2024-04-11 03:36:32
From now on, Wolves will be called Wolves Twinsbet under the name of the new general partner.
The team’s management did not take this decision out of gratitude – the new sponsors will supplement the capital club’s budget by as much as 6 million in three years. amount of euros.
“We hope that this agreement will further help our club to grow,” Wolves Twinsbet President Rimantas Kaukėnas said on Wednesday.
And there is still room to grow.
The team, which is in its second year, has no outstanding achievements yet. This season is not good either – the Vilnius team was left behind in the next round of the European Cup, and did not make it to the KMT final four.
However, R. Kaukėnas hopes that “Wolves Twinsbet” will also compete in the second largest European basketball tournament next season.
“We really hope to participate in the European Cup, we hope that the team’s results will be appropriate, we worked a lot and hard to be there, we will improve our work even more.”
This is just the beginning, the first year in this tournament, a lot needs to be done, but we will roll up our sleeves and move forward”, added R. Kaukėnas.
Coached by Ned Pacevičius, “Wolves Twinsbet” is currently ranked third in the Lithuanian Basketball League (Betsafe-LKL) standings. “Vilkai” will play the next match of the national basketball championship on Wednesday, when they will host Mažeikiai “M Basket” basketball players at home.
– What essential factors can determine whether your team will get a place in next season’s European Cup? – R. Kaukėnas was asked.
– This is a complex answer. It is not only the result, we also look at the organization, the work done, where the club is going, what its ambitions are, of course, the result itself is also important.
The fundamental question is whether Lithuania will have one or two places in this tournament, we want to have two teams from Lithuania, this raises the level of basketball and competition.
– There has been a lot of talk that Wolves have given away a number of free tickets to European Cup matches this season. How do the tournament organizers feel about it?
– The amount of people in the arena is looked at, and how they got those tickets is only a matter of organization – you distribute them, give them away… The point is how many people come to the competition, how many people watch the match.
– It is clear that the team did not fulfill the two goals set – it did not reach the final four of the King’s Mindaugas Cup and was left out of the playoffs of the European Cup. What are the remaining goals of the team this season?
– We are newcomers to the European Cup, we played in a strong group, and we were only one victory away from the next round. It’s frustrating, but it’s a valuable experience.
We understand that we are moving forward, we want to not miss that one victory in the future.
Now our main goal is to be in the top three, to grow in that direction. We want to play in the European Cup next season, if we get to the final of the Lithuanian championship, it would be a wonderful achievement.
– Have you started negotiations with the city of Vilnius regarding sponsoring the club?
– We would like the city of Vilnius to contribute, we represent Vilnius, we played nine matches in the European Cup, we invited many spectators, we will be very happy if Vilnius contributes.
Dialogues have been established, we expect positive answers, we will work in that direction.
– How do you assess the increasingly popular idea of merging the European Cup and the FIBA Champions League?
– I think that Lithuanian clubs would not suffer from this, more order would appear, it would be easier to catch up, it would be easier.
– When creating the club, Gediminas Žiemelis said that he was not going to ask for help from the municipality, how would you comment on the changed position of the team’s management?
– Our position has not changed, if we received support, we would be very happy.
– N. Pacevičius took over the helm of the team until the end of the season, does his fate also depend on your previously mentioned future goals?
– Of course. It makes a huge difference if we get knocked out in the first round or make it to the final. I don’t want to comment on such a thing, we will decide after the season, but it would definitely have an impact.
– Is it true that A. Žagaras will return to the team in the near future? What are the chances of keeping him for next season?
– It’s hard to say, a lot will depend on what changes Fenerbahce will make this summer. We want to keep him, but I can’t say yet when he will be back on the floor.
– Was it not considered to return A. Juškevičius to the team after K. Kemzura’s departure, how do you assess his situation?
– The situation has not changed, it is more the coach’s decision, our position is to support the coach, to help him. N. Pacevičius is a young coach, we try to help him in every possible way.
– How did your work change after Donat Zavackas joined the team?
– It’s relieved, it’s great to work with Donatus, I can breathe (laughs). Donatus and I have known each other since university, he is a great friend, we get along well, our views coincide, we are happy for Donatus, I hope he is also happy being here.
– In the social space, you can often see Antanas Guogas supporting your team, what is his connection with your team?
– Antanas supports Lithuanian basketball, he and the fans of our team (smiles).
2024-04-11 03:36:32