Lithuanian Basketball Federation elects new President Vydas Gedvilas / News - Basketnews.com

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After being elected President of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation in 2011, legendary Lithuanian big man Arvydas Sabonis' term came to a close.

Sabonis said his goodbyes after a long and successful career both as a player and as a member of his country's Basketball Federation.

"Honestly, I have been playing basketball for basically my entire life. I've also devoted a lot of time to being President of the Federation, but as coach Jonas Kazlauskas said, everything has to come to end at some point. Now it's time to live for me.

My plans? A party, because 10 years in the Federation is a long time. We are going to celebrate and reminisce about our time here. I want to thank my team and wish them good luck. May their enthusiasm and love for basketball help the sport continue to thrive."

During the annual reporting - electoral conference, politician, ex-coach of the Lithuanian Women's NT, and president of the Lithuanian Basketball Coaches Association, Vydas Gedvilas, was elected as the new leader of Lithuanian basketball.

He beat out two other candidates: retired player Robertas Javtokas and former head coach of the Lithuanian NT Ramunas Butautas.

136 Lithuanian Basketball Association members cast their votes, with Gedvilas receiving 77 votes, Javtokas getting 28 votes, and Butautas ending with 31 votes.

Javtokas was a long-time National Team captain, Zalgiris Kaunas player, and former sports director for Zalgiris, meanwhile Butautas has been working as the sports director of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation for the past few years.

The newly elected President's team includes Mindaugas Balciunas (intended Secretary-General), Rutenis Paulauskas (innovations of coaching programs), Petras Tutlys (globalization of commerce), Valdemaras Chomicius (post-career integration), Ilja Laurs (investment program consultant), Gintare Petronyte (woman's basketball development), and Albertas Skurvydas (development of sports science).

In a press conference, Gedvilas was happy with his victory but acknowledged that there is still a lot of work to do: "Winning doesn't mean anything yet. We are going to have to work and put in the effort to complete our program. I want to thank the basketball community and I want to say that Butautas and Javtokas are welcome to come work in the Federation."

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