#TimeOutZalgiris. A Euroleague celebration for Lithuanian Armed Forces day 0

Zalgiris fans received a double injection of EuroLeague basketball, as the green-and-whites played two home games in one week for the first time in league history. The game on Thursday against Crvena Zvezda was also marked with special festivities for the upcoming day of Lithuanian Armed Forces.

The players donned special camo uniforms, while Dalia Belickaite and #TimeOutZalgiris was out there talking to troops and other guests of the arena. One of them was Major Skomantas Povilionis.

“It’s very fun. Having 15 thousand people in uniform. Doesn’t matter if in this kind of uniform, that kind of uniform, or green-and-white. They’ve all got the spirit that you need to defeat any opponent. I hope we can beat them on the court, too.”

Belickaite also talked to the major about Zalgiris director Paulius Motiejunas, who is a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.

“That soldier is known to have leadership qualities, is extremely stubborn, a man who will hit the dirt any day of the week. He will do anything to achieve a goal, and that’s the most important quality.”

One of Lithuania’s all-time hockey greats and current president of the Lithuanian hockey federation Dainius Zubrus was watching the game from the court-sides.

“I really like it. Every time I come back to Lithuania, if there’s a game here, I come here with a smile on my face.”

Besides the troops, Zalgirio Arena saw guests coming from Alytus and other regions of Lithuania, as the firefighters who helped contain the huge fire in Alytus were thanked by club.

“I think Jankunas has it all. As a captain, he’d really help us in fires. We’d put him where we needed him most physically. He’d probably be pouring water from up top.”