In the sports studio of LTV7 there were invited persons from ASK Riga system – previous head coach Ramunas Butautas, player Uvis Helmanis and general manager Visvaldis Klintsons.

Ramunas Butautas worked as a head coach of team ASK Riga for three years and during this period of time he created really united collective there. Lithuanian national basketball team head coach remembers three years in Latvia with pleasure – he has grown as a coach and he has managed to create a good team. During the days when he served for the army he have been living in Riga and ha has positive memories about Riga.

He told that financial situation is as it is in Latvia and Lithuania, others will face problems as well. I did not want to be for the players and team an anchor which pulls down the whole team because my salary took some part away from others as well. This was the reason why I decided to leave the team so that ASK Riga could be able to exist further on and continue the way it has started. Right now I do not have any offers from the club teams and I am not even looking for them. My mother had an insult during the new year evening and right now for me the most important thing is that she recovers.

An agreement with the Lithuanian national team he has till the year 2012, therefore he doesn’t have to worry about the job. Last years have been spent almost without breaks and a rest is needed now. Butautas told that ASK Riga has been one of his favourite teams in his career and he thanked to all the people connected to ASK Riga – supporters, fans, players, coaches and management of the team.

Uvis Helmanis told that team right now is in a very good mood even besides the financial crisis. The team really gives all it can and shows really great character. Helmanis remembered the victory in SEB BBL tournament against Ventspils. He told that only in the fourth quarter the team stopped and could not score. The last attack – there were not opportunities to talk it over as the opponents missed both free-throws. Maybe many people think that Sandis Valters did a normal shot but it was just pure luck.

He confirmed that even in times like these the goals of the team has not changed and they are still as big as previously. In ULEB Eurocup the team has to get through the group stage, in SEB BBL final four tournament has to be reached and in Latvian Basketball League – champions. We are not interested in problems of other teams, we think about ourselves, train and try to be better – always be the first ones.

Visvaldis Klintsons told that the financial level of team ASK Riga has really decreased therefore the decision to lay-off guest-players in order Latvian players could play. None has a good financial situation right now but we do not think it is a tragedy. We think this is a new challenge – to continue the work with small finances.

Additionally, he mentioned that negotiations with some of the players are still in the process. Speaking about the salaries he said that Europe sets the boundaries for the salaries. Right now the salaries has a tendency to decrease.

About the possible change of the name of the team he said that right now nobody is thinking about it. In Europe everyone knows ASK Riga. If there would be serious sponsor then we have to decide upon that in the board.

Talking about Parex Bank he mentioned that in the last year they did all the liabilities to team ASK Riga. Right now they have not told they will not support our team. Moreover, there are new things coming up in the sphere of supporters even though it is hard to find global sponsor nowadays.

Used resources: www.esports.lv, LTV7