southern Italy, because we stayed at home, “said P. Sorokas.

Every summer, she returns to Lithuania for her vacation, where she stays with her remaining friends and longing for her own home.

“Italy is like a second home to me, but no one will change Lithuania.

I’m from Kaunas, I love Lithuania, I like to travel around the country a bit in summer, after spending time in Kaunas and on the beach. I look forward to each summer, ”said P. Sorokas.

One day he would like to return to Lithuania to compete, but he has not yet received a concrete offer, although last year he played in the summer league competition in Kėdainiai.

Of course, most of all he would like to wear Kaunas “Žalgiris” clothes one day.

“The dream is always alive. The best thing is to dream quietly, to do my work, and time will show if I will be worthy. The player can decide a lot with his own hands, so it is possible to dream peacefully, “he said.

If a success like Sunday’s game continues to contribute, it is possible.

“It’s probably the most memorable pitch of my career. Until now, – added P. Sorokas. “I hope so far.”