MANISA (Türkiye) - The Youth Basketball Champions League is only three years old. But it's already starting to feel impossible to imagine a podium without at least one, or even both, of Rytas Vilnius and Tofas Bursa.
"They like fast basketball, pretty aggressive and bold, kind of like us – like dogs, like wolves, we like to bite, run, show emotions, so in a way we’re similar. We'll see how it goes" - Ignas Urbonas
Year 1 saw Tofas hosting and finishing second with Rytas claiming bronze, whilst Year 2 saw Rytas lift the trophy with Tofas in third.
And now this year they will meet in a Semi-Final that guarantees at least one of the clubs climbs the steps onto the podium once more.
The YBCL almost has it's own Lakers and Celtics dynasties forming with these two clubs and when you look through the rosters of both teams, the dynastic feeling only grows stronger. Both teams have five returning players from last year and that extra experience has clearly made both teams stronger.
For Rytas, Adomas Pocius, Mantas Liutkevicius, Erikas Sirgedas, MVP Ignas Urbonas, and Matas Deniusas all played in the Final last year.
Whereas for Tofas, the familiar faces are Yucel Cagin Basaran, Alp Doruk Sancakli, Ahmet Berkay Gonul, and Emirhan Serbest.
The YBCL website spoke to Urbonas and Serbest about playing in a second year and what kind of challenge they expect from a very familiar foe in the Semi-Final.
For Türkiye U17 international, Serbest, who is averaging 10.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks, the extra year of experience has had it's most profound impact in the way his team has bonded.
"Our friendship is better than last year," he said before continuing:
"We are more adapted to each other and it helps us to think and play better."
Last year's MVP Urbonas, who is also a Lithuanian U17 international and putting up a cool 16.0 points, 5.0 assists, and 5.0 rebounds this year, is clear that the familiarity with the tournament system is what has helped Rytas' returning cast the most.
"You know where you're going, what to expect, what the opponents will be like," he explained.
"We're kind of veterans now, probably, so we can help to calm down those who are here for the first time and introduce them to the tournament and its rules."
On the floor, the similarities in the intensity and physicality of both teams has been evident for all to see. And not just see, but also to hear.
Before either team even shot a ball in anger this year, they could both be heard from a mile away with the noise they make when hyping each other up to play.
And once the opening tip is up, the volume is only getting turned up from there.
Tofas have already crafted a strong identity for defense this year and every possession is an opportunity to outwork and out-hustle their opponents.
"It's our ethos," Serbest stated.
"We need to play defense and we need to hustle to make our defense better. It's our consistent topic to focus and do it in all situations."
For Urbonas, the Rytas game model is similar but also built on the flexibility to adjust to game state and the different situations that arise with each opponent.
"We try to play a fairly fast game, but not always – if the fast game doesn't work, we can switch to a more static, positional game, I'd say our team is kind of unique in that the whole five can usually play switch-all defense, there aren't really fully defined big men or point guards – that helps us a lot," Urbonas explained.
It seems unfortunate that only one of these two teams will have a chance to lift that black and gold trophy this year, but that's the nature of competing in a professional standard competition like the YBCL and for both players there are no illusions about the challenge that awaits in the Semi-Final.
"It will be a competitive game," said Serbest, before disclosing his conclusion that the only way to climb the Rytas mountain is for Tofas to be an even better version of themselves.
"They are the champions so we have to hustle and be an even better team, with even better friendship. We will need to focus but we are ready," he proclaimed.
Urbonas saved his strongest statement for last and set the tone for what now appears set to be one of the fiercest contests ever in the YBCL
"They like fast basketball, pretty aggressive and bold, kind of like us – like dogs, like wolves, we like to bite, run, show emotions, so in a way we're similar. We'll see how it goes," he stated.
With all the talking done, there's nothing left to speak with but actions.
Rytas lead the competition on offense with an outrageous 105 points and 30.5 assists per game but Tofas lead the way on defense with a suffocating 14 steals.
It's clear that neither team is going to back away from the fight and this one could be a classic. You can watch it on the FIBA YouTube channel today at 20:00 local time.
Make sure you do.