Efes Anadolu announced Elias Zouros

Days after being eliminated from the playoffs race in a season for which it had Final Four hopes, Anadolu Efes decided to change course by bringing in a new head coach, Ilias Zouros, on Monday.


Zouros will replace Ufuk Sarica, who had joined Efes at a similar juncture last season, but was unable to put the team into position to try to make the 2011 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul this May. Efes remains the only Turkish team ever to make a Final Four, but last did so more than a decade ago. Zouros, 45, began this season with Zalgiris after having taken over that club in a similar situation in January of 2011. He and Zalgiris won the the Baltic League and Lithuanian League titles together last spring. Zouros was released by Zalgiris after the team lost the opening game of this Turkish Airlines Euroleague season at home against CSKA Moscow.

Zouros, a former Eurocup Coach of the Year with Panellinios of Greece, has also coached Olympiacos, Peristeri and Aris in his home country. He also coached Sagesse Beirut to the Lebanese League title and the Asian Club Championship and spent a season-plus with Paris Racing Basket of France. Efes said in a statement that Sarica, who had been assistant coach previously, would stay with the club. Efes hosts CSKA in its last Euroleague game of the season on Thursday.

source : euroleague.net

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Pacesas denies rumors of Motiejunas move

Although Donatas Motiejunas has been linked with a move to Anadolu Efes by Turkish media, it might turn out that these talks are just unweighed rumors.

Tomas Pacesas, the player’s coach at the Polish side Asseco Prokom, was surprised to hear such a scenario.

"He's moving where? Turkey? First time I've heard about it. We're on a bus together with him in Moscow. We have just flown to a VTB League game. There are no talks of someone leaving the club," the Lithuanian specialist told lrytas.lt.

The 21-year-old Motiejunas, whose draft rights belong to the Houston Rockets, was averaging 12.5 points and 7.9 rebounds for Asseco Prokom in the Euroleague this season.


source : lithuaniabasketball.com

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Songaila and Galatasaray part ways

Early holidays for Songaila?


Darius Songaila and Galatasaray have reached a mutual agreement to terminate the contract and part ways, as the player did not meet the expectations of the club.

The Lithuanian forward, who spent seven seasons in the NBA before coming to Istanbul, will reportedly not play for the Turkish side in a Euroleague game against Olympiacos.

Songaila averaged 7.9 points and 2.7 rebounds for Galatasaray in the Turkish Basketball League (TBL), having almost identical statistics in Euroleague as well – 7.4 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.


source : lithuaniabasketball.com

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Khimki announced Marijonas Petravicius

Another big man for Euroleague hopefuls


Lithuanian center Marijonas Petravicius, can also play power forward, signed a contract with our club. The agreement is considered till the end of the current season with the possibility of prolongation. Marijonas has already come to Khimki and successfully passed medical examination.

MARIJONAS PETRAVICIUS

Position – power forward/center.

Birthday – October 24, 1979.
Height – 209 cm. Weight – 120 kg.
Nationality – Lithuania

Teams played:

1996-1997 – VJSM (Lithuania),
1997-1998 – Silute (Lithuania),
1998-1999 – New Hampton, NH Prep, (Iowa, USA),
1999-2003 – South Carolina (NCAA, USA),
2003-2004 – Mittledeutscher (Germany),
2004-2005 – Telindus BC Oostende (Belgium),
2005-2006 – BK Ventspils (Latvia),
2006-2009 – Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuania),
2009-2011 – Armani Jeans Milano (Italy),
2011-2012 — BC Azovmash (Ukraine),
Since January, 2012 – BC Khimki

Achievements:

