Lithuanian National Basketball Team Gathers, Players Share Camp Insights
Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lithuanian basketball player Arnas Tubelis received advice from legend Arvydas Sabonis before joining the national team training camp.
- Tubelis playfully teased newcomer Augustas Marฤiulionis for not being among the first to report to the camp.
- The national team roster includes three NBA players: Jonas Valanฤiลซnas, Kasparas Jakuฤionis, and Matas Buzelis, who joined the team in Birลกtonas for preparations ahead of FIBA qualifying windows.
Lithuanian basketball player Arnas Tubelis shared insights into the national team's training camp, including playful banter with fellow players and advice from basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis. Tubelis, the 24-year-old Lithuanian champion, is eagerly anticipating reconnecting with friends like Marek Blaลพeviฤius and Augustas Marฤiulionis.
There is order in the national team โ it's not enough to just offer yourself. Of course, it's good that he offers. I've known Augustas for a long time. You see, through the windows we only have one training session and it's difficult to include a person from the USA in the process. At that time, I was a little afraid, but now he is invited to the national team. Now Augustas is a potential candidate for the national team.
He humorously noted that Marฤiulionis, a newcomer to the team, should have been among the first to arrive at the training camp. Coach Rimas Kurtinaitis mentioned that Marฤiulionis had previously expressed interest in joining the national team, and Kurtinaitis had to guide him on the process. "There is order in the national team โ it's not enough to just offer yourself," Kurtinaitis stated, adding that Marฤiulionis is now a potential candidate.
Yes. I spent time in Kaunas, did nothing, went for walks, had some household matters, nothing special.
Tubelis confirmed he had some time to rest after the season, spending it in Kaunas with personal matters. He expressed excitement about reuniting with teammates, including those he played with in his school days, looking forward to live conversations rather than just text messages. He also mentioned meeting other new team members and coaches.
No. I don't see them here yet. But anyway, we have one debutant here, he should have arrived earlier (smiles).
The national team camp, held in Birลกtonas, has welcomed three NBA players: Jonas Valanฤiลซnas, Kasparas Jakuฤionis, and Matas Buzelis. The team has a limited time for preparation before the FIBA qualifying window from July 2-7, with crucial upcoming games against Great Britain at home on July 2 and Italy away on July 5. Ignas Brazdeikis, a former player for Kaunas "ลฝalgiris" now a free agent, was the first to arrive at the camp.
Yes, I was waiting. I look forward to meeting the aforementioned friends. We played together when we were still students. I think it will be interesting to talk live about how everyone is doing, rather than communicating via messages. I want to meet the other national team members, the debutants. I've already managed to talk to some of the national team coaches.
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.