Žibėnas, Sympathizing with Giedraitis, Reacts to Best Coach Election Results

As Delfi Sport, we are keenly following the Lithuanian presence in the Basketball Champions League Final Four. The upcoming final between Rytas Vilnius and Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Lukas Lekavičius's AEK Athens is not just a European club basketball showdown; it's a significant event for Lithuanian basketball fans.

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No, nothing unexpected happened. We prepare for the game and that's it. We are playing against a team that has been here before, and has even won here. They have a lot of talent, relying on individual actions, there will be a lot of one-on-one basketball, we will need to absorb the contact. They also have athleticism, especially from the big guys, so we will have to be very disciplined to contain them.

Our team, Rytas, has shown remarkable resilience and determination to reach this stage. Coach G. Žibėnas's pragmatic approach, even after a surprising semi-final victory over Rokas Giedraitis's Tenerife, highlights the team's focus on the ultimate prize. He acknowledges AEK's talent and individual prowess, emphasizing the need for disciplined defense against their athletic lineup.

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I don't know, it's not for me to judge. The AEK coach certainly deserved it, this year he had the best result of all the Champions League teams. The main trophy is tomorrow, that's what we all gathered here for.

The recent awards ceremony, where Rytas's Jerrickas Harding and Artūras Gudaitis were recognized in the symbolic teams, also brought a local talking point: the Best Coach award. While many expected Žibėnas to win, the award went to AEK's coach, Dragan Šakota. Žibėnas, however, gracefully sidestepped the controversy, stating that the main trophy is the championship itself and that a coach's work is constant, regardless of wins or losses. This perspective reflects a typically Lithuanian focus on team success over individual accolades, especially when a major title is on the line. The performance of former talents like Lukas Lekavičius, now with AEK, adds another layer of intrigue for local followers.

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Jerrickas undoubtedly deserved a spot in the symbolic team, and whether he deserved the top three... I think he will have additional motivation to prove it in the final tomorrow.