By Alex Molina/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League Final Four in Badalona welcomes a breath of fresh air as Rytas prepares for its debut on the competition’s grandest stage.
After Thursday’s morning shootaround, Ignas Sargiunas reflected on the team’s resilient journey to this moment. “We didn’t give up when we had bad moments. Εverybody had confidence. We had rough stretches this season, but we have a group of players that, no matter what, give effort and show up,” the 26-year-old guard noted.
Looking ahead to the opening semifinal of the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, he acknowledged the challenge of facing La Laguna Tenerife.
“Experience is definitely on La Laguna Tenerife’s side. They know how to play these games, but we also have something to offer. We have a faster tempo and 50-50 balls. Little details can make the difference,” he mentioned. “We know most of their players. Their roster is stacked. They have a lot of shooters and guys who can find them, big and experienced guards who can also kick it out. They play proper basketball.”
On his individual mindset, Sargiunas remained steady: “I try to approach every game the same, it doesn’t matter if it’s regular season, local game, or a big game like this one. There is more nervousness, but other than that, it’s just a basketball game.”
This composure will be vital as the Vilnius outfit enters the fray as a modern-day David against Tenerife’s Goliath. Rytas brings an explosive energy, boasting one of the most prolific offenses in competition history with a staggering 90.8 points per game.