On February 2nd, legendary coach Vladas Garastas turned 94 years old. This is a special occasion to remember one of the most prominent figures in Lithuanian basketball history – the first head coach of the independent Lithuanian men’s national basketball team.

In the world of basketball, V. Garastas is known as an exceptional strategist and architect of victories. The teams he led won Olympic bronze medals twice, and with Kaunas “Žalgiris” he reached historic heights – becoming Soviet Union champions three times in a row. These victories established “Žalgiris” among the strongest teams in Europe, and in 1986 the club, led by V. Garastas, won the prestigious William Jones Cup – a tournament that at the time symbolically determined the best basketball team in the world.

Another unique historical fact in his coaching career is that V. Garastas is remembered as the last champion of Czechoslovakia, leaving his name in the sports history of a now non-existent state.

“Basketball House” invites all basketball fans to visit a special exhibition dedicated to one of the most decorated and highly respected Lithuanian basketball coaches. There you will be able to see unique artifacts from Vladas Garastas’ career, learn about his key achievements, and experience the scale of his contribution in shaping Lithuanian basketball iden