FIBA Europe Cup Winner, FIBA Europe Cup Final Four MVP – 2004,
Belgian League Semifinalist — 2004,
Latvian League Regular Season Champion, Latvian League Champion, Latvian League Finals MVP — 2006,
ULEB Cup Finalist — 2007,
Baltic League Champion – 2007,
Lithuanian League Regular Season Runner-Up — 2007, 2009,
Lithuanian League Finalist — 2007, 2008,
Baltic League All-Star Game, Lithuanian Cup Finalist, Baltic League Finalist, Baltic League Regular Season Champion — 2008,
Lithuanian Cup Winner, Eurocup Winner, Eurocup Final Eight MVP, Baltic League (Elite Group) Champion — 2009,
Italian SerieA Semifinals — 2011

Player of the Lithuanian National Team since 2004:

Olympic Games in Beijing (China) — 2008,
European Championship in Poland — 2009,
European Championship in Lithuania — 2011

source : bckhimki.ru


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Eurobasket 2011 special by greekbasketball.gr

Better late than never.

This is a collaborated effort by all the bloggers at Greekbasketball.gr but mostly Greek Hoopz and Greekbball about this year's Eurobasket 2011 contest. Most of it is in Greek so if you're not familiar with the language I do apologise. The comment about the Great Britain National Team by yours truly can be found in page 32. Enjoy!




The full document can be downloaded here.

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Real Madrid announced Martynas Pocius

The 25 year old Lithuanian shooting guard played in the NCAA and spent the last two seasons at Zalgiris Kaunas.


Martynas Pocius (28-04-1986, Vilnius, Lithuania) is a small forward that stands out for his speed and powerful jump. The player has signed for Real Madrid after two great seasons at Zalgiris Kaunas.

Pocius is 25 years old and 196 cm tall. He will bring speed, intensity and physical strength to Real Madrid, as well as versatility and tactical discipline both in defence and offence. With Zalgiris he averaged 8.1 points, 2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game in the first year, and 10.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the second season.

Pocius was a student at the US' prestigious Duke University. He played with the Blue Devils four years before graduating, but he really started to shine in his return to Europe. He joined Kaunas in 2009 and soon became one of the pillars on both his club and national sides. He played in the Euroleague with Zalgiris and won the Bronze Medal in last year's World Championships with Lithuania, becoming his national team's third top scorer and averaging 9.6 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.

Pocius' venture into the basketball elite was not easy. At 13 he suffered partial amputation on three of the fingers of his left hand with a grinder during some school lessons. A long surgery allowed him to recover two, but he lost his middle finger. Pocius fought back and continued playing basketball at the Marciulonis basketball academy before leaving for the NCAA.

His father helped him pull through harsh times and offered constant support in the pursuit of his dream. "You will be different, but you must show people what you're really capable of," he used to tell his son. And he did. After finding success at the club that saw the birth of Arvydas Sabonis, Pocius arrives at Real Madrid ready to follow in the footsteps of one of the best players in the history of Lithuanian basketball.

Career
2005-09: Duke University
2009-11: Zalgiris Kaunas
2011/ - : Real Madrid

Honours
World Championships, Bronze Medal: 2010
Lithuanian league: 2011
Baltic League: 2010, 2011
Lithunaian Basketball Federation Cup: 2011



source : realmadrid.com

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Olimpija announced Aleksanda Capin

Good addition for Olimpija


Union Olimpija signed one-year contract with Slovenian point guard Aleksandar Ćapin today. He started his career in youth categories of Partizan Belgrade but he soon moved to Krka, where he stayed for three years. He applied for Slovenian citizenship and played for Slovenian National Team on two European Championships. Last season he was part of Lithuanian Euroleague club Žalgiris Kaunas.

He didn't get much chance to play during last season, but year before he averaged 6.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in Euroleague. Besides Partizan, Krka and Žalgiris, Aleksandar Ćapin played for German club Telekom Baskets Bonn, French Gravelines Dunkerque, Italian clubs Reggio Calabria and Varese, Greek Panionios and Panellinios, Ukraine's Azovmash Mariupol and Russian Lokomotiv Kuban where he already had the chance to work with current Union Olimpija's coach Sašo Filipovski.

source : union.olimpija.com

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Milovan Rakovic to sign with Zalgiris

Back in the Euroleague but with a different team..


