The Lithuanian winger: “The best group I’ve played in my career”
SASSARI. “The bitterness for the elimination from the playoffs has not yet passed, but sooner or later it will disappear and what will remain will be the excellent memories of this season and of this great group”.
Eimantas Bendzius hasn’t looked back yet but he doesn’t want to lean too far forward either. On the eve of his return to Estonia, the number 20 of Dinamo tries to put together the most important stages of his first Italian season, lived as an absolute protagonist, and does not think about his future.
The Banco’s journey stopped on his half hook, too short, 2 ”from the end of Race 5. Have you reviewed the action?
“No and honestly I haven’t even seen the game again. Later I will look at it with due serenity and a lighter head, at the moment the sensations are still too hot. On that action I was marked by a smaller one, he closed my right, I shot and I made a mistake “
Is this a mistake that will affect you in the future?
“No, because it is part of the game and every basketball player knows that a last shot comes after so many equally decisive plays, which are a rebound in attack, a triple or the defense of someone who flops and takes a foul.”
Dinamo put a solid and very long team in serious difficulty. Are you satisfied with what has been done or is disappointment prevailing?
«As a team in general we can be proud of what we have managed to do. This has been one of the best groups I have had the pleasure of playing in in my career. There was a large dressing room, we lived together constantly both on and off the pitch and excellent relationships were born between us. We have been fine. This is why we left each time ».
What do you mean?
«We have continually had problems with Covid and injuries, there have been players who have left in the race and others who have arrived. But every time we came together because we were a big group and there was a great relationship between us, the coach, the staff and the club ».
What was the best moment of the season?
«I say Race 4 against Venice, perhaps also because it is the freshest memory. In particular, the last quarter, after we were 10-12 points down in the third and everything went wrong, with them scoring great baskets. At that moment we supported each other and I think those who watched the game noticed it, we came back great, with a special energy and the satisfaction of seeing the results of the great feeling built up with 10 months of work on the pitch ” .
What is your opinion of Serie A?
«Definitely positive: there are Americans of great athleticism, but also many good Italian players and many top Europeans. There is a mix that makes this league interesting, where winning is always complicated and there are often surprises ».
You were one of the most impactful players in the league: sixth among snipers, third in 3-point shooting, 27 double-digit times in 32 games, 11 times over 20. Are you satisfied?
«Each player has given a lot to this team: you have been working hard since the summer, you want to improve every year, you want to play well and improve your level, because training makes the difference. I think Dinamo found the player they needed with me and simply put me in a position to express myself at my best ».
How was your year in Sassari?
«Before coming I had talked to Stipcevic and Sorokas and both of them had told me about the great warmth of the audience. Here, unfortunately, only that was missing, but for the rest my family and I were great. My daughter is 3 years old, she did the first year of kindergarten and learned Italian, we enjoyed the climate, the people and as far as possible also the sea ».
Does that mean he’d gladly stay with Dinamo?
“Today it is impossible to say whether the chances of staying are zero or a hundred. The company will do its evaluations, I will do mine and then we’ll see. But the answer to the question is yes, I would be very happy to stay ».
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