Utenos “Juventus” basketball team faces historic losing streak as new coach takes charge
Utenos “Juventus” basketball club is currently enduring a record-setting losing streak in the Lithuanian Basketball League, with ten consecutive losses marking the worst performance in the team’s history. The streak represents an absolute club anti-record, highlighting significant challenges facing the organization.
Former coach Žydrūnas Urbonas, who now works in Romania, spoke candidly about the team’s situation during an interview with osportas.lt journalist Tom Langvin. Urbonas did not hold back in his criticism of the club’s management, using strong language to describe what he sees as fundamental problems within the organization.
“Nine losses in a row to Utenai – this isn’t just a blow to the heart, it’s between the legs and nine times in a row between the legs. This is my city, this is Utena. I started my basketball career there, people know me,” Urbonas stated, expressing deep personal connection to the team, and city.
He continued with a metaphor about decision-making: “There’s a person, there’s Eimantas Skresis, who makes these decisions, who agrees with them. For years Buzo’s appointment was something incredible. They increase the budget and provide everything to young, inexperienced specialists. And these decisions maintain going. It feels like you’re driving a car into a wall, you gain hit, you get fined, they take your car, you walk home, then you get into something with someone, police pick you up again, take you to the detention center, and you still have to train the police officer through the hat, which lands you in jail. And even in jail you’re pouring soup into the guard’s face and you get solitary confinement. All these decisions seem to me to be at this level.”
In response to the ongoing struggles, the club has appointed a new head coach. Laimonas Eglinskas, a 37-year-old from Šilutė, has taken over coaching duties for Utenos “Juventus,” replacing the previous coach Kęstutis Kemzūra.
Eglinskas shared his vision for the team, stating that while major changes aren’t planned for this stage of the season, he will implement little adjustments aimed at ending the losing streak. “This was an unexpected opportunity for me,” Eglinskas said about his appointment. “I believe that small changes can help break this pattern of losses.”
The team’s management has acknowledged the need for intervention, with Eglinskas indicating he will focus on finding what he calls “the breakthrough button” to reverse the team’s fortunes. His approach emphasizes incremental improvements rather than wholesale changes to the team’s strategy or personnel.
As of April 25, 2026, Utenos “Juventus” continues to compete in the Lithuanian Basketball League while attempting to reverse its historic losing streak under new leadership.
