Neptunas has opted to sign players who either played for Neptunas in the past or were born in Klaipeda; as many as nine of its players are familiar with the team in some way. One of them is scoring guard Deividas Gailius, who just like his club, is making his Euroleague debut with Neptunas this season. Gailius leads Neptunas in scoring (14 ppg.) and shined last week with 19 points, including consecutive dunks that stopped a Valencia comeback. Gailius is happy to be back home and feels he belongs at this level, as he told us in this interview. "It is the strongest league in Europe, but I don't feel like I am new here. I feel good in this league and I think I tried to show what I can do," Gailius told Euroleague.net. "We have a good group of players and a very good coach. Everything is nice here. I am happy to be home, playing the Euroleague."

Hello Deividas. Congratulations on a great win against Valencia Basket. You stopped Valencia’s rally in the final minute. What were the main reasons you won that game?

"Thanks. We knew that Valencia is a good team and we would have to give 120% if we wanted to win. Coach had a good game plan and we did everything we wanted, made our shots and won this game. It was a good win for us. When we play at home, we are a different team than on the road. We always have a full gym of 5,000 [people] and it is nice to play at home."

Actually, Neptunas is really strong at home, winning two games and only losing to Olympiacos in overtime. What has made you so strong in front of your fans?

"I don't know; most of us are from Klaipeda. When you play at home, in front of your family and friends and everybody you know in the city comes to watch you play, you give 150%. We have been growing as a team and that gave us a chance to play in the Euroleague. Maybe, in the future, we won't have this chance, but we want to show we can play at this level and make history for our club and our city."

This is your first Euroleague season. How satisfying is it for you to make your Euroleague debut with your hometown team, Neptunas?

"It is nice. I think that everybody wants to play at home if they have the chance to do it, especially if you can play at home in the Euroleague. It is the strongest league in Europe, but I don't feel like I am new here. I feel good in this league and I think I tried to show what I can do. We have a good group of players and a very good coach. Everything is nice here. I am happy to be home, playing the Euroleague."

After several years playing outside your country, how comfortable is it to play for Neptunas, with so many local players?

"It is different. When you play outside, people are always a little bit different. It is a bit harder; like I said before, family and friends are around here, everybody supports you and it is the best basketball can be."

There are nine players born in Klaipeda on your team, something truly unique. How are you working to adapt those not from Klaipeda, like Mustafa Skahur and Keith Benson?

"I know that it is not easy for them, but we are trying to help them. I think that Shakur feels good. We talk to him every day and he is happy to be part of our group. Benson is a new player and has only been here for a week, but everything is okay with him; he needs a little more time to adapt to our team and the feel of our game. As for us born in Klaipeda, I know everybody and played with some of them a long time ago. Even if we didn't play together, we knew each other."

The atmosphere in your home games has been outstanding. How is the city reacting to Neptunas’s first Euroleague season? Do people talk about it a lot?

"Yes, yes, like never before! Now everybody is talking about us and knows us; everything has changed for this team. You cannot go anywhere without people talking to you and wanting to know things about the team. It is different."

You will play a critical home game against Laboral Kutxa Vitoria. What do you like about that team and what do you think you have to do to beat them?

"We know that they are a good team. The whole team understands that we need to beat them if we want to go to the Top 16. If we lose, we don't know if we will have a lot of chances to get there. We have to play our game and take our shots. I think that we can beat them."

Neptunas has struggled on the road. Do you think that proving yourself to be so competitive at home can help you on the road in the more decisive games of the regular season?

"We are a young team in its first year in the Euroleague. It is hard when you play on the road, much different from playing at home, where we feel more confident. Still, I think we will win some games on the road. I hope!"

After so many years in European basketball, how do you find the Euroleague? What do you like the most about it?

"Like I said before, it is the best league in Europe. Everything here is great; they care about everything. I played in the Eurocup and don't feel there is a big difference. Still, I am happy to play the Euroleague, everything is great. Like I said before, everybody knows about us now. Nobody thought we could play like this. We tried to give all we had and bring energy on the court. Until now, everything is okay."

Five games into the season, Neptunas’s chances to go to the Top 16 are still intact. What would it mean for you and for the club to make it to the next round?

"I would be amazing, man! When we got the chance to play in the Euroleague, a lot of people here in Klaipeda thought every team would beat us by 30 points and we didn't have chances to win any game. After two wins and losing to Olympiacos by a couple of points, with a chance to go to the Top 16, I am happy to say that everybody had started to think different and respect us. Personally, getting to the Top 16 would be the best in my basketball career. It is the same for the city... I don't what to say, nobody thought we could do this!"