Among Lithuania’s Top 12 – Tornado KM - "Fudo" Begins the Season

– I think the biggest strength of this team is that the core has remained practically unchanged. The boys have been playing together for several years, so they know each other very well both on and off the court.

One player left the team, but in his place we welcomed two very familiar faces – Jokūbas and Nojus. They have increased the competition within the team and added new qualities to our game.

At the same time, some players’ roles are changing. Last season some of them were more in supporting roles, while this year I expect much more responsibility and initiative from them. As a coach, it is very important to me that not only the leaders improve. I want every player to take a step forward, accept new challenges, take on more responsibility and understand what the team needs from him.

– First of all, I think we need to grow and become stronger physically. With the Tornado 2014-1 team we took part in a tournament in Tauragė, where as many as 10 teams from this season’s Division A were competing. It gave us a very clear picture of where we stand compared with our future opponents. The physical differences were noticeable, but that is a natural part of the process – some players grow and develop earlier, while others mature later.

One thing I can say with confidence is this: we may not be the physically strongest team, but in terms of character and willingness to fight, we will aim to outwork everyone. As a coach, I can guarantee that one hundred percent.

This season it will also be very important not to lose our heads and to make smarter decisions. In Division A we will face double teams, zone presses and many different defensive schemes. For young players who are not yet used to that kind of pressure, it can lead to rushing or panic.

So I want to see more calm play, better decisions and fewer mistakes. In Division A, opponents punish every mistake very quickly.

– We finished last season in the quarter-finals, so naturally this year we want to take another step forward and compete for the highest positions.

I fully understand that every game in Division A will be difficult and there will be no easy opponents. But I do not want to set any limits for the team in advance. We will take it game by game and fight for a win every time we step on the court. At the end of the season, we will see where that takes us.

We also have some unfinished business with a few teams, so there is definitely no shortage of competitive fire or extra motivation.

– More than anything, I would like to see improved communication between the boys. At the moment, as a coach, I still miss more talking on the court, especially on defence.

I want the players not only to see the situation themselves, but also to help the teammate next to them see it. The better they learn to communicate, help each other and solve situations together, the stronger we will become as a team.