By Paul Nilsen

Lithuanian forward Vaida Sipaviciute is celebrating her first EuroLeague Women win of the season with new club Tarbes GB over USK Prague, but it is a feeling more than a little strange since last time it was a win against her new club that sparked celebration.

After four defeats in a Szeviep Szeged vest during the 2010 campaign, it was success against the French club that finally brought a welcolme first victory as both her former and current clubs locked horns to finish with comparable 2 and 8 records.

Sipaviciute faced Lithuania teammate Gintare Petronyte in the ELW opening game

This time around, Sipaviciute who impressed with a terrific 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game last year is hoping that having attained a win during the second week of the season her new team can push on and make sure they realise the potential she feels they have.

"Since I‘ve played in France before, I knew that Tarbes GB were a very good team and have lots of history of having had very good seasons. Playing in the same group last year just proved it to me.

"I think this Tarbes GB team has lots of potential. The team is kind of new, since only couple of players stayed from last year, while it has a new coach also. Overall the team is coming together very well.

"I think it is a very tough group to be in but we are working hard to go out there and be able to compete. I know its not going be easy, but we still have nothing to lose."

She added, "Personally, last year was a great year for me. Honestly, I didn't even expect it to be that good. It's sad that I can not say the same thing about the overall performance of the team.

"Hungary is a very beautiful country and I really enjoyed every minute there.

"However, there are only couple really good basketball teams so the league overall is not that strong so there is not a lot of real competition going on.

"The French league is very tough, but I guess that why I like it here so much. You can not take any games easy, you always have to be ready to fight."

An early win is always going to get smiles on the faces of any EuroLeague Women players on a team that is not necessarily expected to be challenging for top spots in each group but Sipaviciute has an added reason to be happy with ELW right now.

For the forward has been able to enjoy a strong Lithuanian theme in the Group. She has already been up against fellow National Team player Gintare Petronyte now with Galatasaray and will do so again on home soil while she will also get the chance to go back to Kaunas, when Tarbes face VICI Aistes.

"This is very exciting." admitted Sipaviciute.

"In the past years of my professional life, I didn't get a chance to play against a lot of Lithuanian players.

"Even just the thought of being able to see my old friends and to play against them, makes me happy!"

There are a couple of other reasons for the player to be happy since she celebrates her 25th Birthday at the weekend and in the longer term is now looking forward to playing a part with the National Team in Poland next year after coasting through the Qualifying Round.

She claimed, "I believe it was pretty good.

"The team established what was wanted the most, advancing to EuroBasket Women in 2011."