Everything is possible!

An extract from an article "GEALAN BAL(L)tic: everyone plays!" published in GEANOVA #3 in year 2021:

Dainius Novickas, Head Coach of Lithuanian 3x3 Basketball Team, former GEALAN BALTIC employee and basketball team member:

When my basketball team was disbanded, I moved to GEALAN basketball team and through basketball I ended up at GEALAN BALTIC, where I worked in logistics for three and a half years. In my spare time, I got involved in the 3x3 basketball movement, which was just starting in Lithuania.  GEALAN believed in this new sport, provided support for the purchase of sportswear and took me to tournaments.

When the Lithuanian Basketball Association offered me to take responsibility for 3x3 basketball tournaments, it was a difficult decision to make: I loved the sport, but its future was unclear. But at GEALAN I had a safe place to work. My employer and my colleagues encouraged me to accept this offer. Today, 3x3 basketball is very important in the national federation and is on a par with classical basketball. I am a coach and manager of men's and women's teams, as well as boys' and girls' teams.  The future of 3x3 basketball is great, this year (2021) it became an Olympic sport for the first time. In the Olympic qualification, unfortunately, we lost to our neighbors Latvians, who later won the gold medal in Tokyo Olympics. Now we want to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

 In 2024 Paris Olympics mini-finals, the Lithuanian National Men's 3x3 Basketball Team defeated Latvia in a hard-fought battle to win the bronze medal.

 

The rest of GEANOVA #3 (2021) article "GEALAN BAL(L)tic: everyone plays!":

When Lithuanians talk about basketball, the word "religion" comes up quickly and often. "Basketball" is a very common and often-often heard word, and it's a game that Lithuanians, who emigrated from the USA 100 years ago, brought back with them. By the start of World War II, Lithuanians had become world champions twice. In the Soviet Union, victories over teams from Moscow were like a balm for the Lithuanian soul. Since regaining independence in 1991, Lithuania has won nine medals at the Olympic Games, World Championships and European Championships. The country of less than 3 million inhabitants is considered a basketball powerhouse, ranked in the top 10 of the FIBA world rankings.

GEALAN BALTIC has formed its own team in the GEALAN SKL (Capital Basketball League) and since 2016 has been the main sponsor of the league, after which it is named, with 120 amateur teams from Vilnius and its surroundings competing for the title of champions in three categories. GEALAN BALTIC team, made up of employees and their friends, has finished third in the SKL on three occasions, second on one occasion and champions in 2016 and 2018.

The taste of victory. In 2018 GEALAN won SKL gold for the second time. No.41 - Dainius Novickas, Leader of the Team.

 

Aleksandras Kučinskis, Head of Marketing and Product Management at GEALAN BALTIC:

Basketball is very important to us. it is very important to a lot of people and many of them know GEALAN not only as a manufacturer of window profiles, but first and foremost as a supporter of Vilnius basketball. GEALAN SKL, with 1,500 players, is the biggest amateur league in Lithuania. It promotes sporting activities and brings people together to achieve common goals and celebrate victories together.

The GEALAN SKL provides excellent opportunities to promote the GEALAN brand. First we supported GEALAN team and then the league and its organisation. Now we are focusing our energy on children's teams, school sports, helping to organise summer tournaments for children and promoting the still new 3x3 basketball. GEALAN BALTIC professes the "religion" of Lithuanian basketball and takes responsibility for Vilnius, where the company is based.

I see similarities between the GEALAN BALTIC team and our successful basketball team: both teams have been together for a long time; you know the strengths of the others, you understand that they are doing what they do best, just like you. By fostering team spirit and interaction, you can achieve this - and that is fun.

 

Mindaugas Jonušas, Production Manager of GEALAN BALTIC, former player of the GEALAN basketball team and now manager and one of the coaches:

Everyone in Vilnius knows our GEALAN basketball team. It's basically the same guys since 2011, so we're very close-knit and that's our advantage. Even though GEALAN SKL is an amateur league, we don't just play because it's fun - a good team is ambitious and wants to win. The league is open to everyone. There is an entry fee, a team of 12 players, a uniform and a training place that can be rented from a school, for example, is enough. There is also a tournament for teams made up entirely of company employees, and there used to be a Lithuanian Window Industry League.

It's very interesting to play against young talent from basketball academies. At 16, they can already play in the GEALAN SKL, and two years later maybe in the NBA. Jonas Valančiūnas and Deividas Sirvydis have done it - one is currently playing for Washington Wizards today and the other played for Detroit Pistons. We also meet former National League players - in fact, every professional from Vilnius is playing in our league after their career.

Together with the Basketball. (From left) Aleksandras Kučinskis, Dainius Novickas and Mindaugas Jonušas.