Basketball Champions League

Giedrius Žibėnas studies BCL coaching from the inside

In a diary published on October 12, 2026, the BCL champion describes visiting teams and observing their preparation during a summer without a club.

Viktor Morozov

Cold tactician

Basketball European Basketball Cold tactician

Giedrius Žibėnas said he spent the summer keeping up his coaching skills by visiting basketball teams, with a particular focus on Basketball Champions League clubs.

In a diary published by the Basketball Champions League on October 12, 2026, Žibėnas described a week with Badalona, where he observed practices and games and considered how the club balanced its Liga Endesa schedule with preparations for the BCL season.

A different summer for a coach

Žibėnas wrote that it was his first summer in more than a decade without a club. With no immediate game preparation or roster work, he welcomed more time at home with his wife and new baby.

He also stressed that being away from a team did not switch off his identity as a coach. He wanted to stay sharp, noting that a lengthy break from games can affect a coach’s sense of practice rhythm and in-game decision-making.

Learning by watching BCL teams

The coach said clinics and online material make it easier for coaches to share knowledge and arrange visits. After a pre-season trip to Olimpia Milano, he travelled to Badalona to spend time with coach Dani Miret and the club.

Žibenas stayed for a week, watching practices and games, including Liga Endesa matches. He said he aimed to understand not only what the team did, but the reasons behind its approach as it prepared for the BCL season.

Clear roles and Ricky Rubio’s influence

In his account, Žibenas highlighted the clear responsibilities within Miret’s coaching staff and said players understood who handled offense, defense and the head-coaching role.

He also observed Ricky Rubio’s calm body language and his efforts to help younger teammates through quiet guidance. Žibenas described Rubio’s presence on the court as an additional coaching resource for the team.

Newsroom

Žibenas’s diary presents his summer visits as a way to stay connected to coaching and learn from the preparation of clubs competing in the Basketball Champions League.

Byline

Viktor Morozov

Cold tactician

Editorial transparency · How this story was created

This article was prepared by the automated Ranko newsroom using tournament data recorded on Ranko Universe at the time of generation. Subsequent updates or corrections may not yet appear here.

This report summarises the results and standings available when it was prepared.

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