September 1st is not only the Day of Science and Knowledge, the start of a new basketball season, but also the birthday of one of the most famous SKM alumni, Marekas Blaževičius.
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Born on the first day of autumn in 2001, Marekas successfully finished the summer window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers with the Lithuanian national team. M. Blaževičius scored 11 points in the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina and, along with other basketball players who grew up in Vilnius, was one of the main players of the Lithuanian national team.
As the first interviewee of the „SKM PRO“ project, M. Blaževičius recalled his first experiences at the basketball school, talked about balancing sports and studies, and the importance of proper nutrition and rest.
„I remember that in the early grades, you still had to bring juice, cake, and treat classmates on your birthday at school. Later, that September 1st became a routine – the school year starts, it’s your birthday, you have to go to school, and in the evening you spend time with your family. After finishing school, there’s no way to emphasize or celebrate that birthday either, because the season starts, you have to train, prepare, and there’s no time to meet.“
M. Blaževičius wore SKM jerseys from the very first grade (2008) and spent a total of 7 seasons in this organization.
„In the first basketball training, it was just me and coach Paulius Budėnas. It took about a week until the second kid came, and that’s how everything got going. I also remember there was some SKM tryout with a lot of kids. It took place at Maironis progymnasium,“ recalls Marekas.
When asked what the most fun part of attending basketball school was, M. Blaževičius answers without hesitation.
„The most fun part was trips, tournaments, and travels. You go away for 2–3 days, play basketball, and then spend time with friends. We lived about 4–5 people in a room. We played cards, laughed, went looking for sweets. That’s the most fun part I remember from those times.“
„Here I got acquainted with basketball, learned the basics, the most important rules, understood how teamwork works. There were many first times here. For example, how to do a two-step, how to shoot into the basket, how to block an opponent while fighting for the ball.“
Sooner or later, children actively playing sports face the challenge – how to successfully balance basketball and academic achievements?
„Listen to your parents. When you are a child, parents are still much smarter than you. If they say you need to work harder on your studies or possibly skip a basketball training, then you really need to do that. There are more sad examples than happy ones. You shouldn’t neglect studies – anything can happen, and you need to have some backup. You can’t just play basketball and not think about anything else,“ Marekas generously advises the current youth.
For M. Blaževičius, the 2025–2026 season was the best of his career. The Lithuanian was one of the leaders of Bursa’s „Tofaş“ club in the competitive Turkish national championship and the FIBA Champions League.
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„You can always trust yourself more. Maybe today it seems like this is your maximum, but in a couple of months, if you keep working patiently, you will realize that it wasn’t your maximum. Let’s hope these are not my limits,“ says the Vilnius native.
When asked what he would like to change in Lithuanian basketball, M. Blaževičius answers:
„The first thought that comes to mind is to create a good intermediate stop for young basketball players in the LKL championship, where young people who have just finished school could compete, strengthen themselves, prepare for men’s basketball, and rise to a higher level. There used to be such a team in the LKL championship – Vilnius „Perlas“.
The first thought that comes to mind is to create a good intermediate stop for young basketball players in the LKL championship, where young people who have just finished school could compete, strengthen themselves, prepare for men’s basketball, and rise to a higher level
Then they wouldn’t have much pressure to win, nor would there be a big need to go abroad if they think not only about the financial offer but also about the opportunity to play at a good level. The Serbian „Mega Basket“ club follows a similar path, trusting young players who later join EuroLeague clubs. I think this would be a win-win situation for Lithuanian basketball and the players themselves.“
At 25, it is the prime of a professional basketball player’s strength. What would the longtime SKM alumnus like to achieve in basketball over the next 5 or 10 years?
„I want to have the opportunity to win titles every year. I want to establish myself in the EuroLeague – firmly plant my feet here, play for victories, and continue to improve,“ Marekas states his career goals.
And how does Marekas himself see the SKM organization today?
„It’s hard to even imagine how much this school has improved. You see younger basketball players playing for you in the Student League or NKL championship, and they already have more skills, are more athletic. That means the right work is being done with them and they are given conditions to improve. I would wish patience to the coaches. Children are different, so different approaches are needed.“
Marekas has already experienced the role of a backup basketball player in his career, a role many players face. How to get the most out of unfavorable circumstances?
„Don’t give up, don’t break down, and have the right circle of people around you. If you’re not allowed on the court, there is physical preparation, physical training coaches – you have to improve yourself every day. Basketball is not just about the ball – you need to prepare your body, mind, develop your routine, go to bed on time, take care of your nutrition. There are many small things that can help you become a professional. Ungrateful situations toughen you up, patience and inner peace appear. If you get out of this situation, your self-confidence grows,“ M. Blaževičius concluded.
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