By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After being named Betsafe LKL MVP and guiding Rytas to the first domestic league championship since 2010, Ivan Buva parted ways with the team based in Vilnius, as announced Friday.
“From day one, I believed we can win the title,” he explained waving goodbye to Rytas, “I really want to thank the fans, especially for those last games and the atmosphere they created. I will remember this all my life because it was something unique I never experienced before. I want to thank the coaches, teammates, and the entire organization who worked with me. I know I was not always the easiest person, but we became champions.”
Buva, 31, landed in the Lithuanian capital midway through the 2020-21 season. Staying for the full package of the next season, he averaged 14.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game in the Basketball Champions League. Winning Group H of the Regular Season, the team coached by Giedrius Zibenas reached the Round of 16 but fell short of the Playoffs ranking behind Lenovo Tenerife and SIG Strasbourg in Group L.
At the domestic level, Rytas was held to third place in the King Mindaugas Cup but finished the LKL Regular Season in the first place and riding the secured home-court advantage through the Playoffs knocked out Dzukija and Siauliai-7bet in four games for a berth in the championship best-of-seven series. Beating Lietkabelis 4-1 handed the title.
Besides being named season MVP behind the production of 16.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, he was the March MVP and part of the All-LKL First Team. Adding to the solid campaign, Buva was the November MVP of the BCL and was included in the second Star Lineup.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League