2024-07-12 12:55:41
The young 22-year-old who signed a one-year contract with the capital club. the basketball player admitted that he had not yet planned to return home and saw his future more abroad, so he has not tamed the idea of the future stage in his hometown.
“It’s still hard to understand that I’m coming back. We have to wait for the start of the whole season, the preparation phase, before we get together with the team. Then I’ll probably understand. For now, it looks like I’m doing sports and getting ready to go somewhere like the last two summers,” said the 211 cm tall Lithuanian during his first interview after signing the contract.
In the interview, M. Blaževičius told about the ambivalent period in Spain and the roles on the field, the details of the conversation he had with the new coach of “Wolves Twinsbet” Alessandro Magro, dealing with the incoming pressure and expectations for the upcoming season.
– You spent two seasons in the “Monbus Obradoiro” team of the ACB league. But in your previous interviews you mentioned that they were quite different. What experience do you bring back from Spain?
– There were two different seasons. In the first year, we fought for higher goals, there was a better team, there was a good, historic result for the club. I had amazing teammates like Leo Westermann. We knew each other and are still in touch. They helped me a lot both on and off the field, they helped me adapt to the legionnaire’s way of playing and lifestyle.
In the second year, the situation was more difficult for the club. Of course, the team was also amazing. I found friends like Artiomas Pustavijus, probably for the rest of my life. I had to play again with my former teammate Janis Strielnieks, I met Janis Timma. The guys were amazing, unfortunately the result was not good. Again, it’s a different experience, we were fighting for survival. Unfortunately, it didn’t work.
Two completely different seasons, there were completely different roles in the team, which I would say is a good experience.
– Regarding those roles, how were they different?
– At first, when I arrived, I played only in the fifth position. I had a hole because I was homesick, out of rhythm, but the second half of the season was better for me and my team. Maybe we didn’t get the position we wanted. In the second year, I started playing in the fifth position and then spent most of the time in the fourth position, where I didn’t feel very comfortable, but I finished the season better. I hope that in the future I won’t have such a roller coaster, everything will be more flexible, I will avoid such big potholes.
– What motivated you to accept Wolves Twinsbet’s offer to join the team?
– Probably a conversation with Donat Zavackas and a meeting with the coach. At first I somehow thought that I would want to stay in Spain or somewhere else abroad. That was our plan, mine and my agent’s. But that conversation with Donatus and the quick organization of the meeting with the coach brought a lot of positives, left a good impression. We decided to take advantage of this opportunity.
– What did you talk about with the new Wolves Twinsbet coach Alessandro Magro?
– He told me more about himself, because I didn’t know much about the coach. I was told before that they would be able to meet tomorrow – the day after tomorrow, they would let me know the time, so during those few days I asked where he trained, what was the story. Then we just got to know each other better, we talked about basketball, attitudes towards sports and work ethics. That was the familiarity. We talked a bit about my playing style, what he likes, what he would like me to change. It was a very good conversation.
– You started your career early, you joined “Ryta”, later you moved to “Žalgiris”, you made your debut in the Euroleague. You were constantly under the media’s magnifying glass. Now to return to Lithuania, to a new club, whose activities are again being closely monitored. How do you deal with the expectations and pressure?
– In the last two years, I had more peace from the media. When I left for Spain, I had a different difficulty. Returning to Lithuania has its own advantages, because you are in the city where you grew up, your relatives and friends are there. It will be easier from that side. On the other hand, there will be more pressure, probably from the media and from the whole environment. If I were abroad, the pressure would be the same because you are alone, or if I were here, the pressure would be different. Do you have to deal with it there or here? There is no other way, you have to find a way to organize your thoughts and your head.
– What about the pressure from the fans, especially from the capital’s basketball fans, because of the newly born Vilnius derby?
“I don’t know, I don’t think about it too much.” There will probably be a good atmosphere in that match and that’s it.
– What do you expect from the upcoming season with Wolves Twinsbet?
– I don’t want to set any big expectations. The team is not complete yet. I would like to wait for the meeting of the whole team – with the coach, with the management, to see what the team’s characteristics will be, what strengths and weaknesses we will have. I think then we will be able to raise everything together, so that we all have the same goals, and not everyone is thinking about himself individually. Goals will be set for the whole team.
2024-07-12 12:55:41