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Cup tournaments are a place of sensations. Probably every basketball player has said at least once that a full season and a cup tournament are two different stories that must be recreated each time. At the Citadele King Mindaugas Cup (Citadele KMT) tournament, this year’s colorful and promising story continues with the Utena Juventus team led by Žydrūnas Urbono.
When the Citadele KMT quarter-final stage spells were raffled off in late 2020, Ž. Urbano was far from smiling.
His team was already difficult last year due to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, and the spells meant that they would have to fight Vilnius “Rytas” for the fifth time in a row due to the local final.
Utena’s coach was later evaluated by Burus as uninteresting, even half laughing, half seriously expressing the desire to improve with Kaunas “Žalgiris”. But there were also many arguments to fear “Rytas”: the first two games of the season for the Juventus team lost by an average of 25 points.
However, the start of 2021 will likely be remembered by this coach in the future as one of the best stretches of his still growing career. In the Citadele KMT’s two-game series in the quarter-finals of the two-game series, Juventus added Morning with a total difference of 29 points and advanced to the four finalists.
Ž. For Urbon, as a man. For the coach, this will be the first career opportunity with his team to fight for the medals, possibly the main trophy.
“Without a doubt, this is one of the most important steps for me as a coach. After all, I don’t work as a coach for a short time, it means a lot of wins like that. There were those victories, even two years ago when we beat “Rytas” in the quarterfinals. But it is not formalized: victories gain weight when you win trophies. For that we will look for it ”, said the Juventus coach after the victorious march towards the four finalists.
In general, Ž. Urbon not so long ago, 9 years ago, he himself was a professional basketball player. During his almost two decades of career, the forward has shuffled up to ten different clubs.
Fate, coincidence or a great script: in 2012 he finished playing professional basketball at Utena. And from 2017 until now, Utena’s core team remains strongly in his hands. Ž. Urbonas in Utena managed to become not only a basketball coach, but also one of the most recognized people, as if he were a symbol of basketball or focused on a common goal.
“My heart is in Utena. When I played myself, I did not have much identity, some thought it was from Šiauliai, others that it was from Utena. Anyway, I put my heart in all the work. The same thing happens here, Utena is the city of my heart, ”said the Juventus general.
– Coaches, let’s start with Citadele KMT’s retaliation in the quarterfinals. Perhaps already driving to Vilnius inside you felt that you were coming to win?
– I no longer trust my feelings, neither mine nor successful ties, uncut nails or unshaven beard. I’m clearly joking here, but I’m trying to distance myself from my feelings because I’ve already managed to see that everything is there. The most important thing for me is to start a team to fight, to give, to motivate, to give the necessary energy. It is also crazy to prepare strategically: you have to react and make decisions during the match. And feelings come in various ways, sometimes very misleading. Only Žalgiris can have the feeling that you are going to win in Lithuania. We are not “Žalgiris”, so we will fight first, and then see what works and what doesn’t.
– The fans saw the joy of the team in the dressing room after the victory. And what emotion did you bring home yourself?
– That emotion that was in the dressing room … It was like an emotional explosion after all the hard work. We were focused, focused, we had to play well. When you achieve what you dream of, emotions arise in various ways. I had a really good and powerful emotion at home after this game: we brought the whole coaching staff together.
– Many Juventus players have said that you are not just a basketball coach at Utena. What is the connection between you and Utena?
– Utena is my heart. When I played myself, I didn’t have much identity, some thought it was from Šiauliai, others that it was from Utena. Anyway, I put my heart into all the work. The same is true here: Utena is the city of my heart. It’s great fun when both the arena security guard and the city mayor congratulate you on your victory. That’s all it says: we have a good connection with Utena. Such things are very important. I’ve always had the greatest value in making people happy, if you can make them happy, it’s fun.
– Coaches, and what do you think is the current special and exclusive Juventus team?
– I think we have a particularly good synergy. Very good atmosphere, it is really exceptional. Kind, but at the same time full of selfishness. With us, kindness is intertwined with great ambitions: I know that my players sometimes do not fall asleep after defeats, they are angry with themselves, with others. That’s good, that harmony is very difficult and very important to find in a team. We are fighters, I guarantee it. I always needed people killing for victory.
– Looking at your biography, it becomes clear that as a player you have achieved more than as a coach. This entry to the final four, can it be called one of your biggest personal victories?
– I think so. There were those victories, even two years ago when we beat “Rytas” in the quarterfinals. But it is not formalized: victories gain weight when you win trophies. That is what we are going to look for. And if we will be worth it, we will see it in the course, because everything can happen in a month. If we do a good job and avoid injuries, we can do a lot. Without a doubt, this is one of the most important steps for me as a coach. After all, I don’t work as a coach for a short time, it means a lot of wins like that.
– After the quarter-final draw, you said you would have received “Žalgiris” better. And if you asked yourself the same question now, would you really choose Kaunas and not Vilnius?
– So I said I was tired of playing with “East” – in life I always want a shock, a shock, an innovation. But without a doubt, after this victory I can’t complain anymore, everything is fine, I don’t say anything, it fits (laughs – aut.).
– Immediately after his victory in Vilnius, the head of “Rytas” was fired. coach Donaldas Kairys. Is this the first time in your career that rivals are making cardinal changes while you’re still in the locker room?
– Sounds great – Utena draws a map of Lithuanian basketball. Sounds good, but maybe it’s not cardinally anymore. Anyway, it’s true, the first time a coach fired us. But in a human sense, it doesn’t bring me any joy, because I’m a coach myself, it’s hard work, I don’t wish anyone’s forgiveness and I support all my teammates. However, this has already happened. As Rimas Kurtinaitis has said, the coach must be fired at least once, otherwise he will not have fully savored the coach’s job.
– When will your team start preparing for the Citadele KMT Final Four? As will be?
– Now you need to put all the extremes together after that emotional explosion. We have an important Betsafe-LKL match, we have to get back on track. And we will start thinking about the final four of the Citadele KMT just over a week ago. Of course, that good shine now, I hope it stays all the time, I do not want not to want, I always think a little that interesting things will come soon. But now all the focus is on Betsafe-LKL, where it really isn’t easy.
– You said a couple of months ago that you are not sure what your team is like. And how is your team now?
– Now we are after the celebration, that’s for sure. And until then, we went up the hill very well and beautifully. We have certainly reached a good rhythm, we will have to get back to it, but I have no doubt that we will.
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