Rimas Kurtinaitis will try to create a miracle to secure a ticket to the distant world championships, although just a few weeks ago it seemed that the time of the 66-year-old legend as the head of the national team was over.
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However, the proposals and consultations of Mindaugas Balčiūnas, president of the Lithuanian Basketball Association, did not result in an agreement with the new leader, and R. Kurtinaitis, who had already placed his resignation letter on the table after the collapse in Bologna, continues to work with the national team.
“There are matters you must handle,” Rimas Kurtinaitis told journalists in Birštonas. “I myself evaluate myself and the team’s performance as unsatisfactory. Well, maybe not unsatisfactory, but not as we wanted and as everyone expected. That’s why I resigned. There were various reasons. No other coaches who could take over the national team appeared, so I could not act that way. Mindaugas approached me again, and I could not leave the team with nothing. I made the decision to continue as long as necessary.”
| Place | Team | Wins | Points |
| 1. | Turkey | 6-0 | 12 |
| 2. | Italy | 5-1 | 11 |
| 3. | Serbia | 4-2 | 10 |
| 4. | Lithuania | 3-3 | 9 |
| 5. | Iceland | 3-3 | 9 |
| 6. | Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2-4 | 8 |
The very important FIBA “window” is approached by our team with a radically changed roster.
Although usually in summers the national team is represented by the brightest basketball stars of the country, since there are no restrictions during the off-season, R. Kurtinaitis’s team losses before the upcoming clashes with group leader Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina are huge.
- Kristupas Žemaitis (Klaipėda “Neptūnas”)
- Augustas Marčiulionis (Vilnius “Rytas”)
- Matas Jogėla (Vilnius “Rytas”)
- Paulius Valinskas (Utena “Juventus”)
- Laurynas Beliauskas (without club)
- Karolis Lukošiūnas (“Šiauliai”)
- Gytis Radzevičius (Vilnius “Rytas”)
- Justas Furmanavičius (Utena “Juventus”)
- Osvaldas Olisevičius (without club)
- Regimantas Miniotas (Pesaro “Victoria Libertas”)
- Mindaugas Kačinas (Sopot “Trefl”)
- Ąžuolas Tubelis (Kaunas “Žalgiris”)
- Donatas Motiejūnas (without club)
- Marekas Blaževičius (Kaunas “Žalgiris”)
Compared to the previous “window,” eight players are no longer in the team, this time we will not have a single player from the NBA, and only two from the EuroLeague.
These are the team leaders Ąžuolas Tubelis and Marekas Blaževičius, who returned to Kaunas “Žalgiris” this summer.
The team will also feature Donatas Motiejūnas, who has recently been sidelined after a scandal in Puerto Rico.
“I evaluate the list well. I am very grateful to the players who came, we know the situations of others who changed clubs. They have to move with their families. They apologized. We gathered those we gathered, and we will have to play with them,” said R. Kurtinaitis.
– How do you explain the fact that many players refused to come to the national team?
– I have nothing to explain. I do not comment on such things. I talked to everyone, everyone has their reasons. I am happy with those who came. Over my couple of years in the national team, we will probably have the fifth different team. We had six new players going to the European Championship, where we started not badly. I think we gathered earlier, will train, and play with those we gathered.
– What arguments did you hear from NBA players?
– Kasparas always plays. What I heard from him is that he wants to play but has an agreement with the club. Kasparas moved from Miami to Milwaukee. I sent a message to the coach, he replied that the club decides such matters. The coach wants Kasparas to participate in the preseason. Many such nuances, I understand that.
We talked with Jonas. He moved to Kaunas “Žalgiris.” What he told me is that he has to move his family, look for schools. Many such additional matters. I understand that.
I understand all the players who for years traveled during the season, although they played in the NBA and EuroLeague. It is really hard for them to always be in the national team. But I return to the same point that I am happy with what we gathered. We gathered a young and decent team. We will train and go into battle.
– What conclusions did you make after the game with Italy?
– There was a lot in the media. Every won or lost game can be played better. Conclusions have been made. Of course, maybe some moments should have been played differently, but I do not agree with basketball specialists who watch games two weeks later and say that at that minute such a substitution should have been made. We all know that there are no perfect games. The game was not the best, but that is basketball.
– Have you managed to find inner peace outside basketball?
– You probably want to ask how I feel? I feel good, but not as bad as you would like (laughs). I am in good and normal sports shape. We all have good and bad phases. I feel strong enough to lead the national team.
– Why do you say that we want you to feel bad?
– Well, I followed the press a bit.
– We never wish health problems on anyone.
– Well, very nice. At least one (smiles).
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