2024-05-06 15:51:06
Šiauliai beat Klaipėda “Neptun” 104:98 at home and won their 8th victory this season.
According to Ž.Urbon, Sean Armands contributed a lot to the team’s result, who scored 18 points (3/6 doubles, 1/3 triples, 9/10 penalties) and made 4 assists in this meeting.
“I knew that the team would be different than in the match against “Wolves”. I’m not saying that we would have won against them, but there were serious conversations after the game where we said that we can’t end the season like this, we can’t be without character.
I’m glad the men actually showed character. Maybe the defense wasn’t the best, but the game itself was full of character. Sean (Armand) stepped in for a lot of fun. We probably needed that with LJ (Thorpe) out of the lineup today. Today was not his good day.
Sometimes those changes are good because Sean has to play and he played well today. Not just looking at the points. There was excellent communication with him on the pitch. He was our dark horse – he both scored and fed the team with balls. We won the match with an attack”, said the Šiauliai strategist.
Ėuolas Tubelis scored 26 points (4/8 doubles, 3/7 triples, 9/12 penalties) for the “Šiauliai” basket, which Ž.Urbon was very impressed with after the match.
“Very handsome (laughs – ed.). He is a EuroLeague level player. Maybe the footwork in defense should be faster in defense, but, you know… as the players say: “When I play for Zalgiris in the Euroleague, then I will defend very well.” He definitely needs to improve his footwork defensively, but he’s a young guy and he can do that.
He could already go (to a higher level – ed.). Back-to-the-basket game, decisions, shooting…he has it all. Of course, he is still young. Maybe it will take a year or two for adaptation, but it is serious old man, a match-changer. “Neptune” looked miserable without him. They pulled out an ace and with it they won against “Žalgiris” at (Mindaug) Brazi. And after that, another coach also won… Äžuolas is a future national team player”, the head of the Šiauliai team praised the young man from Vilnius.
The Šiauliai team will finish the regular and also their season in the “Betsafe-LKL” championships on Thursday, when they will meet the 7bet-Lietkabelio team from Panevėžys at home.
When asked about the next season, Ž.Urbonas did not shy away.
“As a head coach, I have not yet had to miss the playoffs. Now is the first year. KMT and ENBL fours – it’s fun, but it’s a shame that we didn’t make it to the playoffs (LKL). We are looking positively at next year and I have no doubt that “Šiauliai” will be there next year minimum in the playoffs”, Ž. Urbonas finished his speech.
Full press conference:
2024-05-06 15:51:06