Darius Maskoliūnas, who evaluated the players: “The goal is not the Baltic Way Cup, but another summer”

It was a completely different game after Black Friday, when the Lithuanians lost to the Estonian national team 85:92.

The Lithuanian national team started the match with the Latvians with a different energy in defense, the results of which were reflected in the precision of the rivals: the Latvia scored only 1 of the first 11 shots.

Marekas Blaževičius and Tadas Sedekerskis ensured that the Lithuanians dominated the fight for the balls, and the Lithuanians had more weapons in the attack.

In the first half, Marius Grigonis scored 14 points in 9 minutes, and after a series of deceptive moves, he shot a triple before the second half siren and hit his forehead. Why didn’t it fall on Friday?

Laurynas Birutis and M.Blaževičius exchanged points below the basket, receiving timely transfers.

Only when the score increased to 23 points (50:27) did we see signs of distraction and the Latvians smoothed out the gap to 8.

“It just came to our attention then. We don’t have the so-called assassin mentality,” said D. Maskoliūnas later.

Both coaches showed more and more emotions: D.Maskoliūnas due to relaxation on defense, and R.Štelmaheris reminds him of Šarūnas Jasikevičius with his anger and demand.

As they watched the match between a couple of hundred spectators of Estonian basketball legends: Martin Muursepp and Gert Kullamae, as well as the President of the Estonian Basketball Federation, former Kaunas “Žalgiris” coach Jaakas Salumets, the Lithuanians solidly finished the tournament.

This time, the Lithuanians won the fight by balls 47:32, and the accuracy of the two and three points (52%) was even 20%. taller than Latvian.

To win first place in the tournament would require a Latvian victory on Saturday against the Estonians, which doesn’t seem realistic knowing that the Estonians had been preparing for the tournament for a couple of months, and the Latvians had only six workouts, according to R Štelmaher.

According to D.Maskoliūnas, the goal of winning in the Baltic Road competition was only additional, not the most important.

– Coaches, what thoughts revolve after the game?

– The most important thing is that after a bad game we found motivation and energy, although there was a shorter lineup. Everyone left the party with a greater desire. And winning is always good, just like finishing the tournament. There will be more fun on the bus.

– The goal was to control some players: what did you learn about those basketball players?

– Yes, I wanted to see the debutants in action, in men’s basketball. I would say that none of them disappointed. Everyone tried, they helped a little. The fact that we miss a lot. I said to the players: We have to bite our teeth to work, suffer and believe.

We wanted to win every game, but the goal was not to win the Baltic Road tournament, although we wanted to win. “Windows” is waiting for us, and you also understand: how many players from this team can be invited? It will be all over again.

Finally, the most important thing for us next summer and the selection for the Olympic Games.

– You tried three players. Which one seemed more solid?

– There really are two, because Mantas played mainly in the second number. Both Rokas and Lukas looked good today. Maybe he wanted more security from Rock, he knows the system well. He handled the team well, but sometimes he lacked a cool head.

And Luke, traditionally.

– How close is R. Jokubaitis in terms of tournaments like the Olympic qualifiers?

– Very close. Because that is the situation.

Photo by Erik Ovcharenko / 15 minute photo / Rokas Jokubaitis

But what does closing mean? You have to prove it. In such matches, you have to prove that you can play with the best. No one promises to share anything with him in advance, but to this day he is one of the best in Lithuania in this position.

– What should Tadas Sedekersky add to feel like a full-fledged candidate for the national team next summer?

– I said after the first game: I was not surprised by his disposition and enthusiasm, he worked extra, he worked hard. But he needs clarity. At the club, he does not know his position, because some want to see the third number, the coach, in the fourth. Here we are also in a situation where we have only pushed them to fourth place. New system, debut, emotion. But with him everything is fine. His body is something like that. You need to catch even better on defense, a more stable shot. But everything will come, he is still a very young player and very promising.

Erik Ovcharenko / 15min photo / Tadas Sedekersky

– You tried Marek Blaževičius for the first time. Do you think there is a chance to invite him or another Žalgiris player, like Rokas Jokubaitis, to the national team through the “windows”?

– We can only guess. I would really like to, but knowing the situation in the Euroleague, it will also start a little earlier this year and can be compressed by a pandemic. The fact that the club will solve its own problems, it is not clear what role they will have under the new coach. The fact is that I would like to see them in the national team, but it will be decided by the club and the coach.

– Does Marius Grigonis look completely healed after that long treatment of a foot injury?

– yeah It should be understood that he has not played basketball for almost 10 months. Friday’s releases, when you may have taken too much initiative, mean nothing. Give him credits, he is one of the best attack players in Lithuania and one of the leaders. After 10 months without playing, it is not easy for him, but everything is fine with him: you can see that the “bassists” are sprouting.

– What are your plans before your trip to the Barcelona Club?

– I should go on August 7 if nothing happens.

– Do you have any plans until then?

– Nida Jazz tennis tournament.

– Do you hope to win?

– It would be good for the partner not to see this interview, because he will still say that I am not motivated. It would be difficult to win, there are many strong couples.