The long weekend will end with a real treat for basketball fans – the first derby of the season in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), sponsored by Betsson.
At 4:30 PM, Rytas Vilnius and Žalgiris Kaunas will go head-to-head in the Lithuanian capital.
Žalgiris remain unbeaten after seven games, while Rytas have suffered just one defeat in five matches – against Gargždai in their season opener.
The Vilnius side have been particularly unfortunate with shoulder injuries. Martynas Paliukėnas, Matas Jogėla and, most recently, Ignas Urbonas have all suffered setbacks. However, Augustas Marčiulionis insists that Rytas are not looking for excuses and that other players will have to step up to compensate for their injured teammates.
According to Marčiulionis, there are mixed emotions within the team, but the Vilnius side have no intention of backing down.
“We could look for excuses, but I think the pressure is always there. Our fans expect 110 percent commitment, energy and fight from us, and we know it will be a tough battle. We need to focus on what we have, not what we don’t have, and come out with more energy than in any of our previous games,” he said ahead of the derby.
LKL.lt spoke with Marčiulionis about Rytas’ injury problems, the team’s changing status, the wake-up call at the start of the season and the upcoming showdown with Žalgiris.
The game tips off at 4:30 PM and will be broadcast on LNK and Telia Play.
– You started last week with a victory in the Basketball Champions League, but injuries have overshadowed the result. Which emotions are stronger within the team right now – concern or positivity?
– It’s a bit of both. It feels like our game keeps improving, but at the same time, we keep losing players. We constantly have to adjust our rotations and positions, and maybe someone else will join us. There will be changes, and significant ones at that. I feel really bad for the injured players, but we’ll have to play with whoever is available.
– How did you react when you saw Ignas Urbonas leave the court holding his shoulder?
– I felt helpless. It looked bad, and Ignas himself was in shock. He couldn’t lift his arm. The whole arena went silent. It was a devastating moment, especially considering how well he had started the game, how much he had contributed and how much energy he brought as a young player. To see him finish the game with that kind of injury was really sad.
– How is Rytas dealing with the constant changes in player roles as injuries continue to pile up? Nedas Pacevičius has probably had a full rotation available for only one or two games.
– We’re professionals, and we have to accept these situations, whether that means taking on a smaller or bigger role. The season is long – ten months – and there are always plenty of changes. You have to accept that it’s part of the process every team goes through every year. Of course, you always want to avoid injuries, but you have to take responsibility and help the team win. We’ll have to adapt. There’s no other option.
– What is the most important thing for the team mentally during a period like this?
– I’d say it’s our mindset. Every healthy player has to give even more than before. You have to approach games with greater seriousness and responsibility, thinking about how you can make up for the absence of a teammate and show something you perhaps haven’t shown before. The psychological side is extremely important.
– Would you say Rytas have become quite resilient in this regard? Last season, the team faced several challenges but still managed to overcome them successfully.
– That experience definitely helps. I especially remember the game against Galatasaray when Harding was ruled out just a few hours before tip-off. We were sitting in the locker room and realised there was nowhere to retreat. Nobody was going to ride in on a white horse and save us. We had to go out there ourselves, fight, battle and give everything we had. And that’s exactly how we won. That game was a turning point on our way to the title. Our core group – Gudaitis, Masiulis, Ignas and others – has that experience, and we’ll try to use it to our advantage.
– You also have several new players. How well is the current Rytas roster coming together?
– It’s getting better. The results show that we’re starting to understand each other more, what everyone needs to do and how we should play together. It’s a long process, and there’s always room for improvement, but at this stage things are going quite well. Of course, now some players will have to play more minutes, others will have to play in different positions, and we’ll need to accept those changes.
– What new elements has Nedas Pacevičius brought to the team, and what has remained similar to the approach under Giedrius Žibėnas?
