Lithuania’s Euro Cup Favorite: Staniškauskas on Betting and American Behavior

Two Lithuanians, Laura Juškaitė ⁤and Eglė Šventoraitė,⁢ are part of the Mersin CBK team, which ⁢is considered ‍the strongest ⁣in the EuroCup. They⁤ reached the EuroLeague final last ⁢season‍ and achieved the same feat in 2023.

This is the first time ⁤in 18 years ‍that a Lithuanian women’s club has advanced past the first playoff stage.

“You probably ⁣know that this is the top-ranked team. A very talented team,especially in attack. All the players ⁢are practically leaders of their national teams,” said Vilius Stanišauskas, ⁤the head ⁢coach of “Kibirkštis-TOKS,” about⁣ the upcoming challenge from the Mersin team. “A⁣ very strong ⁢team. We are preparing for the duel, emphasizing each of ‍their players and how to stop them. Of course, we want to find situations in attack, because Mersin’s defense is specific, different. We know how⁣ we⁢ want to play, and the⁤ most important thing will be to implement it in the game.”

The first match is‍ in Vilnius, and next week V.Stanišausko’s team will travel to ⁤Turkey.

“We are ⁣probably already used to it. We started the ⁤EuroLeague qualification at home, the⁢ playoff‍ stage – also at home. ⁣We just need to play well, it will be ⁣very important⁣ to start the game well and not let the opponents feel good. We expect a good result, ⁢after which we will go to fight ⁣in Turkey,” commented V.Sanišauskas.

The Mersin team includes two WNBA players: 2024 WNBA champion Kennedy Burke and one of the leaders of the Belgian national team, Julie⁣ Vanloo.

But

Before a crucial series in the season, changes are happening within the Vilnius team.

Zaay Green (25 years old, 188 cm),‍ one of the team’s leaders, left the capital last week due to a “violation of internal rules,” and has been replaced by French player ⁢Zoe⁢ Wadoux (26 years old, 178 cm).

“I don’t want to hide anything,” commented V. Stanišauskas about the separation from Z.Green. “Internal team rules were violated, if⁤ we talk about her behavior, outbursts. This wasn’t‍ the first time. I’m not saying she’s a bad player, a bad person, maybe it’s all because she came very young and straight from university. She wanted to show a lot, to⁣ prove ⁢a lot, and sometimes her ambitions were above the team’s results. These were ⁢the reasons.”

FIBA.com⁢ nuotr./Zaay Green

“the first impression ⁤was shock within the team, as a starting ‍five player who was playing well left,” said the coach about ⁢his players’ reaction to Z. Green’s departure.