LTU – Bronze-medal winning Jankunas still in the clouds

VALENCIA (EuroBasket 2011) - It's not a stretch to suggest that even after defeats with BC Zalgiris this season, there will be a smile on the face of Paulius Jankunas.
 
He seems to wear a permanent grin now, thanks to his experience of a lifetime last year in Turkey with Lithuania's national team.
 
Lithuania made the most of their wild card entry to the FIBA World Championship and beat Serbia to capture the bronze medal at the 24-team event.
 
It's why his eyes lit up almost immediately after Zalgiris' Euroleague Top 16-opening defeat at Valencia last week.
 
"It was one of the greatest moments of our lives and we were happy with what we did," Jankunas said to FIBA.com.
 
Coach Kestutis Kemzura got the best out of Jankunas, and all of the other players that made the journey to Izmir for Group D games, and then to Istanbul for the knockout round.
 
Against Argentina, who had just edged Brazil in an Eight-Final thriller, Jankunas had 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists to help his team win and reach the Semi-Finals.
 
After coming up short against eventual champions Team USA, Lithuania got 15 points and four rebounds in a bronze-medal triumph over Serbia.
 
When Jankunas didn't score, he helped Lithuania in other ways.
 
In a pivotal Group D contest against France that Lithuania won, Jankunas scored just two points but had three steals and a game-high three blocks.
 
What was the difference for the 26-year-old Jankunas compared to his previous events with Lithuania?
 
"The coach trusted me more, gave me more minutes and it was great to play in that team," he said.
 
Most of the Lithuanian players now have an extra bounce in their step.
 
Jankunas, Martynas Pocius and Mantas Kalnietis have been instrumental for Zalgiris reaching the Euroleague Top 16, and going unbeaten in the LKL.
 
Lithuania sharpshooter Martynas Gecevicius has shined for Lietuvos Rytas, center Robertas Javtokas has been excellent at Power Electronics Valencia and Jonas Maciulius has excelled at Milano.
 
"Of course," Jankunas said.
 
"Victories like this puts the confidence in you and you play with more power and you believe in yourself more."
 
Jankunas knows that Lithuania will be in an entirely different situation this summer when they host the EuroBasket and attempt to qualify for the Olympics.
 
Outsiders in Turkey, Lithuania will be under pressure to deliver big style in the Baltics.
 
"Now everyone will be expecting something big again but it's going to be hard to repeat something like this," he said.
 
Jeff Taylor
FIBA