[ad_1]
On Monday, Kaunas beat Vilnius “Rytas” 84:73 at home and won the LKL final series 3-0.
And although Th. Walkup claimed to the contrary, Žalgiris did not suffer much from the final in the final, so even after the last games of the season there were issues more sensitive than their course.
“I have not yet decided where to play next season, I will consider everything. There really is a chance that I will stay here. In Kaunas I found friends for life: Artūras Milaknis, Paulius Jankūnas, Marius Grigonis, other guys. It’s hard to keep in touch when you travel from one team to another, but this dressing room is really very close to me, we spend a lot of time together, ”said Th. Walkups.
However, Mr. Schiller is realistic.
“We would like to keep Thomas, but you already know the challenges that lie ahead. There is a shortage of players in the Euroleague, and in all teams, wherever a vacancy occurs, it will be among the candidates. But we and I are specifically trying to do everything, “said the 39-year-old specialist.
At the post-game press conference, he did not hesitate to list more basketball players who will likely take a suitcase for a trip to other countries.
“We’ve all heard of Marius Grigonis, you can guess Th. Walkup, Nigel Hayes, Rock Jokubaitis. That is wonderful. “Žalgiris” is a stepping stone that helps Lithuanian basketball players move up the career ladder. When we have to say goodbye it is a great success for us, although it also hurts.
I haven’t said goodbye to anyone yet, but it’s clear that Marius is definitely leaving. He deserved it, he achieved a lot, I am very happy about that, no matter how much it hurts us. We have to understand that the move to one of the four biggest clubs in the Euroleague, the life-changing contract amount, is a great achievement, “said Schiller.
When asked what newcomers should look for to close the gaps, the Austrian set a key criterion beforehand.
“Paulius Motiejūnas, coaches, scouts, we will all look for good characters first. This is the first selection criteria, and we will see everything else,” said Schiller.
He also admitted that in the spring in Kaunas he met Mantas Kalnietis, who was unable to finish the season due to an injury at Krasnodar club Lokomotiv, but was still recognized as the best player in the VTB United League.
“We had coffee in one cafe and then we moved to another. Maybe there was an hour and a half of conversation. Every Lithuanian of the right level without a valid contract must be in our sight, and where the fact that Mantas is the son of this club is identified with him. Of course, we have discussions with him, but so far I cannot incite speculation, “Schiller said.
He probably didn’t drink as much coffee with anyone all season as he did with his assistant Arne Woltmann; the coach had previously mentioned that even after one last Euroleague match, he likes to have a cup with a German before taking home.
However, after the last duel of the season, the tradition will change, at least in terms of the choice of drink.
And Mr. Schiller does not mind that it is necessary to celebrate on Monday, at the beginning of the work week.
“When we won the Copa Rey Mindaugas, the party was pretty wild, so I already know what to expect,” smiled the team strategist.
He himself finished his first season in Kaunas, which was full of innovations for an NBA G league specialist.
“My experience has been mainly tactical and technical. In the German championship, basketball is different from Lithuania, in North America, again in its own way. Even in the Euroleague, the game is still different from Lithuania.
There was something to learn, something to adapt to. Hopefully as a professional I have stayed the same, but I have adapted to a lot and in general I am happy with the opportunity that is offered to me. I imagine that just as many did not dare to take this job, deciding to offer me a job was a bold and unconventional step for me, ”said M. Schiller.
Whether it has been substantially adapted or changed, but the difference with M. Schiller, who arrived in Kaunas in August, is now truly remarkable.
After all, last summer I would hardly have chosen an English word from the letter “f”, asking her to describe the season finale in three words.
“It’s a great season,” laughed the Austrian. – I know the club wins local titles quite often, but I did it for the first time, it means a lot to me. I am very happy for the whole season: if ten months ago someone had said that we would win the championship and the cup, we would reach 50%. Balance of victories in the Euroleague, I would not hesitate to sign up for such a scenario. Also, we have the same 15 basketball players in the locker room as at the start of the season, which is also a good sign. “
Finally, M. Schiller did not forget to defeat Giedrius Žibėnas in the team of his direct opponent “Rytas”.
“Congratulations to the Rytas coach, he fantastically revived the team, gave it a new tactical orientation. I really respect his work to change the game of ‘Tomorrow’,” M. Schiller did not skimp on his kind gesture towards his opponent.
The victories of “Žalgiris” in LKL have been taking place since 2011: Kaunas residents are proclaimed champions for the eleventh time in a row. For the second time in a row in the final series, he beat the capital’s “dry” result.
Since 1993, when LKL was founded, Žalgiris has triumphed 23 times and Rytas 5 times.
This season, the Kaunas team won six of seven mutual competitions with Vilnius residents. Last February, the people of Žalgiris also defended the laurels of the King Mindaugas Cup tournament, although they did not meet Rytas at the time.
At that time, the LKL season is not over yet: In the series of up to three bronze medal wins, Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” leads 2-1 against Utena “Juventas”.
Žalgiris fans march before the final LKL match in Kaunas:
It is strictly forbidden to use the information published by DELFI on other websites, in the media or elsewhere, or to distribute our material in any way without consent, and if consent has been obtained, it is necessary to indicate DELFI as the source .
[ad_2]
