There are changes in the Panevėžys “7bet-Lietkabelis” organization. Martynas Purlys is leaving the position of club director, who is being replaced Jonas Mačiulis.
Lukas Grabauskas, who has held the position of team manager for six years, will work together with Mačiuli in the management of the Panevėžys club, who has been entrusted with the position of sports director.
Mr. Purlys worked as the director of the Aukštaitija club since 2018. and during this period left a huge mark in Panevėžys basketball history.
Krepsinis.net previously announced that M. Purlys, who held the position of director in Panevėžys, will now work at the London Lions club.
With M. Purlius as the director, “7bet-Lietkabelis” won LKL bronze medals four times, won silver in the league once, and in the Citadele-KMT tournament three times each won silver and bronze medals.
Also, the club twice reached the play-off stage of the European Cup tournament, was voted the best in 2021-2022. LKL season organization.
“We are very grateful to Martyn for the contribution he has made during this whole period,” Alvydas Bieliauskas, president of “7bet-Lietkabelis” commented on Mr. Purli’s stage in Panevėžys. – He gave his all to the club. I told him that if it doesn’t work out, you can always come back to us.
Martynas earned respect from the team, from the players, from the fans. As a specialist, he has proven his competences through work. A big thank you to him for all the work and effort he put in, we wish him the best of luck in the new stage of his career.”
“I want to thank Alvydas Bieliauskas for the invitation to work in the club and his trust,” said M.Purlys while saying goodbye. – I am grateful to my colleagues, all past and present team members. “7bet-Lietkabelio” has become what it is today with joint teamwork.
Sincere thanks to the club sponsors and unreal fans. I believe that Jonas will bring new energy, knowledge and extensive experience as a player to the team. I wish the club the best of luck!”
J. Mačiulis, who is taking over the role of the outgoing M. Purlis, worked for the Kėdainiai “Nevėžio-Optibet” club for the past three seasons, starting in 2022. held the position of sports director in the summer.
“The news when Alvydas Bieliauskas called was perhaps a little unexpected,” said the former basketball player about joining the organization. – I didn’t think about it for a long time, because it’s not every day that you get the chance to come to a European Cup club.
We will definitely try to maintain the same successful streak that was with Martyn. There is a lot of work now, you need to get used to the team, get to know everyone and just continue working.”
During his career as a player, J. Mačiulis spent eleven seasons in the Euroleague, he gave many years to the Lithuanian national team, with which he won four medals.
Last summer, J. Mačiulis completed the training organized by the FIBA Players’ Commission and became an official FIBA players’ mentor.
“We have chosen a serious person, Jonas will not only be the head of the club, but at the same time the face of it,” club president A. Bieliauskas said about Mačiulis in the position of director. – A worthy shift for Martyns Purlis. Of course, Jonas doesn’t have that much experience yet, but he has good intentions, the desire to improve and make a career.
As a player, he has played in serious clubs, has many good connections with agents, with the sports world. He also has the right education for such a position, having graduated from Vytautas the Great University in business management, and from the Lithuanian Sports University – team management and innovation. We are glad that Jonas agreed to take this position, we will try to achieve our goals together.”
Is It a New Era for Panevėžys? Changes at 7bet-Lietkabelis!
Ah, the world of sports management – akin to a soap opera, without the dramatic music but with plenty of unexpected plot twists! We’re diving into the happenings of the Panevėžys “7bet-Lietkabelis” organization, where change is afoot, and it all starts with the departure of Martynas Purlys, the erstwhile club director. Fear not, for he’s handing over the reins to none other than Jonas Mačiulis. Yes, you heard it right! A player stepping into management—what could possibly go wrong?
After a solid six-year tenure, Lukas Grabauskas, the team manager, isn’t going anywhere. He’s joining Mačiulis in a dynamic duo arrangement that even Batman and Robin would envy! And if you think that’s exciting, hold on to your ball caps—Purlys has left a legacy thicker than the town’s famous potato pancakes!