According to Serbian portal novosti.rs, Milovan Rakovic (2.08-C) will not be renewing his contract with the Italian champion Siena but he will continue his career in Zalgiris Kaunas instead. Rakovic was also implicated in rumors with Olympiacos like many other players but it seems that Zalgiris won him instead.

Rakovic played for 3 seasons for Spartak St Petersburg before moving to Siena. He averaged 8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22 games for Siena in the Euroleague helping them reach the Euroleague Final Four.

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Lietuvos Rytas signed Lawrence Roberts

Lietuvos Rytas added strength and experience.


Lietuvos Rytas signed a contract with big man Lawrence Roberts, who will arrive to Vilnius after a season playing for Efes Pilsen Istanbul. The 28-year-old American is reported to have signed a two-year deal with the club from the Lithuanian capital.

“It’s a player from USA, but with European basketball experience. Lawrence is a versatile player, who can rebound well and play good defense,” Martynas Purlys, the General Director of Lietuvos Rytas described the club’s new acquisition.

Roberts arrived to Europe after a couple of seasons in the NBA, where he played for the Memphis Grizzlies and averaged 5.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in the 2006-07 season.

The player had a short stint with Olympiacos Piraeus before representing the two most famous Serbian clubs – Red Star and Partizan Belgrade.

Last season, Roberts averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for Efes Pilsen in Euroleague, while his statistics in the Turkish Basketball League (TBL) were a tiny bit better – 8.1 points and 5.2 boards per game.


source : lithuaniabasketball.com

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Darius Songaila to play for Galatasaray

A great signing for any European team really..


Former Philadelphia 76ers power forward Darius Songaila has signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million plus bonuses with the Turkish team, Galatasaray, his agent said on Friday.

The contract does not have an escape clause should the NBA lockout end in time for all or part of the 2011-12 NBA season, which means Songaila is committed to spending the entire season in Turkey.

Nets point guard Deron Williams agreed to terms with another Turkish League team, Besiktas, earlier this week, but he does have the option to return to the U.S. if the NBA lockout ends and games are played next season.

"Darius didn't play a lot of minutes last season in Philadelphia and with the uncertainty surrounding the lockout, he wanted to make sure he'd play next season," said his agent, Mark Bartlestein.

Songaila, 33, has played for five NBA teams over 10 seasons, but he could not crack the 76ers' young, strong front-line rotation and made only 10 appearances last season. He plans to play for the Lithuanian national team this summer.

Galatasaray Cafe Crown lost 4-2 in a best-of-seven series to Fenerbahce Ulker in the Turkish League finals last month.


source : espn.com

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Sonny Weems to sign with Zalgiris

The first of many?


Could Sonny Weems be the first of many active NBA players that will sign overseas this season? Hoopsworld correspondent Alex Kennedy announced via his Twitter account that Zalgiris will be signing swingman Sonny Weems of the Toronto Raptors. Apparently the deal will be finalized this week.

It was reported a few days earlier that this might happen and now it's getting ever closer to be real. There were announcements that Zalgiris would try and sign NBA players and why not? The NBA lock-out is allowing this to happen and Weems might set a trend for others to follow. Weems averaged 9.2 points 2.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 59 games for the Raptors last season.

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CSKA announced Darjus Lavrinovic

Forward Darjus Lavrinovic (31 years, 212 cm) has become our team’s new player. Lithuanian signed 1+1 contract.


One of famous twin brothers played outside the former USSR for two seasons only, taking stints in Real Madrid (2009-10) and Fenerbahce Ulker (2010-11). Before that he played in Lithuania (Alita – 1996-2003, Zalgiris – 2003-06) and Russia (UNICS – 2006-08, Dynamo – 2008-09). His collection includes Lithuanian League titles (2003-05) and Turkish League gold (2011), All-Euroleague Second Team election (2006) and 2007 Eurobasket bronze. His averages in 2010-11 Euroleague season are 8.0 points, 4.4. rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.9 blocked shots in 21.7 minutes. His averages in Turkish League are 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.7 blocked shots in 19.6 minutes.

