Aigars Vitols tells what are the first impressions regarding the new head coach Donaldas Kairys, additionally he answers why he did not join team Barons/LMT with which he trained for a while.

How would you evaluate ASK Riga chances for the rest of the season after the big changes that happened in the club?

In Latvian Basketball League (further on: LBL) our chances are still the same. Maybe some effects might be due to the reason we are having less available players if compared to other teams therefore I thing during the next few months something could change – new player could be added to the roster of ASK Riga making the life easier for the present players. The team is still able to strive and definitely can fight for the victory in LBL; about the SEB BBL – the goal set before the start of the season is still open – we need to get to the final four tournament – and it is possible to achieve this goal. Effects of the financial crisis can be felt by other teams as well and I believe some changes will follow up in other teams as well. Our financial questions could be solved as well.

Team ASK has new head coach. How would you describe Donaldas Kairys?

There have been just a few trainings with Donaldas being as a head coach and nothing radical has changed in our game style. It is still many things as it was when the head coach was Ramunas Butautas as they worked together. Both of them have similar thoughts but maybe something will be changed concerning the tactics in the near future. When head coaches changes it is not possible to cut everything we have been working on half of the season.

But if we look from the side of the players – head coach is young, with a little bit of experience.

I think attitude has not changed as all the players are professionals and that is nothing if the head coach is young. He is the head coach and we are players – we just have to do his orders. This is the thing that shows the professionalism of the players – there cannot be any thoughts that the head coach is younger than few of the players.

What where the main duties of Kairys when Butautas was still the head coach?

He was one of the head coach’s assistants, he analyzed the opposing teams, combinations and helped to prepare for the games tactically. In trainings of course he took part as well, he gave advices as well.

Right now it looks like ASK Riga has the main problems with the playmakers as Andrius Mazutis cannot run the whole game. How do you feel when you have to take over the duties of organizing the game?

It is nothing I would not be used to. Maybe the duties are not the same as a classic playmaker would have but as we are playing many pick & roll combinations then there is no big difference if you are the first, the second or the third number on the field. After all previously in some episodes I have been playing as a first number as well, so there are not big problems.

Before you joined ASK Riga there were rumours you are going to play for the side of Barons/LMT, but...

Yes, at the beginning I had individual trainings but in these trainings it is more difficult to get back the feeling of the game therefore I agreed with Barons/LMT to participate in their trainings. In parallel there were going on the negotiation process about the agreement. But however we could not find an agreement. Maybe I was not needed that much as they had enough players. Then there was an offer from the side of ASK Riga, both sides were satisfied with the terms and conditions therefore I am playing here.

Used resources: www.esports.lv