One person participated in the press conference – the association’s president Mindaugas Balčiūnas.
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From 11 o’clock, the members of the Executive Committee of the “Lietuvos krepšinis” association, who gathered for the meeting, put an end to the chaotic situation that arose after the decline of our men’s national team in the World Championship qualification matches and the expression of distrust in coach Rimas Kurtinaitis.
As M. Balčiūnas stated, after analyzing everything and contacting all possible candidates, it was decided to continue working with R. Kurtinaitis and his staff, if he agrees to do so.
Although R. Kurtinaitis and his assistant Tomas Pačėsas submitted their resignations on July 8.
It was announced that the strategist was given one day to decide whether he wants to continue his work.
“I would like to start from further back about the whole situation. I return to Italy when expectations were high, important matches were lost, and the situation is indeed complicated. Upon returning to Lithuania, we tried to calmly understand the situation, and on July 8, we received the resignations of Rimas Kurtinaitis and Tomas Pačėsas. According to the statutes, the coach is appointed and dismissed by the Executive Committee, and I, as president, submit proposals. We did not rush to convene the Executive Committee; we wanted to analyze everything thoroughly,” M. Balčiūnas spoke during a long monologue. “We saw that time was needed. All responsible people were free – both the national team manager and the association’s leaders – to gather information and conduct consultations. Therefore, we asked for time.
I myself contacted Darius Songaila, who was then the U20 coach. He asked for time, wanted to return. A lot of communication, many observations in the public space about who spoke with whom. We look at this information not only emotionally but from various angles. We saw how the entire coaching staff reflects and communicates. We also communicated with other coaches.
We looked at numbers that were analyzed not for one year, but for the entire decade. We see that Rimas Kurtinaitis’ organized offense was the best in a decade. The coach, upon arrival, quite successfully handled all FIBA window situations, with 4 wins and 4 losses. He also prepared the team well for the European Championship; the performance was solid even after Rokas Jokubaitis’ injury. The coach’s win-loss ratio is one of the best in the last decade. If not for those two losses, which are difficult to explain, the ratio would probably have been the best. The coach successfully managed squad composition situations in every window. We had challenges, but the last window was excellent in terms of squad composition. Those who were healthy and best, all came. Of course, the coach, with his values, strengthened the sense of honor and responsibility in representing the national team. We see that. The coach refused to coach a club team for the sake of the national team.
The consultations were extensive, as you saw. We are constantly in contact with the teams that provide players to the national team – both “Rytas” and “Žalgiris”. We have indeed gathered a lot of information. It must be acknowledged that the chances of qualifying for the World Championship remain, although they are difficult. In 30 years, not a single coach has resigned or been dismissed during a cycle, and there were, I believe, nine coaches. All of them were allowed to finish. We understand that recently the coach did not have the opportunity to strengthen with potential national team leaders, such as Rokas Jokubaitis, Domantas Sabonis, Tadas Sedekerskis, and others, which, of course, would significantly raise the national team’s potential. As of today, a detailed preparation plan for the upcoming window has been drawn up. Everything is ready.
An important principle is to respect and cherish the name of every Lithuanian basketball coach. As the association’s president, I had to formulate a proposal to the EC today. And that proposal was felt in every sense. I would say that in this situation, each of us chooses our own approach – to condemn, criticize, hate, or to understand, support, and believe that in critical moments, the national team and Lithuanian basketball strengthen, mobilize, and inspire. The situation can change, and mistakes, which we acknowledge, need to be corrected. And to strive for more than one can.
Today’s national team needs faith, and today we unanimously express our confidence in Rimas Kurtinaitis. The EC unanimously did not approve the resignation statement and proposes to continue the agreement to perform the duties of the head coach of the Lithuanian national team. I spoke with Kurtinaitis about such a situation, I said I would inform him, and so I did. The coach asked for some time for a calm decision.”
“We have agreed with very significant basketball specialists, both international ones. There was a reaction regarding additions from the NBA. These are people well-known and familiar to you, but I would not like to name them. They are already helping – both in communication and technical matters. But first, we must await coach Kurtinaitis’ decision.
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We communicated a lot, listened to the thoughts of significant Lithuanian basketball coaches. You saw it, you wrote about it. You correctly noted it. For various reasons – some due to clubs, others due to personal stances – they have not confirmed joining the coaching staff as of today. This is a technical, solvable matter. The future concept depends on the head coach, and as of today, we, the “Lietuvos krepšinis” association, express full confidence in Rimas Kurtinaitis. This has already been formalized by the EC decision, and I presented this decision to you.
We will inform you tomorrow when we have the coach’s answer, and our next steps will depend on that,” concluded M. Balčiūnas, head of “Lietuvos krepšinis,” his monologue.
- The Lithuanian national team is fighting for qualification to the 2027 World Championship
- In the first qualification round, the Lithuanians led by R. Kurtinaitis won 3 out of 6 matches, defeating the Brits twice and the Icelanders once, but losing twice to the Italians and once to the Icelanders.
- The Lithuanian national team carried 3 victories into the second stage, where two groups merged, and before the second stage, the situation in Group J is as follows:1. Turkey – 6 wins and 0 losses,2. Italy – 5 and 1,3. Serbia – 4 and 2,4. Lithuania – 3 and 3,5. Iceland – 3 and 3,6. Bosnia and Herzegovina – 2 and 4.Three teams from the new group will qualify for the World Championship.
- Lithuania will now play three competition windows: August 28 away with Turkey, August 31 in Vilnius with Bosnia, November 26 at home with Serbia, November 29 away with Bosnia, February 26 at home with Turkey, March 1 away with Serbia.
Even the trio of NBA players did not help the Lithuanian team improve the situation during the last competition window, losing to Italy and finding themselves in an unenviable position before the second qualification stage, where in the newly formed Group J, Lithuania shares 4th-5th positions with Iceland, and three teams will secure tickets to the World Championship.
Before the new six matches against the Turks, Serbs, and Bosnians, it unexpectedly became unclear who would lead the national team in the second stage.
Mindaugas Balčiūnas announced during a podcast of the “Lietuvos krepšinis” association, which he heads, that after open discussions with national team sports director Linas Kleiza and coaches, it was decided to seek “solutions by mutual agreement”.
15min journalist Rokas Pakėnas already wrote that Dainius Adomaitis, and then Darius Songaila, received offers to coach the national team, and according to another association idea, the positions were also offered to Kaunas “Žalgiris” coach Tomas Masiulis and his staff.
After negative responses, D. Songaila, the strategist for “Šiauliai” and the Lithuanian youth national team, was spoken to again, but he refused once more.
At that time, R. Kurtinaitis, who found himself in an unclear situation, was not available for comment.
Sources stated that the 66-year-old coach himself began to deeply doubt his fate with the national team, which was also surrounded by uncertainty regarding the best players’ willingness to represent their country in the fight for qualification to the World Championship.
M. Balčiūnas promised to announce the decisions within 10 days, i.e., after the association’s executive committee meeting on Friday in Kaunas, where leaders of leagues and associations gathered at the “House of Basketball,” and a press conference was convened at 12 o’clock.
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