Lithuanian basketball takes on Europe

  • 2006-11-01
  • By Arturas Racas

America's Hoffman will help Teo reach its European dream.

VILNIUS - Lithuanian basketball fans will be spending plenty of time in front of the TV this month, as three Lithuanian teams have begun competing in Europe's most prestigious basketball competitions. Zalgiris Kaunas, the only Lithuanian team to compete in the men's Euroleague, began its athletic journey to European heights on Oct. 26. The first pancake, however, was burnt, as the Lithuanian saying goes.

Zalgiris lost 92-85 against Benetton from Trevizo (Italy). But the team is not discouraged.
"We are ready to earn back what we have lost 's the champion titles in Lithuania, the Baltic Basketball League - to reach Euroleague's Top 16 and to win some victories there," Zalgiris manager Ginas Rutkauskas said.

But he stressed that the victories would not be easy, as many new players have joined the team. What's more, Zalgiris bid farewell to forward Darjus Lavrinovic, last season's best scoring player, who left to play in Russia earlier this year.
Vilnius' Lietuvos Rytas team, which debuted in the Euroleague only last year, is also set to return among Europe's top 24 teams. This year, the team will compete in the ULEB Cup tournament, and hopes to win the Cup as it did in 2005, gaining the right to play in Euroleague next season.

Lietuvos Rytas, like Zalgiris, waved good-bye to two key players - main center Robertas Javtokas, who joined Greece's Panaithinaikos, and three-point shooter Simas Jasaitis, bought by Maccabi Tel-Aviv. But newcomers Eurelijus Zukauskas, Titus Ivory and swingman Andre Emmit from the United States, as well as Brazilian forward Joao Paolo Batista, are so impressive that the ULEB Cup's Web site has already named Lietuvos Rytas as the group favorite and a potential finalist.
Lietuvos Rytas supported this claim with its first-game win against Serbian team Hemofarm (81-69) on Oct. 31.
But basketball is not only a men's game, and the Vilnius Teo women's team proves this point. After participating in two recent women's Euroleague Final Four competitions, Teo looks set to hold its high position.

But like the men's teams, Teo also suffers from the loss of key players - team MVP Katie Douglas will need a few weeks to recover from foot surgery, and main-center Irena Baranauskaite is out on maternity leave. But their replacements, Ebony Hoffman from the United States, and Belorussian Jelena Leuchanka, are prepared to prove their worth.
The Teo team slogan this year, "On and up to heaven," shows just how much motivation they have. Teo's first game is scheduled for Nov. 1 against Spartak from Moscow.