Interview: Zygimantas Skucas, Lietkabelis Panevezys

It has taken Lietkabelis Panevezys just two games to make some serious noise in the 7DAYS EuroCup. Lietkabelis beat MZT Skopje Aerodom 90-89 on the buzzer and went on to defeat a more experienced team, Cedevita Zagreb, 76-80 in the Croatian capital, becoming one of just three teams to have 2-0 records in the EuroCup right now. Some of its players, like two-time champ Mindaugas Lukauskis and the Lavrinovic twins, Darjus and Ksistof, are well-known to most basketball fans, but the player who is posting the best numbers is a bit unknown – power forward Zygimantas Skucas. In his first EuroCup season, Skucas has been unstoppable so far, averaging 18.5 points while making 13 of 16 two-point shots (81.3%) and 11 of 12 free throws (91.7%). He leads Lietkabelis in scoring and is second in performance index rating, at 20.5 per game. Skucas had never played at this level but has adjusted better than any other newcomer and, as he told us in this EuroCupbasketball.com interview, his only desire is to keep improving with his team. “After these two wins, I think we have to go to the next round. This is the main thing in the EuroCup,” Skucas said. “For me, just to play better every day. I don’t know what will happen in one week or one month, but my goal is to play better.”

Hello, Zygimantas. Congratulations on a great start of the season. Only three teams are 2-0 and Lietkabelis is one of them. What has allowed the team to play so well right away?

“Thanks. Well, 2-0 is a very good result for us, I think. It is our team’s effort in practices that allowed us to play well. We also have a lot of experienced guys who help the younger guys understand what it takes to play at this high level. I think we didn’t play against our strongest opponents yet, so it is surprising to be 2-0, but not that much.”

This is also your first season in the competition and you have done great until now. Do you think you took some opponents by surprise, that they didn’t see you coming?

“I am new to this league and at this level, yes. People don’t know me; that will come in two, three, maybe four games when they scout me and see my abilities and weaknesses. They will understand how to defend me and it will be harder for me to play. So yes, I think I took them by surprise.”

Your first win was at home on a game-winning shot by Donatas Tarolis. Lietkabelis was up by 23 but almost lost that game. Did that send you a message, that you cannot relax in the EuroCup?

“I don’t think it is just about the EuroCup. We also had games in the Lithuanian League in which we relaxed. We were up by 14-15 points and the opponents came back. We have to work harder, this is just the start of the season, everything can happen.”

Lietkabelis also beat Cedevita in Zagreb, playing really solid all 40 minutes. Again, Cedevita came back to take the lead but you stayed strong. What was the key to stop their comeback?

“Oh, I think we were ready for them! We knew we were playing against the Croatian champions from the last three years, a very strong team with young and experienced players and a lot of talent. Like I said, we were ready for them and maybe experience allowed us to win the game, because the Lavrinovic brothers and Lukauskis are experienced guys. They know what to do in those moments.”

After two games, you got a first taste of what the EuroCup is about. How do you like the competition and how important is it for you to get this experience?

“I think it is very important for every basketball player to play at a higher level. When you play against stronger opponents, you get stronger, too. It is the only way to get experience. As for the EuroCup, I think it is more physical than the Lithuanian League. We face facing bigger, taller opponents. For me, being not that tall, it’s kind of hard. I am trying to play as hard as I can.”

Lietkabelis will host Nizhny Novgorod in Round 3. How excited are people in a basketball city like Panevezys about the team’s success so far this season?

“I think that people are very excited. A lot of people come to the games. I played against Lietkabelis two seasons in a row and when we played here there were 200 or 300 people watching the game. Now we have 3,000 or 4,000 fans at our games. People are very excited, it is important for them that we win. Life is better for them if we win, I think.”

Nizhny plays fast-paced basketball, with a lot of rhythm. What will you have to do well in order to beat them?

“I think we have to stop their pace, make them play slower. Of course, our coaches will tell us what to do, but in my opinion, Cedevita is also playing fast-paced basketball and we stopped their fastbreaks and transition game. That was the key to that win and I think we have to do the same against Nizhny Novgorod.”

How have experienced players like Mindaugas Lukauskis and the Lavrinovic twins help you adjust to the EuroCup so quickly?

“I think they are giving advice to all the younger guys in every practice and every situation. They come and tell us what to do and what not to do. It all depends on how well you take the knowledge they give you. They help us a lot and we didn’t have them, we won’t be playing as well as we are playing now.”

You seem to be very comfortable playing for head coach Kazys Maksvytis. How is he as a coach and what do you like about him?

“Yes, I am feeling comfortable. It is not the first time that I play with him. I think that the key is that, as a coach, he is more relaxed in practices. He gives you a little bit more freedom. You see, there are a few young guys in our team. They could sit on the bench, but they started to play in preseason because our coach gave them opportunities and freedom.”

Lietkabelis has a nice mix of experienced stars and some up-and-coming players like you and Tarolis. Which are the goals for you, personally, and for Lietkabelis in this EuroCup season?

“Well, since the start of the season, the goal has been making it to the next round. After these two wins, I think we have to go to the next round. This is the main thing in the EuroCup. For me, just to play better every day. I don’t what will happen in one week or one month, but my goal is to play better.”