Jonas Kazlauskas, CSKA head coach:
We were looking for the player who can play on two positions – 5 and 4. It’s good to have Khryapa and Vorontsevich at 4, but we experienced some problems defending against power forwards who are good in post-up play, for example, Loncar. We also had problems when we had one center left. Surely, we hope that newly signed Krstic will be ok. But you have to had reserve in the case of illness or injury. That’s why we needed the player who can help on two positions and we are glad to have Darjus Lavrinovic with us.

Darjus Lavrinovic:
I am glad to be in the club with rich history and highest goals. I will try to give all of myself, I will try to prove that I deserve to be a part of CSKA. Surely, I am happy to play under my compatriot Jonas Kazlauskas and alongside Ramunas Siskauskas. I know well the level of organization, and I had no doubts in taking the decision.

source : cskabasket.com

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Jomantas renewed with Lietuvos Rytas

6th season in a row.


Last renewal comes from Lietuvos Ryvas that signed a new contract with Lithuanian small forward Arturas Jomantas(1.99-SF) for another season with the option to renew for one more season. The deal was announced via the team's official site. This will be 6th season for Jomantas that has been with the team since 2006. This season he averaged 5.3 points 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 32 games in the Lithuanian LKL league.

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Zouros to stay with Zalgiris for another season

Greeks are doing better abroad..


Elias Zouros will be the head coach of Zalgiris Kaunas for the next season as it was announced today via the official website of the team. Zouros took up the helm of the team halfway through but still managed to lead the team to the conquest of the Baltic League, the Lithuanian League and Cup.

Not a bad start for Zouros who is expected to make a team that will promote the young talents of Zalgiris according to the words of the owner of the team Vladimir Romanov.

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CSKA renew Siskauskas and Vorontsevich

He will stay with them forever it seems..



Forward Ramunas Siskauskas (32 years, 198 cm) re-signed with our club for two more years. Lithuanian player defends CSKA colors from the start of 2007-08 season.

Jonas Kazlauskas, CSKA head coach:
I know Ramunas very well, starting from my time with Lithuanian National Team. He played against me when I was coaching Zalgiris, then he played for me for three years in Lietuvos Rytas. He is a very good player, he proved that in several clubs during his career. That’s why he signed with CSKA one day. I believe in him. He played great during last month, but unfortunately missed the finals due to injury. I think Ramunas’ experience, respect he has from the teammates, are the factors our team needs. I am sure he will help us to win.

Ramunas Siskauskas:
I am happy to stay. My family and myself like Moscow, we like the team. Surely I am glad to be needed by CSKA. I will do everything I can to support our winning traditions, I still have enough power left. Everyone wants to play for this club – famous, great, ambitious – and I am no exception to that.

Forward Andrey Vorontsevich (23 years, 207 cm) signed new contract with the club until the end of 2013-14 season. Andrey started playing for CSKA in 2006.

Jonas Kazlauskas, CSKA head coach:
Vorontsevich represents the new generation, and the time has come for him. Andrey started the season slowly, and I was waiting for him to show himself, especially when we had players out with the injuries. But the end of the season was good for him. I remember him for the games played for Russian National Team. He also played several good games in this season’s playoffs, demonstrating the level which we liked, he improved his defense, rebounding, he scored. We believe in his future and we hope he will live up to our expectations.


Andrey Vorontsevich:
I could not imagine better way to continue my career. I am happy and proud to be needed by such a classy team, great club. I feel that the coach, management trust me, I know that I can professionally grow alongside strong and experienced teammates and I promise to work hard to meet all the expectations.

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Dzikic and Seibutis sign with Lietuvos Rytas

Double whammy!