Now, let’s dish out some accolades, shall we? Purlys has been at the helm since 2018, a period during which “7bet-Lietkabelis” snagged LKL bronze medals four times, allowed only one awkward silver, and made lots of noise in tournaments with clusters of silver and bronze. If medals were the currency of basketball, this guy would be a millionaire by now! And let’s not forget, under his shrewd leadership, the club twinkled like a star that’s just a little too full of itself and even strutted its stuff in the European Cup play-offs. Talk about a résumé!
Now, while we’re all thanking Martynas for his contributions—don’t you love a good exit speech?—we wish him well at the London Lions. I mean, who wouldn’t want to trade Panevėžys for London, where the only thing frozen is your pint? Bieliauskas, the club president, even hinted that if things go south, Purlys is welcome back. It’s like a classic sitcom set-up: “The One Who Returns.”
Meanwhile, our new boy on the block, Jonas Mačiulis, has an exciting road ahead. Having spent the last three seasons building a résumé at “Nevėžio-Optibet,” he’s now playing in the big leagues. His introductory quote hinted at the surprise of moving to a European Cup club—perhaps the name ‘7bet-Lietkabelis’ just slipped off the tongue a bit too smoothly for him. Yet, with his track record, one can hardly blame him for taking a leap faster than you can say ‘three-pointer.’
It’s interesting to note that Mačiulis is not short on experience. Eleven seasons in the Euroleague? Yes, please! Four medals with the Lithuanian national team? He’s practically a walking trophy cabinet. With a splash of education in business management and sports innovation, it’s clear this guy is ready to transform the club—not to mention that he’s probably already eyeing the décor of the club’s office!
And Bieliauskas, bless his heart, assures us that Mačiulis is the ‘face of the club’. One can only wonder if he’ll have to carry the weight of that title on his shoulders like a competitive game of basketball. But let’s hope he’s got the connections to back it up. After all, in sports management, it’s less what you know and more who you know—unless you’re managing kids’ soccer; then it’s just about not losing the snacks.
As the sun sets on one director’s reign and rises on another’s, we can only sit back and enjoy the unfolding drama. Will Mačiulis keep the success streak alive? Will Purlys come back in a glorious comedic twist? Stay tuned, folks, because in the world of Panevėžys basketball, anything can happen—and probably will!
What changes can we expect from Jonas Mačiulis as he takes over at 7bet-Lietkabelis?
Urlys is always welcome back. It looks like he’s indeed leaving a door open behind him—how considerate!
As for the man of the hour, Jonas Mačiulis, he steps into his new role with a mix of excitement and perhaps a hint of apprehension. After all, taking over a club that’s recently enjoyed a splashy competitive streak isn’t a walk in the park. Mačiulis has some big shoes to fill, but with his extensive background—eleven seasons in the Euroleague and a storied career with the Lithuanian national team—he’s not exactly starting from scratch. A fresh face and new ideas are what the club needs as it looks to maintain its successful trajectory.
One can only imagine the adjustments he will make, steering the ship alongside Lukas Grabauskas, who has been with the club long enough to know the ins and outs of operations. The two of them working together could be like pairing a seasoned captain with a new navigator—if they plot their course correctly, they might just steer the “7bet-Lietkabelis” to new heights.
What’s exciting is that Mačiulis isn’t just bringing his playing experience to the table; he has education and training from reputable institutions in business and team management. This combination of practical experience and formal education could be the recipe for success.
Bieliauskas, the president, seems to have faith in this new leadership. He calls Mačiulis a “serious person,” which in sports parlance usually means “he might just get us winning again.” While he acknowledges that Jonas is still relatively new to the administrative side, there’s optimism around his ability to connect and build relationships in the sports world, which could be invaluable.
All in all, this transition at “7bet-Lietkabelis” is more than just a change in names—it signifies a new era, with Mačiulis ready to infuse the organization with his energy and perspective. Can he maintain the success that Purlys enjoyed? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: basketball in Panevėžys is only getting more interesting from here!
So, hold on to your seats, basketball fans! The revolution is coming to Panevėžys, and it has the potential to shake things up in ways we can hardly predict.
