Interview with immortal

My congratulations on your recent U21 World Cup gold! On the previous U21 WC Lithuania got eliminated already in the second round. How does it feel to be the Champion and to improve the former coach's result?

I have won U18 word championship (4^th edition) so I already new this feeling. I can say that it is superb feeling to win this title. Specially to have U18 and U21 titles together.

You didn't lose a single game on the WC, that's impressive! Who were your key players?

I can say that Key players were players with the high defense skill. Like Ausrius Radkevicius, he has good defense + foot work, Dominas Vitkaustas – probably the best defensive SF on this generation. I believe the strongest side on the Lithuanians U21 was – we did not had rebounders at all, so I could use strong Defense/Foot work skilled players. Honestly, I had 11-12 playing players on this team and all of them for me were key players.

You managed to win over Poland in the first WC round by only 1 point. Back then, have you considered these 2 teams in the WC final? Weren't you a bit afraid of a rematch, if the first game was so close?

I was afraid in the first WC round J Poland had really strong squad for the last U21 WC. Antanas Pivoras was available for the first time of the season without fatigue, so I decided to play through offence. Tactic have worked very well, and first time Poland have been in front ~20s left till the end of match, but Antanas Pivoras saved my day J

In the Final I supposed to see Spain (I have never seen so strong U21 squad ever), but I was happy to reach Finals and to face Poland, as Poland had great coach. For the rematch was the easiest game of the WC, I was 100% sure to play with all my defensive players I had. It was already good result for me and Lithuanians community to reach the Finals, so there was no pressure for me J

The final game against Poland was completely different than the previous game against them. Lithuania was dominating almost the whole time. What was so special in your tactics for the final?

I don’t know, of course I have made some tactical changes (SF/SG -> PG, SF -> SG). Lot of users did not understood, why the player which is playing into PF position for his club, playing into SG position for the NT. But that’s my style, if the player has necessary skills for me, I can use we I can see will be useful. I have removed few scoring players, which had unacceptable defense skill for the big importance matches.

Of course Poland coach helped me a lot. The only one player I was afraid of – Drozd. It was big surprise for me – he was placed into SF position (what a great waste of great foot worker). Of course if this tactic would work, Poland coach could say – what a great move. I did not had Rakevicius in the Final game, so I was forced to user PF with the low defense skill (it was 12 at the final match). So Drozd could score against him 50+ easily. But I was so lucky!

I still believe that offence can win games, but the defense – titles.

Which game on the WC was the most difficult for you and why?

I believe it was against Poland in the first WC round. Just Poland is so great team and I did not know what to expect from this matches. I was lucky to have some fresh players, so I could use new tactics for this match. And I believe Poland was the strongest opponent in the last U12 WC. After this game my expectations from the team have been raised to the sky J

Imagine you can create a starting five consisting of top players from all the countries which took part in the U21 WC. How would your starting five look like?

PG: Zawada or Tarasevicius (cannot pick between these guys J)

SG: Juozas Ruškys

SF: Dominas Vitkauskas

PF: Ausrys Radkevicius

C: Albert Drozd

Do you consider coaching the senior NT?

Still do not know. All NT’s are consuming a lot of time from the personal life.

You play CBM since 2005, but started to achieve anything special only recently. Why did it take you so long?

Actually, I have team since 2005, but I did not played for real. Even I do not know how I did not lost my team J I have started to play this game more serious from the end of 12th season, I after 1 season I understood that only good budged could allow to you to have good and young and competitive team to play this game. When I have stopped doing trades I have qualified from the 4^th to the 1^st division in 3 seasons.

There are lots of very young players in your team. Have you changed the whole concept of the team recently?

I had only 7 players on my team + one old guy, and I did not have more money to buy 2 new guys, so I decided to raise more money in few season. I could qualify this season to the LKL, but I did not liked this idea to play with only 8 players on the highest division. I do not expect to raise these players for my team, just to earn more money.

What do you think about the latest changes in CBM?

I do not use FaceBook, so I do not have opinion about this update, but achievement system looks good. Now users can earn some extra CBMoney, they will be able to participate in Private Cups, or to buy Supporter Pack. And I do not have my own opinion about game engine changes, all changes are welcome, they improves this game. Game engine updates are forcing old managers to make some changes on their teams J

Do you consider yourself the best coach in Lithuania?

Nope. I do not. The best coaches are these, which has more money to build competitive team for the highest division and for international cups. That’s my opinion.

During the U21 WC final you could got in touch with the Polish community, by entering their national chat. But what do you think about your countrymen? Could you describe us the Lithuanian CBM community?

Hmm. We have quite big community, but there are not so active like Poland or Italy communities… Maybe the last results from the all NT results were bad, really hard to say. But one thing I can say, that they are very angry if some “deserved” players are not getting enough exp from NT’s or NT manager selects own player to play for the current NT J

Now something strictly about you :) What's your name, how old are you, where do you live?

My name is Giedrius, I am 29 years old, I live in Vilnius

Are you interested in anything else than basketball?

I love fishing, IT (that’s what I am doing to earn money), love hang with my friends, drink beer.

A bunch of quick Qs now :) Mountains or sea? Whisky or wine? Film or book? MJ or Magic Johnson?

Mountains. Whisky. Film. MJ.

Are you interested in the NBA? Who's among the contenders this time?

For me it is – LA Lakers. Of course to win title this year they have really small chances, but still it is my favorite team. I believe this year Chicago is going to lift the title. Other Contenders should be – Miami, Portland, Oklahoma and maybe LA Lakers

How did you get to know about CBM?

I do not remember, I believe I saw an advert on the web page.

What's the secret behind your nick and team name? What's their origin, what do they mean?

My usual nick which I am using for the web games was taken, so this was the second best choose to use one of my favorites bands name. Team name – it is my birth town team name. They were using this team name when I was young and I liked to attend to the home matches.

Thank you. Best regards.