February 08, 2012
Final Post-Game quotes: Lietuvos Rytas vs. BC Khimki
Lietuvos Rytas
BC Khimki Moscow Region

Rimas Kurtinaitis video
RIMAS KURTINAITIS, head coach
"We worked pretty hard for the Final Eight, so the result today, winning the cup, is special. We played better, played with our heart, we believed in our victory and we played even though we were behind. Usually we play the full 40 minutes, so tonight was nothing special to come back. We have experience for these games. From our groups before, against Bilbao and Gran Canaria, it was the same just to get to the next round. Tonight it was the final, and after the third quarter, we were behind nine, the same as at halftime. I just told the players to take it easy and go step by step for the victory. And it happened. We didn't lose confidence. We trusted in the victory. We saved our energy for the fourth quarter. That's why we didn't start with aggressive defense like we usually do, to save energy for the fourth quarter. Maybe we had an advantage because the rule is not the same for all teams. Khimki had to play three days in a row and we got a day off. I think maybe that should be looked at, because I know it happened to our national team in the Eurobasket in Madrid. Any player is tired if you play three days in row. Khimki is a great team, with a perfect coach and style, good spacing and good shooters. They were very good. But as I told my players, you have to trust yourself in all of life, not just basketball."

"This is not the first time I meet this situation in my life. I was an Olympic champion as a player, and I remember leading by 15 against the Yugoslav team with a couple minutes left. At that moment, though, you just do your job. The feeling or understanding of winning comes maybe three or five years later. Now, we have done a big job, winning the second cup in Europe. It's great. I am happy for my players , who did this job. We just prepare strategy: they did this big job."
Petravicius MVP video
MARIJONAS PETRAVICIUS, center, Final Eight MVP
"I feel great, this is best feeling the word. We never quit even when we were down in the third quarter, but this is how this team plays in games like this. We never gave up and now are going to play in the Euroleague next season, which is very important for the club. This is our second Eurocup title and even when I am very tired after four days of very hard work, we are going to celebrate. I think we are going home soon, and as soon as we get there, we are going to celebrate and I am sure it will be exciting."
Chuck Eidson video
CHUCK EIDSON, guard
"It feels great! All our hard work paid off. I was a lot of fun. Everybody here got to see what kind of heart this team has. We didn't quit. We stayed cool, got the ball to Marijonas (Petravicius) and he took care of business down there. I knew it was going to be tough, but I never doubted that it could happen. With the kind of defense we play and the way we shoot the ball, you can never count us out. I am ecstatic. I haven't slept in three days."
ARTURAS JOMANTAS, forward
"This is an unbelievable feeling! We lost the final two years ago so right now I am the happiest person in the world! We never gave up and managed to come back in the fourth quarter. Our fans were unbelievable, everyone of them. This win is for all of them. Lietuvos Rytas is back in the Euroleague and we can't wait to get back to Vilnius and celebrate! I am the happiest man in the world right now. I don't know how we managed to come back. We wanted to win so much, and we did it, probably by believing in it. We always have the support of our fans, not only in the finals, but in all the games - everywhere we play."
MINDAUGAS LUKAUSKIS, guard
"It's fantastic. I am very happy. Our team did great a job. Though we were losing almost all the game, we didn't finish believing that we could do it step by step. It's unbelievable. I don't have words to describe it. I don't know how we came back - you saw what happened on the court. We just played with our heart and it helped us a lot."
DONATAS ZAVACKAS, forward
"This is great, we feel just great after this win. We always play as a team and had some bad moments in the beginning of the season, losing some games by a lot of points early in the Eurocup. We always stayed positive and tried to do things better. We made it to the final game and even when we were down by many points, it was our only chance and never gave up. We never quit and are back in the Euroleague! This is the second time that we win this competition, something that no team had done before. We proved everyone that we deserve to play in the Euroleague. I am very proud of my team because like I said, we never quit and played very well in the fourth quarter."
MARTINAS GECEVICIUS, guard
"It is unbelievable, like a dream come true to me. We were down late in the third quarter but never gave up. We played together, as we usually do. We always play good team basketball and that was the biggest key to the game. We stick together and won because of that. Not only we won the Eurocup, but now we are playing the Euroleague next season. I can tell you one thing, we are going to have a big celebration after this win!"

S. Babrauskas video

Sergio Scariolo, head coach
"First of all, I want to congratulate Lietuvos Rytas on their win. They played a great tournament and they've been patient tonight. They are a very experienced, veteran, smart team. They believed that they would find the right moment, they didn’t let their arms down when they were down in the score. They kept fighting and playing and deserved it in the last minutes. From our side, I can say obviously we cannot be happy now. The last quarter I don't know if we ran out of gas or we just played not to lose, instead of playing to win. I haven't spoken with the players yet, so I don't have the answer to this question. It's clear that after 32 or 33 minutes of playing well, we lost our focus. The only regret we have is that possibly we got to this Final Eight a little short in a few players. The change of date sure didn't help us recover players who were out for so many months up to last week. But I don't want to say anything that could be used as an excuse. Lietuvos Rytas won. We feel we are going up, building something ambitious and solid for the future. We will now refocus and start to prepare strong for the Russian League playoffs, because I believe that the way to the Euroleague is still open. We have another chance in the Russian Superleague, and we will use it for sure."

"In the fourth quarter, we were not really aggressive, not really going to the basket strong, a little slow and not moving the ball quickly. We got to the final seconds of the possession without creating danger to their defense. But that wasn't the main problem. The main problem is that Lietuvos Rytas scored 27 points in the last quarter. That was the number one thing. We made a few really stupid defensive mistakes. We didn't play that aggressive. Giving up 27 points in the last quarter very seldom goes with winning the game."
JORGE GARBAJOSA, forward
"They raised their intensity during the fourth quarter and surprised us a bit. They hit some big shots in the end and managed to get back to the game with outstanding defense, switching really well. They managed to stop our defense. We paid a high price for a lack of physical condition in the fourth quarter amd did not manage to match the intensity they had right when it mattered. There are no excuses, they played better and I want to congratulate them."
MILT PALACIO, guard
"Down the stretch, we didn't play defense like we should have. That was the biggest thing right there. They hit a couple of shots, but we knew they were going to do that, and yet we didn't respond by playing defense. They've got toughness and they hit some big shots. I am very, very, very disappointed. Especially because we were winning for the whole game and had a 13-point lead late in the game. It's very disappointing."
KELLY McCARTY, forward
"It's very tough to lose this game. You get here, you play three games in three days and play your heart out. We played hard and executed our game plan. But they made shots and we didn't, and that was the difference. It wasn't something like that in the beginning we played great and they play bad, and in the end they playd great and we played bad - it was a great game throughout, a championship game. We knew it was going to be tip for tap. It came down to the last quarter, where they made shots and we missed some, they got some offensive rebounds and we didn't. We were also in the penalty early, so every foul counted. All those things took in the play. Somebody got to loose, and somebody got to win. To be a great winner you have to be a great looser. I definitely think we'll learn something from this game and it won't be our last time being here."
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Eurocupbasketball.com
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