On August 5, the Lithuanian trio won the Olympic bronze, and 20 days later (August 25) Dainius Novicks’ students also grabbed the bronze award of the European Championship.
Our team beat the Swiss 21:18 in the minor final in Vienna and then let their emotions pour over them.
The representatives of the trio who landed at the Vilnius airport continued to be happy with the work they had done and added that the changed composition lived up to expectations.
“It seems that (the body) is still holding up, we have one more medal – bronze at the European Championship. Our composition has changed, if we should compare it with the Paris Olympic Games, but our goals have not changed. We didn’t slow down, we wanted a medal and the best possible, but we looked at the progress. We have bronze for today – I think this is a good achievement for Lithuania”, said Aurelijs Pukelis, who was the only bronze medalist of the Olympics at the European Championship.
“It’s a lot of fun. We are happy to have won a medal. Inside we believed, but around us (people – ed.) didn’t really expect us to bring home a medal. It’s twice as fun to win medals when no one expects it from you,” added Marijus Užupis, a trio basketball veteran.
“This medal means everything – family, everything. My family came from Vilnius by car to Vienna… this is the first thing you have to do. They are always there and support”, Titas Januševičius, who shone in Austria, spoke about his joy with his family in the stands.
“I am glad that the holidays will finally (begin – ed.) We have made our final destination and I look forward to fishing with a rod. We deeply believed that these men could win a medal. I have already finished this year. Thanks everyone for your support.
For me as a coach, it is a good appreciation when the veterans have embraced the youth. This means that the system is working. (Bronze medal – ed.) is a good chord that shows what we are really doing,” said head coach D. Novickas.
“There can be no better experience. We are children – he is a father. He took care of us, helped us, always supported us, taught us when there were the most difficult moments”, T. Januševičius added about the game with A. Pukel.
The brightest star is a 23-year-old from Vilnius
T. Januševičius was unstoppable at the European Championship.
The 23-year-old from Vilnius led the national team of Lithuanian trios forward at a crucial time, was the most productive player of the championships (42 points, 8.4 average) and finally received recognition and was included in the symbolic three of the tournament.
Despite the fact that T. Januševičius was stuck in the first match of the group stage against the Swiss – the defender missed all 9 two-pointers from the same number of shots, but after this match the sniper hit 9 two-pointers out of 21 (42.8%) and was the most important player for our national team in many games offensive player.
“At one point he was angry (laughs – ed.). But… at the end of the day – winners are not judged. The most important thing is that he scored when he needed it,” A. Pukelis said about T. Januševičius with a smile.
“Everything is great, but there are things to fix (smiles – ed.). In reality, we didn’t even practice much, we hadn’t even played with such a foursome. You had to play and learn at the same time. I think everything went well and we made the most of it. Some withdrew, while others got the green light and everything went perfectly,” said M. Užupis.
“I know what he can do and how he plays. The player’s right is fun and relevant for us milking. For four years I have reproaches against him, but he covers those reproaches with his attack.
It was surprising that the veterans gave the game to the youth. 8.4 ppg…sure he can shoot. After the lost semi-final, we said that the most important thing is to stay as a team, and for me, as a coach, it’s fun that the old-timers didn’t take the ball from the youngsters and just encouraged them,” added D. Novickas.
D. Novickas also mentioned the above-mentioned stubbornness, but where does T. Janušević’s self-confidence come from, when the first 9 colons were missed?
“I think the experience…you play so much from a young age…the same professionalism, you see role models in the teams and players who have been playing for a long time. There is no time to think in triples basketball. Two hours pass and you have another match to play, which is decisive and you can go home. You’re just playing – you’re free: throw, you’re free: throw. Throw and that’s all, if it falls – you win”, said T. Januševičius without bowing down.
The ceiling and the new stage of T. Janušević
For 23-year-old T. Janušević, everything has been going well lately.
Recognition at the European Championship, a contract with the Lithuanian Basketball League (“Betsafe-LKL”) team and applause from experienced colleagues.
The Vilnius native won perhaps the biggest victory in his career and after a year in Spain and in the National Basketball League (NKL) he got the opportunity to play in Jonava’s “CBet” team, which will be coached by Mantas Šernius.
What is the basketball ceiling of T. Januševičius, who has not played in any Lithuanian youth national team?
“The ceiling – everything will depend on him. How he will work, how he will want to play three-point basketball. The youngster can score points, grab the team at a crucial time. His two 3-pointers against Switzerland were pivotal in the fight for third place. That helped to win the bronze. Very happy for him.
We played well together – we have a medal. We talked to each other and figured out what we wanted from him. We accepted young people to the first men’s championship and they had great confidence in us”, said A. Pukelis.
“It’s hard to say. As far as I know, he played in Spain before that and only now he has moved up to a higher level. We’ll see. If not bad at all twists and turns in a couple of months in Jonava, he will gain the confidence of the coaches… such players just need to be trusted. Exactly what we did ourselves. I think that his ceiling is quite high”, added M. Užupis.
T. Januševičius himself is also waiting for his dream debut in the “Betsafe-LKL” championship.
The defender returned to Vilnius on Monday after the European trios basketball championship, and will present himself in Jonava on Tuesday, where he will start preparing for the season in the ranks of CBet.
“It will be a new experience that all players will have to learn from. LKL – high level. You will have to get used to it and live with the game there. Everything will change radically – both contact and all other things. I hope to get along during training, and then we’ll see,” said T. Januševičius.
A look at Los Angeles
D. Novickas spoke openly to journalists at the airport – he said that this attempt at the European Championship, where a mixture of veterans and youth was tested, is a glimpse into 2028. Olympic Games in Los Angeles (USA).
“Yes, it was the very beginning, we thought to try, to see how the youth looks like. There are places where they can improve – defense, physicality and so on, but nothing, we will improve. The point is to look to the future,” said D. Novickas.
When asked about whether T. Januševičius can be the star of the trio’s national team after the veterans leave the team, D. Novickas did not doubt it.
“Of course you can. If he scored the most points in the European Championship among men… I also want to note that the Austrian, who became the most valuable player of the tournament, is also 23 years old. This means that we are going in the right direction and we have people who can replace our old ones”, said D. Novickas.
T. Januševičius himself also said that he would see himself in the Olympic Los Angeles.
“This is my goal. Of course I would. This is the dream of all people, and the Olympics is the highest level. To be among such athletes would be impressive. Let him just take it (smiles – ed.)”, concluded the 23-year-old from Vilnius.
2024-08-27 00:29:34