– There are certain similarities in terms of scouting and preparation. Most of that has remained largely the same. The ideas about playing fast are also similar, but now we’re trying to attack the opposition’s weaker defenders more often. We still need time to refine certain aspects of our game, but there are both similarities and differences.
– Nedas Pacevičius is still a young head coach. How much confidence does he show, and how much support do you, as players, give him?
– We definitely trust him, support him and believe in him! But ultimately, we’re the ones competing on the court. We have to bring the right mindset, desire and energy, because our results determine how good the coach looks. The coaching staff work extremely hard. Our scouting reports and analysis are really good and detailed, but in the end, we have to execute the game plan, just as we did against Trabzonspor. The relationship between the players and the coaching staff is very important, and we have that connection.
– Your only defeat in the Betsson-sponsored LKL came in the season opener against Gargždai. Would you describe that loss as a wake-up call for Rytas?
– Even before the game, we knew they were a serious team. Those of us who are Lithuanian know what the LKL is like, especially when the opposing team has an entire week to prepare for you while you have another game to play. We knew every game in this league would be difficult, so it was a good reminder for the whole team. Of course, losing wasn’t good for our position in the standings, and you never want to lose your first game in front of your own fans. But we also took some positives from it. In sports, you can’t dwell on a defeat for too long. You have to learn your lessons and move forward.
– Do you feel that Rytas have a different status on the international stage this season – that of defending champions?
– We definitely have a target on our backs. When we travelled to Nanterre, it was their first home Basketball Champions League game in several years. I spoke with my former college roommate, who told me how much they had been looking forward to that game and how hungry they were. I think that definitely makes a difference.
– What is Rytas currently lacking the most to play the kind of basketball you want?
– First of all, health. Everything is easier when you have the full squad available, especially during practices. There are individual and team aspects we can improve. We can always have better chemistry and be in better shape. We need time, continuity, games and positive examples of how we want to play – moving the ball, defending well. Games like that show us that we’re capable of playing good basketball.
– You recently mentioned that you understand you’re no longer one of the youngest players on this team and that more is expected of you. How are you handling that responsibility?
– Like any player, I want that responsibility. Basketball is something you enjoy, and you want to take on responsibility, but the team always comes first. I know what the coaches and my teammates expect from me. I try to play with energy and do whatever the team needs from me on a given day.
– Are you also trying to show leadership off the court, or are there more vocal players in the locker room?
– I’m still not a veteran in the locker room, but I try to speak up. I think I can even serve as a bridge between the foreign and Lithuanian players because I spent several years in the United States and speak English. That’s something I can contribute. I try to be a positive teammate, lead through positive emotions and make my teammates happier.
– You have several new foreign players. What Rytas values are you trying to instil in them?
– We talk in the locker room, but the best way to understand everything is to experience your first home game. When you see the support of our fans and the culture surrounding the club, you don’t need many words. You can see how passionate the supporters are. That kind of support has a bigger impact than anything you could say. Of course, we have conversations and constantly emphasise that the standards at this club are high. But the fans themselves show what they expect, and the foreign players understand that.
– Do you need to explain the importance of the derby against Žalgiris to the newcomers, or do they already understand what it means?
– I think they definitely understand its importance, but as players, we need to focus on the basketball side of things. Everything else is more for the fans. We need to think about the game itself. There won’t be any shortage of energy or motivation. The important thing is to stay focused and prepare properly.
– What will be the most important factor in the first derby of the season? And do you feel less pressure on Rytas because of the injuries?
– I don’t know. We could look for excuses, but I think the pressure is always there. Our fans expect 110 percent commitment, energy and fight from us, and we know it will be a tough battle. We need to focus on what we have, not what we don’t have, and come out with more energy than in any of our previous games.
– Do you see any areas where Žalgiris might be vulnerable?
– It depends on what their rotation looks like. We remember what happened last year when they beat us without their starting five. They’re not playing their best basketball yet. Both teams have their problems, so those are probably questions better suited for the coaches. But we’ll try to find their weaknesses.
Source: LKL.lt