It is true that the national team, which recently shone with Olympic bronze, will go to the Old Continent championships this time much refreshed. Next to the veterans of the team, Aurelijas Pukelis and Marijaus Užupis, we will also see a team that has matured in youth basketball for some time – Titas Januševičius and Gabrielias Čelkas.
The coach of the national team Dainius Novickas justified such a choice by looking to the future. On September 11-15, the U23 national team with T. Januševičius and G. Čelka will travel to Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), where the U23 World Championship will take place. In addition, after leaving Paris behind, the Los Angeles Olympic cycle appeared on the horizon, where the list of candidates for the national team should be filled with new names.
“At first, the plan was to take the entire U23 national team to the European Championship, but we thought that the team would still be too weak, too young,” said the national team coach. – We have strengthened with two veterans who will help the youth to follow that path, so that they get used to it, have adaptations.
Pukelis still has that strength, we need the best player, a big man, Marijus will also join. Titus will replace Shara, and Čelka will replace Matulis. They were already tired, emotionally drained. We also need hungry players who want to prove something.
With the U23 World Cup coming up later, we want to get the young players involved so they get physical. It will be a good test for the new Olympic cycle to gradually introduce young people into that context.”
“Of course, I was surprised,” said T. Januševičius about the unexpected opportunity to debut in the men’s national team. – The step up is quite big – to the main Lithuanian men’s national team, which recently won bronze at the Olympics. Playing with Aurelijs Pukelis, who was selected for the symbolic team, I think is a really great experience. I can’t wait and I hope everything will be fine.”
The 23-year-old basketball player does not hide that the possibility of entering the Olympic 3×3 basketball stage after four years is tempting to him as well.
“I would really like to. It’s still everyone’s dream here. Olympiad is the highest level. To see and be among the best athletes in the world, to feel the atmosphere… Of course, everyone would like that. I’ll try, maybe I’ll succeed, everything depends on me, not on someone else,” commented the debutant on his long-term goals.
The extremely short period between the Olympic Games and the European Championship dictated that the national team did not have a long preparation cycle this time. However, in this foursome, none of the players are new to D. Novick’s schemes, and the debuting players should not remain in the shadow of their older teammates.
“They have matured, they are playing well and they deserve that chance to try, they will gain valuable experience. The team is quite well balanced. “Titas is a good sniper, he will touch the most important long shots, he has a breakthrough, and Čelka is a hard worker who can make a good pass, defend himself, and plug holes,” said D. Novickas about the advantages of his students.
“I know what I can do best, what is expected of me. I’m going to try to make it happen, be in top shape, shoot free throws. I will give everything – if not in attack, then in defense. If they appreciate me like that, it’s very good, I’m happy, but I don’t raise my head and continue working”, – in comparison with Š. T. Januševičius was happy with Vingeli.
A total of 12 teams will compete in the European Championship, a significant number of which allowed members of the Olympic teams to rest. Among the favorites are the Serbians, who have two Olympians, who have not let go of the title of continental champions from their hands since 2018, as well as the Dutch national team that won gold in Paris, which is missing only Dimeo van der Horst.
“Everyone who has participated in the Olympics understands that they allow other players to play. A lot of emotions, discharge, it is normal that not all of the strongest compositions. Especially since the European Championship takes place quite soon after the Olympics. We are also trying to make that important step. As a coach, it will be interesting for me to see what the youth lacks, or maybe nothing is missing,” said the coach about the upcoming competition in Vienna.
The Lithuanians will start the tournament in Group B, which also includes the Swiss and Croatian national teams. Thursday at 1:50 p.m. the match with the Swiss will start, and at 5:15 p.m. – duel with Croatians. The top two teams in the group will advance to the quarterfinals. The quarterfinals will be held on Saturday, while the semifinals and finals will be held on Sunday. The Lithuanian match will be broadcast live by LRT Plus television and the LRT.lt portal.
Although Lithuanians have always reached the top four at the European Championships since 2019 and won three medals (two silver and one bronze), this year D. Novickas is no longer putting huge pressure on his coached national team to topple mountains.
“We don’t set a very high goal, we want to target young people who deserve a chance. This is the first such championship, when we have the least preparation and the least expectations,” said the strategist.
However, T. Januševičius is not inclined to lower the bar that the men’s national team has set for itself in recent years.
“In my opinion, because I’m a maximalist, it doesn’t matter if there are better players or not, if we’re younger or if there are others coming. Lithuania showed everything by winning bronze at the Olympics. I think our goal should be to win a medal for Lithuania. Goals are the highest, other circumstances are irrelevant. We are not going to look around, but to play, to try, to give all of ourselves and then see how it will be,” the new member of the national team expressed his attitude.
2024-08-21 15:15:29