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“Catch Me if You Can: Wheelchair Basketball Lessons for Showmen”

by Kestas Rimkus “15min.lt”

There was no dunking, no persistent fight during this game ending in score 99:11. However, players on the loosing team, even those who scored no points at all, called this game one of the best ones in theirs lives.

I can’t turn around. Too late to go back. I feel helpless… The wheels are not pulling. Such comments were heard at the “Siemens” Arena, where Vilnius wheelchair basketball team “Draugyste” (Friendship) played against “Kazkur Matyti” (Somewhere Seen), playing basketball in the wheelchairs for the very first time.

“It’s a shocker that we even scored some points,” shared race car driver Benediktas Vanagas. “They were unstoppable, ten times faster than us”, TV host Timuras Augucevicius shared in awe, "by the time I turned around, they were already at the other end.” Basketball commentator Rytis Vysniauskas was more impressed by movements in wheelchairs than Allen Iverson’s tricks. “I had no idea there was such speed. Really difficult and highly technical sport.”

In a typical basketball game players are assigned by position and height, in wheelchair basketball – by physical disability ratings. The amount of all five players on court can not exceed 15 points. Player with minimal disability, such as leg amputee with a healthy body - 4.5 points, while a player with the most severe disability, such as paralysis due to spinal injury – 1 point. Nerijus Venskus, “Draugyste” leader, is a player of 1 point, who is a pioneer of Lithuanian wheelchair basketball players playing abroad.

Eight years ago Nerjus was a back seat passenger in a car involved in an accident. His spine was broken. Long rehabilitation followed, until one of the rehab employees took him to basketball club “Draugyste”. He sat in a basketball wheelchair and the rest is history… Due to speed and strong arms, N. Venskus quickly became great player and got other teams’ attention. He helped Sankt Petersburg club and was invited to play in Germany. Wheelchair basketball in Germany has about two thousand registered players and is the strongest in Europe. Last year N. Venskus helped its team to win the championship.

Today N. Venskus is “Draugyste” leader. Ten teammates practice and participate in the Lithuanian championships. Most of them had a fair share of life struggles – one was hit by a motor boat, other one hurt his spine diving, few others had car accidents. Wheelchair basketball is not their main activity. Most of them drive taxis, designs furniture, jewelry. In the evenings they gather to play basketball. G. Razgutis, for the last 5 years coaching “Draugyste”, shared “It was a little intimidating in the beginning but quickly I realized that these men are just like everyone else and truly value what they’ve got. Every practice someone falls out. The ones who don’t feel their legs, don’t even realize they get hurt until bruises and even fractions are found.”

There are only three teams in Lithuanian wheelchair basketball championship: Vilnius, Kaunas and Siauliai, but results are getting better and better. Starting at division C, Lithuanians climbed to second place in division B and for the first time in history earned a spot in a division A tournament.

Women’s division is separate, but men’s teams are allowed to get ladies' help – Lithuanians used that opportunity. Karolina Lingyte was the youngest Lithuanian Women’s Basketball League player when in 2006 in Poland the van she was in was struck by a trailer truck. K. Lingyte was the only survivor of the crash, who lost not just her mother, but her left leg as well. She transitioned into the wheelchair basketball and became USA champion with Alabama University team.

Wheelchairs are like shoes for those men. "It would be difficult for Jonas Valanciunas to move on NBA courts wearing clogs," joked N. Venskus." Our wheelchairs are as important as sneakers are to a basketball player. I had six wheelchairs during my career, they don’t last forever and cost 3,000 to 6,000 euros. We also need a special bus to travel with our equipment. When we approach businesses for promotion, typical answer we get “ government should take care of you.” But things are looking up, Vilnius municipality provided 1000 euros last year, Lithuanian Rail Roads – 200.

No matter what, team players try to live to the fullest. Almost everyone is employed these days, have families, raise children.

Photos: Irmantas Gelunas