{"id":44390,"date":"2026-11-02T13:35:47","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T11:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rytasvilnius.lt\/en\/?p=44390"},"modified":"2026-11-02T13:35:47","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T11:35:47","slug":"marciulionis-on-rytas-resilience-team-progress-and-upcoming-lithuanian-derby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rytasvilnius.lt\/en\/news\/marciulionis-on-rytas-resilience-team-progress-and-upcoming-lithuanian-derby\/","title":{"rendered":"Mar\u010diulionis on Rytas resilience, team progress and upcoming Lithuanian derby"},"content":{"rendered":"

The long weekend will end with a real treat for basketball fans \u2013 the first derby of the season in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL), sponsored by Betsson.<\/p>\n

At 4:30 PM, Rytas Vilnius and \u017dalgiris Kaunas will go head-to-head in the Lithuanian capital.<\/p>\n

\u017dalgiris remain unbeaten after seven games, while Rytas have suffered just one defeat in five matches \u2013 against Garg\u017edai in their season opener.<\/p>\n

The Vilnius side have been particularly unfortunate with shoulder injuries. Martynas Paliuk\u0117nas, Matas Jog\u0117la and, most recently, Ignas Urbonas have all suffered setbacks. However, Augustas Mar\u010diulionis insists that Rytas are not looking for excuses and that other players will have to step up to compensate for their injured teammates.<\/p>\n

According to Mar\u010diulionis, there are mixed emotions within the team, but the Vilnius side have no intention of backing down.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe 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,\u201d he said ahead of the derby.<\/p>\n

LKL.lt spoke with Mar\u010diulionis about Rytas’ injury problems, the team’s changing status, the wake-up call at the start of the season and the upcoming showdown with \u017dalgiris.<\/p>\n

The game tips off at 4:30 PM and will be broadcast on LNK and Telia Play.<\/p>\n

\u2013 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 \u2013 concern or positivity?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2013 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.<\/p>\n