Žalgiris Hopeful for Tubelis' Return Against Panathinaikos

Ankle injury may not be as severe as initially feared, but his availability remains uncertain.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Kauno Žalgiris received encouraging news regarding the health of forward Ąžuolas Tubelis, who suffered a left ankle sprain in a recent game against Valencia. Head coach Tomas Masiulis indicated the injury may not be as bad as initially thought, and there's a possibility Tubelis could feature in Thursday's crucial EuroLeague matchup against Panathinaikos. However, Masiulis cautioned that Tubelis' participation is still uncertain, and the team will assess his condition further before making a final decision.

Why it matters

Tubelis' potential return would be a significant boost for Žalgiris' EuroLeague playoff hopes, as the team is already dealing with the absence of forward Laurynas Birutis due to a knee injury. Maintaining a competitive roster throughout the demanding EuroLeague season is crucial, and Žalgiris' ability to navigate these injury setbacks could determine their postseason success.

The details

Tubelis suffered the ankle injury after inadvertently stepping on a referee's foot during the game in Valencia. He was not registered for a recent Lithuanian League (LKL) game against Jonava Hipocredit, but the coaching staff is cautiously optimistic about his availability for the crucial EuroLeague contest against Panathinaikos.

  • Tubelis suffered the ankle injury during a game in Valencia.
  • Žalgiris is scheduled to face Panathinaikos on Thursday at 22:00 local time in Athens.

The players

Ąžuolas Tubelis

A forward for Kauno Žalgiris who suffered a left ankle sprain in a recent game.

Tomas Masiulis

The head coach of Kauno Žalgiris, who provided an update on Tubelis' injury status.

Laurynas Birutis

A forward for Kauno Žalgiris who is currently recovering from a knee injury.

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What they’re saying

“There's some (news). For Ąžuolas, it might not be as bad, as bad as it seemed at first. We'll see tomorrow, there are still days. There's some hope that he'll be able to play (against PAO), but I don't know for sure yet.”

— Tomas Masiulis, Head Coach (Pre-match TV interview)

What’s next

Žalgiris will assess Tubelis' condition further before making a final decision on his participation in the game against Panathinaikos.

The takeaway

Žalgiris' ability to navigate the injury setbacks to key players like Tubelis and Birutis will be crucial for their EuroLeague playoff aspirations. Maintaining roster depth and implementing effective preventative measures are becoming increasingly important for teams looking to sustain success throughout the demanding EuroLeague season.