Seimas team regains the Baltic Assembly Basketball Cup

Press release, 8 April 2024

On 6 April 2024, the Seimas basketball team regained the title of the winner of the Baltic Assembly Basketball Cup in Birštonas.

The Seimas team, consisting of team captain Andrius Kupčinskas, Chair of the Seimas Delegation to the Baltic Assembly and President of the Baltic Assembly; team coach Andrius Mazuronis, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas; Jonas Jarutis, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas; Kasparas Adomaitis, MP; Virgilijus Alekna, MP; Andrius Bagdonas, MP; Deividas Labanavičius, MP; Kęstutis Mažeika, MP; Gintautas Paluckas, MP; Matas Skamarakas, MP; Giedrius Surplys, MP; and Simonas Kairys, Minister of Culture, secured a resounding 34-19 win over the reigning champions, the Latvian parliamentarians. In the subsequent match, our team clinched a victory with a score of 34-26 against the Estonian Riigikogu team.

As noted by Mr Kupčinskas, the team captain, securing the victory was no easy feat. ‘The basketball court saw its fair share of twists and unfortunate injuries throughout the tournament, yet it concluded as a resounding success, particularly for us as the hosts. We take pride in the fact that the Seimas team achieved an unprecedented third cup victory during our term in office, triumphing in Kaunas, Daugavpils, and Birštonas. This achievement surpasses the records of past Seimas basketball teams, as the teams of the previous legislative terms of the Seimas never managed to accomplish this,’ he said.

The Latvian basketball players secured the second-place position in the tournament, following a tense and injury-stricken showdown where they narrowly prevailed over the Estonian Parliament team with a score of 32-26. 

‘In my speech, I emphasized the significance of sincere unity among the Baltic States, especially in the light of our shared awareness of a neighboring aggressor. Fostering this unity beyond interparliamentary cooperation is crucial. Events like this tournament, alongside the essential activities of the Baltic Assembly, serve to reinforce our mutual bonds and solidarity. This tournament, dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, holds particular significance in this regard,’ Mr Kupčinskas stressed after the tournament.

The Baltic Assembly's initiative to host an annual basketball tournament for Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian parliamentarians has become firmly established, aiming to encourage basketball, physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle. The competitions are rotated among the Baltic States, with this year marking the seventeenth edition of the tournament.

Saulė Eglė Trembo, Chief Specialist, Press Office, Information and Communication Department, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 209 6203,  e-mail: [email protected]

Justinas Rizgelis, tel. + 370 662 46571, e-mail [email protected]