The head coach of Jēkabpils “Lūšu” Mārcis Obrumans emphasizes that there is a high probability of meeting “RTU/Robežsardze/Jūrmala” in the final of the Latvian Cup, therefore the victories achieved until then could provide a significant psychological advantage that would help in the fight for the trophy.
“I already told the guys that a wounded animal is doubly dangerous. As if they are wounded – two losses against us – we must make them even more wounded,” said Obrumans before the game in the Baltic League.
On the other hand, the head coach of “RTU/Robežsardze/Jūrmala” Raimonds Vilde described the Jēkabpilians as a well-rounded and balanced team.
“Experienced players – such a triangle is formed – three, four [spēlētāji]. In that sense they are [“Lūši”] we are outmatched,” said Vilde. “That’s why it’s hard for us to fight them. We are quite unstable in this regard. It’s not that ripe yet.”
At the beginning of the match played at the beginning of December, “Lūši” was closer to victory, but the fighting spirit at the end of the sets allowed “RTU/Robežsardze/Jūrmala” to win in four sets.
Before the potential meeting in the final of the Latvian Cup, the balance of the teams has a fighting draw of 2:2.
“RTU/Robežsardze/Jūrmala” diagonal position striker Matīss Gabdullins sees that both teams are equal and nuances decide everything.
“How a team handles difficult balls, how they serve, how they block,” Gabdullins listed the essential elements of the game. “That’s how teamwork is. Then who goes and who doesn’t go. The set doesn’t end until the ball drops, so you have to fight for every ball. Even though we were behind in some sets – the second and third – until we had those 25 points [sasniegti]we went and just fought.”
Jēkabpils “Lūšu” coach Jānis Jansons, on the other hand, admitted that overall the game seemed good, but some players in their own team lacked experience.
Jansons is one of the most promising players of the new generation – he has spent the last two seasons in the Cyprus Championship, where instead of the expected progress, the 19-year-old volleyball player at the time gained sharp lessons.
“I didn’t expect that so much would be asked of me there. That place is for players who are moving towards the decline of their careers, and they [klubā] requires you to be resilient,” Jansson explained. “I left at 19-20 and I didn’t have that resilience. You can call it a bad experience or a good one, but an experience is an experience. I may or may not take something from it.”
Jansons is not disappointed about returning to Latvia.
“As I talked to before the season [Artūru] Vitkovski [LVF izlašu menedžeri], I thought it was a step back, but Archa said that it might even be a step forward,” Janson described the twists and turns of his career. “It’s not that the level is bad here in the Baltic League. All are really good teams here. At the moment, in the tournament table, you can’t understand who is at the top, who is at the bottom.”
Undeterred by what he experienced, Jansons returned to Latvia and is ready to take the necessary step in development and attract the attention of the coaches of the national team as part of “Lūšu”.
“I would like to be called back to the national team, because it is quite difficult to do nothing in the summer. It is morally difficult to go to training alone,” admitted Jansons. “I like that you can train with everyone. You meet someone you haven’t seen in a long time, talk to them. This year seemed like such a lonely summer. It will be alright. Hopefully, [izlases trenerim Mihalam] I will catch Gogol’s eye.”
Although coach Obruman’s wishes were not fulfilled in the game against “RTU/Robežsardze/Jūrmala”, Jansons hopes that the two teams will meet in the Latvian Cup final on December 17, where there will be a chance for revenge.
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