Following the loss to Puerto Rico, Marius Grigonis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas commented on Lithuania's string of unsuccessful results in recent tournaments and their own future with the squad as a new generation of players is emerging.
The Lithuanian national team will watch the second Olympics in a row on TV, following their loss to hosts Puerto Rico (68-79) in the final of the Olympic Qualifying tournamentin San Juan.
It also means that the squad's medal drought will continue, as the last accolade won by the Baltic side came in 2015.
In the most important matchup of the summer, Lithuania went 6/28 from distance and collapsed in the third quarter, when the hosts gained a 13-point lead.
| Player of the Game | |
|
EFF
20
|
| Jose Alvarado | |
| Points | 23 |
| Accuracy | 9-14 |
| Rebounds | 6 |
| Assists | 1 |
Marius Grigonis, who recorded a complete stat line comprising 8 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, hit only 3 of his 11 field-goal attempts. Overwhelmed by disappointment, the guard of Panathinaikos AKTOR Athens restrained himself from simmering emotions and spoke enigmatically about both the painful loss and his future with the national team.
"We lost against a better-prepared team," Grigonis said when asked by BasketNews . "There really isn't much to say. As long as I've been with the national team, we've been losing a lot. We've been changing coaches, maybe we need to change players," he sarcastically noted.
"Their defense disconnected us, crushed me, crushed Saba," said Grigonis. As a matter of fact, Domantas Sabonis was held down to 10 points and 9 rebounds.
"We lost in every aspect," Grigonis continued. "Really respect to Puerto Rico guys, they were the better team and good luck to them. We don't need to look for culprits. I can take full responsibility, more was expected of me. You just have to take responsibility and move on," he argued.
Jose Alvarado scored 23 points and torched Lithuania's defense making 9 of his 14 field-goal attempts. For Grigonis, the debacle in San Juan was the last straw in a series of unsuccessful results.
"I'm tired of losing with the national team," he admitted.
"Now, based on emotions, it can be said that everything needs to be changed. I think there are a lot of young players who will come and change and be really better. And Matas Buzelis is there, he's playing a lot in college. I think they will replace us and be better than us."
Grigonis, 30, pointed out that Lithuania isn't the kind of basketball country that has sharp defenders, crafty scorers or effective ISO players. Nor is he certain about whether he'll appear with the national team jersey in the future.
"I don't know," he replied. "Now there are only thoughts. It is difficult for me both mentally and physically."
On the other hand, 34-year-old Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who has represented the national team since 2013, averaged 7.8 points and 7.5 in PIR across 4 games in the OQT. Could this be his last game for the national team?
"I don't know, maybe I need to think now," he replied.
"You play and you don't think about it, you think about the match. But anything can happen, you never know. A good young generation is coming, maybe I applauded here for the last time with this shirt," said Kuzminskas.
The veteran forward who played last season with AEK Athens wasn't too happy with how Lithuania responded to the game's requirements.
"Once again we made sure that we don't know how to play decisive games," he said. "As soon as matches become decisive, it's very scary."
"We knew they were an emotional team but we didn't control it," he added "There is no one to blame but ourselves. The coaches will not defend for us."
The Lithuanians had a 7-point lead (27-20) in the second half, but Puerto Rico quickly recovered based on a 13-0 run and never looked back.
Kuzminskas was asked if he felt tension in the Lithuanian game.
"We were tight all game. There was half a second of reaction everywhere. It's disappointing. Some are crying with joy, the rest are crying with pain," he admitted and called the outcome "incredibly painful."
"For those four years, this has been the dream of every athlete. Unfortunately, I won't be able to repeat that dream."
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