LTU - Sabonis to continue as Lithuanian Federation President

VILNIUS (FIBA Basketball World Cup) -In a stunning turn of events, Lithuania announced on Thursday that Arvydas Sabonis is to continue as president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation (LKF) and embattled Secretary General Mindaugas Balciunas is to step down.

Just last week, only several days after the Lithuania national team's return from EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia, Sabonis announced to the LKF's Executive Committee his intention to resign.

The world basketball icon expressed a lot of frustration over criticism aimed at the squad this summer and particularly coach Jonas Kazlauskas.

Veteran play-caller Kazlauskas, who guided the national team to a silver medal and qualification for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, also aired grievances about some of the negativity directed at him and indicated he planned to leave his position if Sabonis was quitting.

Kazlauskas and LKF Executive Director Paulius Motiejunas were understood to have strained professional relations with Balciunas.

Following a difficult week, the LKF said on Thursday in a statement: "The Lithuanian Basketball Federation president Arvydas Sabonis has decided to stay in the LKF office of the president.

"In addition, LBF secretary general Mindaugas Balciunas has decided to leave office."

Balciunas revealed in the LKF statement that he felt his best course of action was to move aside.

"I made up my mind when Arvydas Sabonis agreed to remain in the Lithuanian Basketball Federation," he said.

"It was the decisive factor in my decision."

Balciunas had spoken often the past two years of the importance of having Sabonis work as LKF president.

Sabonis is one of the greatest players in the history of basketball, a member of both the FIBA Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

"This week has been a difficult one for the basketball world," Sabonis said in the statement.

"There were many discussions and explorations of different solutions.

"I am sure that Lithuanian basketball will remain strong and continue to improve its positions in both Lithuania and the world.

"I am grateful to Mindaugas Balciunas for spending many years in the Lithuanian Basketball Federation."

Balciunas says that the Federation, despite the crisis that it enveloped it the past couple of weeks, is in very good shape.

"I leave with the LKF a strong, stable, professional organisation," he said.

"I had the opportunity to contribute to its development and growth.

"It was a wonderful time with professional, basketball loving people.

"I am grateful to (former LKF president) Vladas Garastas, who led me to the federation, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with Arvydas Sabonis.

"I am grateful to the members of the executive committee of the LKF and the basketball community for their understanding and support, even in the most difficult moments.

"Basketball continues to be a very important part of my business and life."

Kazlauskas, meanwhile, has told lrytas.lt that he is open to remaining as coach.

"If Arvydas is back, I do not see a problem," he said.

"Unless within that time, the Executive Committee has changed opinions about me.

"But if nothing has changed, I will continue to work in the job."

FIBA