Žalgiris, who created an impressive atmosphere in the empty arena, again remembered a large family

“Drive, Janki!”, “Go back, go back!”, “Okay, calm down!” Such and similar cries rang out from the first to the last minute of the match: although the match is played without fans, the home advantage was created by Žalgiris himself: the hosts were very active supporting each other both on the pitch and from the bench. alternates.

This kind of “Žalgiris” energy doesn’t shine at home this season. Previously, Marius Grigonis and Paulius Jankūnas stood out with their shouts, and this time the whole team screamed loudly: the reserve bench constantly applauded after successful episodes, loudly reminded their clubs of attack time and possible fouls, and when opponents got up they took free throws.

P. Jankūnas, who played the best games of the season in the Euroleague, admitted that the constant speech was one of the main reasons for the success of “Žalgiris”. The conversation was crucial in defense.

“Defense is about one hundred percent work and one hundred percent understanding of where something needs to be and what needs to change. We’ve been talking a lot on defense over the last few weeks, and that’s what the coach emphasizes that he does things much easier.

You may be the best defender, the five best defenders on the team, but if you don’t talk about it, there will be a lot of mistakes. And if you talk, you give information in advance, your partner is preparing for some action and everything becomes much easier, ”said the captain, who scored 7 points on Tuesday.

The conversation also helped another former “Žalgiris” player who played the most productive game of the season in the Euroleague. Artūras Milaknis, who scored five 3-pointers and scored 15 points, constantly received cheers of support and encouragement from the team.

“Milai, we’re moving, we’re moving faster!” Shouted Paulius Motiejūnas, the director who actively supported the team again. “Milai, let’s go!” Shortly after, the Baskonia bag was topped by an accurate triple.

Thank you Paul. He, as a supporter of the old school, builds good barriers, I have no problem. When I build the barrier, I immediately know that there will be a launch. And the ball bounces, falls. I trust Paul 100 percent, ”said A. Milaknis at the press conference.

“Žalgiris” did not relax and did not stop talking even when victory was already assured. In the final minutes, the hosts accompanied Karolis Lukošiūnas’ two 3-pointers with such joy, as if they were decisive in the match, and there were no shouts of support for Marek Blaževičius, who ran on the floor for the second time in the Euroleague.

The Kaunas team, in the confrontation with the Vitorija team, once again looked like a fist, which all of Europe clung to. Opponents constantly say that the greatest strength of “Žalgiris” is teamwork, and it was the teamwork of “Baskonia” that was crushed.

The Basques were so angry that they even refused to share pre-arranged interviews. “The players give interviews without encouragement. Let’s talk in Vitoria “- Delphi An employee of the Vitoria team told the journalist.

Only Baskonia coach Duško Ivanovičius spoke after the match, lamenting that the team he led did not fight. Žalgiris’ determination to fight was completely different, and P. Jankūnas admitted that a series of six defeats had struck him on the back.

“It is commendable that the club has responded and taken some action that has really paid off. Of course, we also understand that nobody wants a series of five to six losses. The work done and the reluctance to lose pushed me forward: no one wants to feel bad after a match.

Once he’s at the bottom, he realizes that he needs to defend himself and speak up and give up on the transfer. And team play has to be: we are not some kind of individualistic team that will win the game thanks to the effort of one player or another. We have to play a team game, “said P. Jankūnas.

Although M. Schiller, who returned the club to the path of victory, said there was no magic recipe, it seems that magic became precisely the unity of the team. “Žalgiris” on Tuesday reminded him of a large family. Šarūnas Jasikevičius grew up in Kaunas the last few seasons.

“We work in the same way, we are also focused and we do the same work. I can’t tell you a magical story. I mean the team is united and we work hard every day, ”said Schiller.

Another challenge awaits Žalgiris already on Thursday, when it will be necessary to host at home at Fenerbahce in Istanbul with Edgars Ulanovs, a former member of the Kaunas team family.