By Alex Molina/ info@eurohoops.net
Following their historic triumph in the Palau Municipal d’Esports de Badalona on Saturday evening, Rytas head coach Giedrius Zibenas and the Most Valuable Player of the Final Four, Simonas Lukosius, reflected on an emotional journey that saw them defeat AEK in overtime to capture the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. The victory capped off a resilient campaign for the Lithuanian side, who overcame a massive deficit to secure their place at the pinnacle of European basketball.
Speaking to the character of his roster during a postgame press conference, Zibenas was quick to credit his players’ internal fortitude. “These guys are a special group. All season long, they never quit, especially in the tough moments of the season. For sure, this is well-deserved,” noted the head coach of the Vilnius outfit. Despite the pressure of the final, he emphasized that his team’s composure was the deciding factor in their ability to overcome a 20-point deficit in the third quarter and a 17-point gap early in the fourth. “We didn’t panic. I think that was our superpower. Nobody on the bench or on the court did not panic. We just knew that we needed one good run, and we would come back to the game. And this happened, actually, when we needed it the most,” the 42-year-old play-caller added.
For Lukosius, the MVP honors served as a crowning achievement in his first professional season back in Europe after four years in the NCAA with Cincinnati and Butler. He delivered the defining moment of the night with an incredible game-tying three-pointer that forced the extra period. Describing the high-pressure play, the 23-year-old guard remained humble about his execution. “Not much was going through my mind. It was a play we actually ran in the shootaround. I was put in the position to be the shooter, and we executed it perfectly. I had to a shot fake, one dribble, and, yeah, I’m really glad it went in,” he said.