Maskoliūnas – about the tandem of JV and Sabonis, the return of Kalnietis and faith in Giedraitis / News

The Lithuanian team received more resistance in the second friendly than with the Dominican Republic, but they still broke Russia, and in this match we could see the tandem of Jonas Valančiūnas and Domantas Sabonis on the field for the first time this summer.

Both Lithuanian towers together had two sections in the square: the third and fourth quarters began. The Lithuanian team won the first section with its two towers on the parquet 11: 4, and in the last quarter it started 7: 8.

The coach of the Lithuanian team, Darius Maskoliūnas, appreciated the match, when both centers were on the floor.

“I can’t hide, at the moment they looked good, but we have not yet loaded the fourth position combinations for Domantas. Today we tested with options and simple sections, they looked good both in attack and defense,” Maskoliūnas said in the conference of press.

Mantas Kalnietis, who recovered from an ankle injury, also entered the field for the first time, scoring 5 points in 16 minutes, making 2 assists, grabbing 3 balls and scoring 8 utility points.

Maskoliūnas admitted that the team captain will need time to get in and get back to the rhythm of the game.

“In the beginning, Mantas started with reckless decisions, but he needs time without playing for a month and a half and we emphasize it before the game,” said the specialist. – He rushed at first, but the second outing was already much more solid. I understand it perfectly and we hope that his game will gradually improve. “

The helmsman of the Lithuanian team revealed what worries him the most, but was happy with the enthusiasm of the students and the easy points won.

“It just came to our knowledge then. We forget the schemes, we get stuck because we are out of place in the attack. I would like us to look more solid from the beginning, because I think we can already. And of the positive things, it is, as always , everyone is on fire, trying, the pace of the game is high, which allows them to score easy points. We have a fast team that can do it every time after a rebound, but we still lack patience. We will try to improve our game “, Maskoliūnas said.

Rokas Giedraitis finished the match in the second consecutive match with 2 points, although this time he started the match in the starting five. However, Maskoliūnas does not survive due to such performances by the striker and believes that in the future he will help the team much more.

“It is very difficult to evaluate something,” said Maskoliūnas. – I am very aware of the potential of Rock because I have seen 95 percent of its performances in Spain. Yes, you still don’t give as much as we know you can, but there is time and you will find yourself. I have claims against him for defense because he was attacked in the first half, but I believe in him and I know what he can. He helps us and will help us even more. “

Tadas Sedekerskis, a friend of the Giedraitis team, appeared on the floor for just 24 seconds at the Baskonia club in Vitoria. Maskoliūnas assured that the striker had no health problems, it was a tactical decision.

“We wanted to try two greats at the same time. We thought about releasing Tada at the end, but decided that it would be better not to throw him into the game for a few minutes, ”explained the coach.

Maskoliūnas, who promised to announce the last twelve on the night of June 27, did not shy away from exchanging defenders against the Russians, but such a defense system was often punished by Russian basketball players.

However, in the future, the Lithuanian national team will not give up on this idea and the coaching staff of coaches believes in opportunities for tall people to exchange defenders effectively.

“With the big two we even tried to defend ourselves by exchanging, with Domu we did it often tonight, but as intentionally, we are punished. In general, with Domantas in the square, the changes satisfy us, we will continue to use it, because the opponents will definitely try to play under five against us, trying to attack on the perimeter ”, concluded Maskoliūnas.

Comment from Mantas Kalnietis: