The legendary basketball coach and honorary president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF), Vladas Garastas, who passed away on June 10 of this year, will be warmly remembered again in Klaipėda this coming weekend. On September 12–13 (Saturday and Sunday), the Švyturys Arena will host the 12th international men's basketball Vladas Garastas Cup tournament.
This time, four teams will compete: Klaipėda representative club, LKL bronze medalist Neptūnas, Šiauliai Šiauliai, Latvian Basketball League medalists, European Cup tournament participants Riga Zelli, and Azerbaijan Basketball League champion for the past four years Baku Sabah.
For basketball fans, this is a great opportunity to evaluate how the clubs are structured and what to expect from them in the new basketball season.
This year's event will be marked by special sensitivity - the basketball community will honor not only V. Garastas, but also his close friend, long-time Klaipėda "Neptūnas" player, coach and manager Saulius Vilkas, who passed away on March 21 of the same year. The two friends talked on the phone for hours every day until their deaths, and S. Vilkas was the main organizer of this tournament for many years.
Grandson reveals grandfather's dying wish
In basketball, Vladas Garastas' name is part of history, but for his grandson, 41-year-old Vladas Garastas, he was not primarily a legend or a famous basketball coach, but a beloved and close grandfather. This year, the tournament takes on a completely different, personal meaning for him.
"For me, first of all, it's not just a sporting event, but also an opportunity to preserve what was very important to my grandfather, who had a bright memory."
"I loved and respected my grandfather very much. Our relationship was close, warm and sincere. For me, he was first and foremost my grandfather. Of course, I realized how important he was to Lithuanian basketball, but in the family he was simply our beloved person," said V. Garastas' grandson.
According to him, his grandfather repeatedly talked about the future and he himself realized that one day he would no longer be able to be around the tournament.
"He said that the time would come when he would no longer be able to contribute to the tournament, and then he would like me to contribute to its organization and nurturing. At that time, I might have thought about it a little differently. Now these words of his have taken on a completely different meaning. It is very important to me. You could say that this is my promise to my grandfather. If I can contribute at least in a small way to the continuation of this tradition, it will be very important to me. I will do this not only for basketball. I will do it for a person whom I loved very much and will always love." Klaipėda occupied a special place in Vladas Garastas' life. Back in 2012, speaking about the first tournament named after him, V. Garastas himself, of bright memory, said that he has had close personal ties with Klaipėda since 1972.
Here he repeatedly organized basketball camps, interacted with the people of the city, and saw Klaipėda's huge potential in basketball.
He later called Klaipėda a true basketball city, emphasizing the special support of Klaipėda fans.
"Grandfather loved Klaipėda very much. This city was close to him, many beautiful memories, people and basketball stories were associated with it. It seems very symbolic to me that the tournament named after him is taking place here. This is a city where he felt good, which he respected and for which he felt a lot of warmth," emphasized grandson V. Garastas.
His grandson also feels the same way about Klaipėda.
"I really like Klaipėda. I like this city, its atmosphere and, most importantly, the people. Klaipėda residents have their own character, their own warmth. Therefore, I would really like the tournament to continue to stay in Klaipėda and become an even stronger basketball tradition in this city," said Vladas, who lives in Klaipėda.
The tournament is not just about basketball
According to V. Garastas' grandson, this tournament today is more than a few basketball games; in cherishing this memory, people's support becomes especially important.
"I would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors of the tournament and the people who contribute to it. Thanks to them, this tradition can live on. This is not something that can be taken for granted. Every sponsor, every person who contributes to the tournament, also contributes to preserving the memory of my grandfather."
"I would like this tournament to last for many more years. For strong teams to come to Klaipėda, for people to come to watch good basketball, and at the same time remember the name of Vladas Garastas. I think this would be the most beautiful way to preserve what my grandfather created," said Vladas Jr.
Neptūnas coach: This is a good level tournament
Although the tournament is full of memorable highlights, in a sporting sense it will be a test of the highest level for the clubs.
Klaipėda Neptūnas head coach Gediminas Petrauskas emphasizes that this is an essential part of preparing for the start of the new basketball season.
"This is a high-level tournament with strong teams. They all aim for the same thing: to improve their game and prepare for the season. This is the last tournament before the start of the basketball season, where spectators will be able to see for the first time with their own eyes the newly formed Klaipėda city basketball team for this season."
"I invite the spectators to come and create a good atmosphere. The kind that Klaipėda really knows how to do and manages to pleasantly surprise us all every time. After the summer, we really miss that great emotion and warm support, which truly inspires the players and gives them additional emotions," said G. Petrauskas.
Although the Neptūnas coach notes that "cheering up" opponents is not a priority at this stage, he acknowledges the emotional weight of the event.
"This tournament will have an additional sensitivity this year. We lost two important personalities, but we must not forget that these were not only basketball people, but also someone's grandparents, parents. The fact that the tournament will be different - more sensitive, especially for those close to them," emphasized G. Petrauskas.
Tournament information for spectators:
All spectators (except VIPs) will enter the arena through Club Entrance No. 3 (from Dubysos St.). There will be free parking, a cozy environment, and places with the best visibility.
Tickets can be purchased online. www.kakava.lt or at the box office https://kakava.lt/kasosTickets will be more expensive on the day of the event.
Tournament schedule:
September 12 (Saturday)
3:00 p.m. "Šiauliai" - "Zelli"
5:30 p.m. Neptune – Sabah
September 13 (Sunday)
15:00 Match for 3rd place
17.30 p.m. The final