[ad_1]
The port city team, which is designing a long-term vision, has retained seven players who wore Neptūnas jerseys last season: Žygimantas Janavičius, Tadas Pažėras, Martynas Mažeikas, Matas Jogėla, Džiugas Slavinskas, Klaidas Metrikis and Simas Galdikas , who was joined by Eimas. Norbert Giga and Benas Griciūnas.
This is the twelfth finale of the next season of “Neptūnas”, where fans will no longer see veteran Tomas Delininkaiitis, with whom the contract was terminated by mutual agreement.
“We knew our ‘salary cap’, budget and opportunities, and they are not great at the moment,” commented the team’s head coach, Tomas Gaidamavičius, about the summer job for the “bcneptunas.lt” website. – The main emphasis was that we want to put together a Lithuanian team this year and give young players a chance. Legionnaires are also suitable for me, but the situation is such that dear foreigners have no money, and instead of cheaper ones, they wanted to try Lithuanians.
There is still such a nuance in the pandemic and the second wave of the virus. It’s unclear if basketball players will be able to come, how much quarantine will be needed, what the future holds. Of course, we didn’t rule out adding something later, but we didn’t want to take chances just yet. “
Season Preparation Plan: In the first week, Klaipėda residents, led by fitness coach Laurynas Gendvilas, will work on injury prevention and body preparation for the season, and next week preparation will be combined with basketball training.
On August 25 and 27, Neptune is planning control matches, but the plans may be confused by the uncertain situation with the coronavirus.
On September 15, basketball players from the port city will start their way to the group stage of the FIBA Champions League. In the first qualifying match in London, the students of Tomas Gaidamavičius will compete with the Lions team, and the second match will take place in Klaipeda.
“The vision of the game will be seen when we start to play something”, T. Gaidamavičius shared his impressions from the first training session. – I can say that we will show a lot of work, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of desire. Motivate, I think, this team will not need more. We promise the fans that there will definitely be a lot of energy and fighting in our match. We will see how we do it. I wish the fans would not immediately dismiss us and be patient. “
We will see how we do it
One of the biggest “Neptūnas” moves in the summer is 31-year-old attack organizer Žygimantas Janavičius, for whom the company will consist of 22-year-old Tadas Pažlaikis and 35-year-old team captain Martynas Mažeika.
“We can say that the preservation of the March was a priority,” shared the Neptūnas trainer. – I wanted a basketball player with so much experience in the position of a player. The walk can control the team, it can suffocate it, and the second player we are left with is Tadas, who is an active little boy, always progressive and always ready to give 100%.
He has a slightly different style of player than Hike, more offensive and less dominant of the team. Two different players, and M.Mažeika can also benefit from this position. He can play the ball and defend himself very well ”.
M.Mažeika’s main position is the second one, in which T. Gaidamavičius will still have 27-year-old Evaldas Šaulis from Šiauliai and 23-year-old Aida Einikis who has returned to Neptūnas.
“Evaldas is a good pitcher, he plays well on defense, works well and his character traits are very good. Evaldo is so old that he has to show the best game of his career. He came very motivated, I hope this motivation is worth it” said T. Gaidamavičius about the newcomer.
Promising 22-year-old forward Matas Jogėla and Klaipėda’s Džiugas Slavinskas, 21, will share the roles of a lightweight forward on the field.
“It is very important how the younger players, who already have leadership roles, manage their roles. It is not easy for young people to bear this. It happens that during the season they get disappointed and lower their heads. We will work on that and hope that everything will go away. good. Matas Jogėla will have every opportunity to show and reveal himself, and when he will use it is only a matter of time. The potential of a basketball player is unmistakably high. Good facts: long arms, jump, throw, push, defend and block pitches from rivals “, shared the helmsman of” Neptūnas “.
It is emphasized in the media that in fourth place in the Klaipėda team, where 20-year-old Klaidas Metrikis, 23-year-old Giedrius Stankevičius and 25-year-old Norbertas Giga de Utena will be able to do so, is problematic.
In the course it will become clear which position will be problematic.
The Neptune strategist disagrees with this initial statement.
“In the course it will be clear which position will be problematic. I do not value fourth position so much because here we have two young players who are good pitchers. Clearly, they are not stable yet, since there are quite young but good pitchers who can push and defend well. on three-point shots. If we have problems closer to the basket, Norbert will be able to replace them successfully. Only time will tell how all this will succeed, but that’s the vision, “said T. Gaidamavičius.
N.Giga’s usual position is that of midfielder, in which he will also play for Neptūnas Simas Galdikas, 32, a 210cm tall, 32-year-old Benas Griciūnas, who shone last season in Šiauliai.
“We really wanted Ben. I like such a big and mobile man. So high, it’s very coordinated. I think Ben will help us a lot, ”said the strategist, who has been associated with Neptune for three years.
What goals are set for this team, which has made it into the top four teams in LKL in the last eight seasons? The main objective is to stabilize the team affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Goals should be asked of leaders who want to give up debt, play a good game, and educate young people to some degree. We want to stabilize the team. The goals have yet to be mentioned in the standings. We want to see for ourselves how we look on the field. Much work remains to be done. The personal goal is one: to fight for victory in every match, and during the season we will see how strong we really are and how far we can go, ”said T. Gaidamavičius.
If the Champions League selection begins on September 15, then the start of the LKL season is scheduled for September 24.
[ad_2]