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The Betsafe-LKL championship teams end many new and unprecedented 2020s. The global COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic also hit basketball hard, but it was far from defeated: the season continues and clubs are preparing to translate a new page for 2021.
The pandemic affected the ten clubs in this Betsafe-LKL championship in one way or another. Illness, postponement of matches, self-isolation, urgent but very important decisions – that’s what everyday life was like this year.
However, basketball in Lithuania continues, and at the same time the intriguing duel of this season continues, most of which will take place in 2021.
On New Year’s Eve, LKL.lt spoke with the captains of the ten teams and asked them the same five questions related to the end and the beginning of the year, as well as the internal atmosphere of the teams.
Paulius Jankūnas (Kaunas “Žalgiris”), Arnas Butkevičius (Vilnius “Rytas”), Vytenis Lipkevičius (Panevėžys “Lietkabelis”), Martynas Mažeika (Klaipėda “Neptūnas”), Marius Runkauskas (Utena “Juventus”) shared their thoughts with the fans . Egidijus Dimša (Prienai Cbet), Arvydas Šikšnius (Pasvalys Milk Stars), Mindaugas Lukauskis (Šiauliai), Artūras Jomantas (Alytus Sintek-Dzūkija) and Julius Kazakauskas (Kėdainiai Nevėžis-Optibet).
LKL.lt asked all captains to answer the questions unprepared, according to the “here and now” principle, exactly as they really think at the moment.
Speaking of New Year’s wishes for their teams, eight out of ten captains uttered the word “cheers.” The captains spent more time thinking about the answers, as if agreeing, to their own coaches’ question.
Who is the most talkative on your team?
P. Jankūnas: Marius Grigonis.
A. Butkevičius: Augustas Marčiulionis.
V. Lipkevičius: Margiris Normantas.
M. Mažeika: Simas Galdikas.
M. Runkauskas: Vytautas Šulskis.
E. Dimša: Dominykas Domarkas.
A. Šikšnius: Tomas Lekūnas.
M. Lukauskis: Andy Van Vlietas.
A. Jomantas: Paulius Danisevičius.
J. Kazakauskas: Vaidas Čepukaitis.
Who is the most prepared person on your team?
P. Jankūnas: Joffrey Lauvergne.
A. Butkevičius: Martynas Echodas.
V. Lipkevičius: Paulius Valinskas.
M. Mažeika: If without himself, it is Žygimantas Janavičius.
M. Runkauskas: Žygimantas Skučas.
E. Dimša: Tomas Digbeu.
A. Šikšnius: Me (laughs – aut.).
M. Lukauskis: Let’s say Jonas Paukštė.
A. Jomantas: Dominykas Domarkas.
J. Kazakauskas: Arielis Hukporti.
Which game do you remember the most this year?
P. Jankūnas: The duel where M. Grigonis snatched the victory in the Euroleague in the last second.
A. Butkevičius: Probably the first game of the season, when we played Juventus de Utena at home.
V. Lipkevičius: Victory at home against Vilnius “Morning”.
M. Mažeika: The home game against Panevėžys “Lietkabelis”, although we lost.
M. Runkauskas: Just our last game, because we miss basketball so much.
E. Dimša: Matches in Kaunas, against “Žalgiris”, which we lost during extra time.
A. Šikšnius: Probably that home win against Vilnius “Rytas”.
M. Lukauskis: I would say the victory against the “Neptune” from Klaipeda.
A. Jomantas: The first duel against “Šiauliai”.
J. Kazakauskas: Victory at home against Vilnius “Morning”.
What phrase of your team coach does absolutely all players recognize? What phrase does the coach use most often?
P. Jankūnas: “It makes sense” (from English)
A. Butkevičius: “Let’s talk.”
V. Lipkevičius: “Aidi” (forward, from Serbian).
M. Mažeika: “We have to work.”
M. Runkauskas: “Ginkis!”
E. Dimša: “I want to make you better so you can climb higher next year.”
A. Šikšnius: There is no specific phrase, but the team really recognizes the Russian and English words (laughs, aut.)
M. Lukauskis: He says everything for sure, the coach talks a lot.
A. Jomantas: “We can fix it” (in English)
J. Kazakauskas: “ICE” (ice, from English)
What three things would you like your team to do in 2021?
P. Jankūnas: Cheers, both against the crown and for injuries. More wins and unity.
A. Butkevičius: Persistence, Devotion and Victories.
V. Lipkevičius: Health, patience and determination.
M. Mažeika: Patience, because not everything comes immediately.
M. Runkauskas: Health, victories and desire to play.
E. Dimša: No injuries, more wins and enjoy the game.
A. Šikšnius: Victories, health, money.
M. Lukauskis: Victories, health, patience.
A. Jomantas: Health, accurate shots and wins.
J. Kazakauskas: Victories, Health and Good Contracts.
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