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Tuesday, 19.03.2024, 02:05
Head coach of Lithuanian natl basketball team steps down after Rio
The head coach of the
Lithuanian national men's basketball team, Jonas
Kazlauskas, on Tuesday announced his plans to step down from the post,
report LETA/BNS.
Headed by Kazlauskas, the Lithuanian team ranked 7th in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics."I am proud of having succeeded in many things but the time comes when everything has to end. My contract is over and there's nothing to think about. This was the last year for me," the coach said at the Vilnius airport.
The
Lithuanian team enjoyed an impressive start in the group matches, winning three
victories, followed by defeats by Spain, Croatia and, in the quarterfinals, by
Australia.
The
defeat ended the Olympic cycle of 2013–2016 where Kazlauskas headed the team
and secured European vice-champion titles in 2013 and 2015, ranking 4th in the
2014 World Championships.
During
the cycle, the team played 81 matches and won 61 victories.
Kazlauskas
was first appointed to coach the Lithuanian national team in 1997 and left
after the fiasco at the 2001 European championship.