The tall player scored 29 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and was the most productive player on the Lithuanian team, but after the game, he did not want to emphasize his personal statistics.
Read more War in Ukraine. Where did 50 tons of Russian gold go: such a thing hasn’t happened in a long time
According to A. Tubelis, the outcome of the game was decided by small details. Both teams, he said, played well, but the Estonians made the decisive shot and took the victory. The basketball player emphasized that the purpose of the friendly matches is to see mistakes and correct them.
The Lithuanians fell into a double-digit hole during the game but managed to quickly return to the fight for victory. It was the team’s reaction to the tougher stretch of the game that A. Tubelis highlighted as one of the most positive things of the evening.
“There was a double-digit deficit, but we came back in a few minutes. Everyone who steps onto the court gives their all,” he said.
A brief concern arose in the Lithuanian team camp during the fourth quarter when A. Tubelis ended up on the floor after a fast break. However, the tall player assured that he was not seriously injured and was able to continue playing shortly after.
His connection on the court with Dovydas Stenionis and Augustas Marčiulionis also looked good. A. Tubelis reminded that he has been playing with both peers since school leagues and youth national teams, so the mutual understanding has not disappeared over many years.
Read more 15 illegal migrants turned back at the border with Belarus
Despite scoring 29 points, A. Tubelis did not want to call himself the leader of the Lithuanian national team.
“These are friendly matches, so those numbers are not important. I feel like everyone else, I don’t want to exalt myself. I will play for the team. I used my strengths that the Estonians could not stop,” said the basketball player.
The tall player added that more attention should be paid not to individual statistics but to details such as free throws.
Although his minutes were already significant in overtime, A. Tubelis did not hide that he still had energy to play.
“I am still young and always want to play. Sometimes you have to act wisely, but if the coach calls me – I will play,” he said.
