LTU - Kemzura keeps coming up trumps

VILNIUS, (EuroBasket 2011) - In just two years of coaching the Lithuanian men's basketball team Kestutis Kemzura has already managed to win bronze at the  2010 FIBA World Championships. Now after seeing his side get up to beat Germany on Sunday evening, further accolades do not seem far off for the 41-year-old.

Venture back to Gdansk, Poland nearly two years ago to the day. Going into their final match in group B, Germany needed to beat Latvia or assure that they lost by no more than 11 points to move onto the next stage of the tournament. On that occasion they achieved their goal, losing by just six following a three pointer and two free throws from Jan-Hendrik Jagla in the final 14 seconds. On Sunday night however the shoe was on the other foot for the Germans who needed to win by 11 more to move into the final eight.

As coach of the Latvian team back on that fateful night back on September 09, 2009, Kemzura found himself on the other side of the equation to what he was on Sunday night as current head coach of Lithuania.

And with the reversal of the roles, Kemzura would be able to experience the jubilation his opposite Dirk Bauermann experienced on that occasion whilst Bauermann would be left tasting the bitter taste of defeat as Lithuania clinched a memorable 84-75 victory.

"It was a different team but the story was really similar," Kemzura told reporters with a wry smile following the game. "I remember on that occasion Bauermann said I am the happiest I have ever been after a loss and I was the saddest I ever was after a win. But as I said - they are different teams and it is just an interesting fact"

Whether it is just an interesting fact or not - there can be no denying the fact that Kemzura has come a long way since that heartbreaking loss that sent a Latvian team with high expectations home.

Failing to get Latvia to the World Championships, Kestutis returned to his native Lithuania to lead them to an unexpected bronze medal in Turkey to stamp his mark in the rich folklore of Lithuanian basketball.

Now with the added pressure of leading his team in his own backyard without his World Championship All-star five candidate in Linas Kleiza, Kemzura is once more coming up trumps with Sunday's win taking him one step closer to repeating his feats from last year and as well as picking up a coveted Olympic spot along the way.

FIBA