Legendary Lithuanian basketball player Sergejus Jovaisa visits Tbilisi. Twice Olympic Games medalist (in the USSR and part of Lithuania), World and European champion held the press conference in “Sheraton Metekhi Palace” today and answered the questions of journalists. Before leaving the hotel we asked extra few questions to Jovaisa. Despite the fact that he was hurrying, he satisfied our curiosity.
- In you opinion, what directions is needed to develop Georgian basketball?
- I have not visited your capital for 25 years and when the airplane landed at the airport I said in my heart Hello Tbilisi, Hello Georgia. I am here at the invitation of yours former Ambassador. I met Mikheil Gabrichidze, who wants revival of Georgian basketball and I would like to contribute to this case. So far, I could not manage to learn the situation properly, but it can be seen that your basketball infrastructure is limping. Young basketball players should have a good outfits, they should regularly participate in international tournaments and in the Championships. Otherwise, growing the stars is impossible. You have many high class veterans in Georgia and they should be involved in the daily activities of basketball. It seems to me , as if your famous players are less busy.
At the initial stage, the main attention should be paid to children’s basketball. If you do not have a solid foundation of basketball pyramid, thinking about the overall progress is just wasting a time. You also saw that Georgian national team had a short chair at the European Championship. There should be 10-12 full-fledges players in the national team. When the children’s basketball will reach a high level this would be possible.
We really can help you in organizational form. Our team is in the 4th place in the World ranking, we will try to be a good teachers and I do not doubt that you will be a good pupils. Lithuanian basketball federation and our leading figures are ready to help you. Presidential elections will be held soon and we will reach an agreement with a new leadership about the working-action plans. Tomorrow, I will meet the minister of Sports Levan Kipiani. A lot of things depends on the government. For example, in Lithuania, we have 300 million Euros in basketball. Basketball became a part of our economy. It is possible that initially the amount does not increase the effectiveness, but gradually this will definitely get good results.
Activity of private companies is very important. “Hyundai” is exemplary in this regard in Georgia. Without private capital we cannot develop basketball. Georgia and Lithuania are small countries, that’s why we must take care of any talents. That’s how we behave in Lithuania. You made really big step in order to get closer to European Union. Maybe the joint program of EU-Georgia-Lituania can be worked out due to develop basketball. Without offence, you have lost a certain period and now you have begin the work seriously. Georgians and Lithuanians have rooted basketball love in their blood, but your organizational side in limping.
- From children and end with professional players, how many people are involved in basketball in Lithuania?
- It is difficult to name the exact number, but we have approximately 40 000 basketball players. Basketball centers are in every Lithuanian city. As you know, basketball is number one sport in our country. We win any of tournament every year. The bad thing is that Lithuanian clubs does not have finances to “keep” our expensive players. Sponsors help the clubs annual with various amount of money. For example, “Zalgiris” won the Euro League, but the last year’s members of the team were almost five times more expensive.
- What can you say about the participation of Georgian and Lithuanian teams at the European Championship?
- In 2011 we lost to Macedonia at the Continental Championship, which was held in my country and we could not went through the semifinal. Kestutis Kemzura is not a bad coach, but he had no authority over basketball players. Jonas Kazlauskas managed this. He selected five really good and was putting an optimal composition on the parquet. It was difficult in the group, but Kazlauskas found that words which charged the boys. He told the boys, pack the suitcases up or move ahead. Lithuanian team went through the final and we will gain medals in the future too. Georgian team was playing very nice, but you had a short bench. Such a tight schedule needs more high class players. I liked your team’s fighting spirit. Before the European Championship our two teams hold test-matches and the main time ended in a draw. Many dreams of such overcome in Lithuania. Before the forthcoming Continental Championship, our team offered Georgian team to refrain holding the overtime, but the Georgians requested an additional time.
- It is impossible not to ask about the Olympiad 1992. On what mood you went and played in Barcelona?
- I have been a prize winner of Olympic Games in the lines of Soviet Union, I have also won the World and European Championships, but the most valuable prize for me is the bronze medal, which I gained in Barcelona. Lithuania was the leading basketball country also before the annexation of Soviet Union. Now it is time for our young players to achieve stability. For me in this regard Mikheil Korkia is one of the exemplary player. He often gained 30 points and even more, but he was never below 20 points.
- Last title you won at the age of 40, when you won the German Cup with “Hagen”. How did you manage to maintain optimal athletic shape during more than 20 years?
- When you faithfully serve you case, you will achieve a lot. We, veterans, gathered 2 years ago. Former basketball players of “Zalgiris” and CSKA met each other once again and defeated the team of Moscow with a point difference. We remain still as opponents, hostility is strange for us.
I had an invitation at Kolia Deriugin’s farewell party, I bought a ticket to come to Tbilisi, but my father-in-law died suddenly and the visit to Georgia canceled. I will remember also “Dinamo” Tbilisi matches. The game was very difficult in your Sport Palace. “Dinamo” did not allow anyone to relax and winning in Tbilisi was difficult even with Saboni. I remember that the case came to overtime even twice.
- Arvydas Sabonis expressed his desire to leave his post at the anniversary of choosing him as a president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation.
- Then, famous Lithuanian basketball players went against of that time General-Secretary of the federation and demanded his resignation. However, when the Euro Championship was held in Lithuania in 2011, he played a great role in this. Sabonis said, that he will not take part in these intrigues and it would be better to resign. All authoritative Lithuanian basketball players and coaches were involved in this case and finally we forced him to stay, and we have a new general secretary.
- I will ask about Vladas Garastasz too. He was a brilliant coach and his name is associated with the success of “Zalgiris” in 80s of the last century. Garastasz was the president of the federation before Sabonis. How he leaded the Lithuanian Basketball Federation?
- He led well the entrusted job. As for the coaches, you know, that the Soviet Union was a closed country and obtain the information, including basketball, was immensely difficult. We played in the international matches and we knew nothing about our opponents. Vladas jokingly told us, I do not know how, but we have to win...
Gocha Kacharava