After arriving in Vilnius only a day after lifting the Slovenian title with Krka Novo Mesto, Aleksandar Dzikic signed a deal with Lietuvos Rytas already after a couple of hours. However, this wasn’t the only news in the team’s camp, as the team from the Lithuanian capital shocked the market by signing the Lithuanian national team guard Renaldas Seibutis as well.

The 40-year-old Serbian specialist agreed to a two year deal with the team option on the third year, while the 26-year-old Seibutis linked his future with Lietuvos Rytas for three years.

“We have to gather players, who aren’t afraid of hard work and understand what’s best for the team and can sacrifice themselves for the team’s success. We’ll try to build a strong team with a priority to Lithuanian players,” Dzikic, who has won back-to-back Slovenian championships and the EuroChallenge trophy, spoke after arriving in Vilnius.

Seibutis arrives in Vilnius after a great season in Turkey, where he led Olin Edrine to the Turkish Basketball League (TBL) playoffs. Lietuvos Rytas had signed a contract with the guard’s teammate from Olin, Predrad Samardziski, only a week earlier.

“The negotiations with the Vilnius side had been going for two months. There was serious interest from Galatasaray, but I wanted to play in Lietuvos Rytas and I’m happy that I have signed a deal,” said Seibutis, who averaged 18.7 points, 4.0 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game in the TBL.


source : lithuaniabasketball.com

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Valanciunas to meet with 7 NBA teams in Treviso

He is hot stuff this summer.


Although Jonas Valanciunas is not participating in the Adidas EuroCamp this weekend, the Lithuanian prospect still made his way to Treviso, where he will meet with seven NBA teams. The 19-year-old rising star has drawn the attention of many NBA teams and is hoping to get drafted in the first half of the lottery.
Unlike three other Lithuanian players – Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Eimantas Bendzius and Donatas Motiejunas – Valanciunas isn’t actually participating in the camp, but will be presented to the seven interested teams individually.

A couple of days ago Valanciunas underwent medical checks and is planning to attend some individual work outs with one or a couple of NBA teams.


source : lithuaniabasketball.com

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Zalgiris announced Robertas Javtokas

Javtokas returns to Lithuania.


After a great season in the domestic leagues, Zalgiris decided to strengthen up the team’s front court for next year by signing the Lithuanian national team’s captain Robertas Javtokas to a two-year deal
with an option in the team’s hands to extend it for an extra year. The 31-year-old big man will arrive in Kaunas after a season in Power Electronics Valencia, with which he reached the quarterfinals stage in
Euroleague.

Javtokas has previously played for teams such as Khimki, Dynamo Moscow and Panathinaikos Athens, but he is mostly associated with his time at Zalgiris’ main rivals Lietuvos Rytas, where he spent six years of his career. The experienced big man was also the captain of the Vilnius team for quite a long while, too.

“I grew up with Lietuvos Rytas and I will always remember that time, but I’m a professional and I choose the best available offer. Zalgiris showed in interest and Lietuvos Rytas didn’t, Zalgiris will play in Euroleague and it’s still not clear whether Lietuvos Rytas will. They have their own players, their own centers and are dealing with their own problems,” Javtokas said after agreeing with Zalgiris.

The Lithuanian center averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds for Valencia last season in Euroleague, while his statistics in the Spanish ACB were fairly similar – 7.8 points and 5.8 boards per game.

source : lithuaniabasketball.com


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Seibutis denies rumors about Galatasaray

He is saving himself for someone else?


According to lrytas.lt, Reinaldas Seibutis(1.96-SG/SF) has not signed a contract with Galatasaray and denies any rumors implicating him with that. He did say though that Galatasaray are interested in him but he hasn't signed a contract with them.

He even said that his agent went to China, perhaps a contract to be found there, but Seibutis just wants to relax now with relatives in Lithuania. He did have a very good season with Olin in Turkey leading the team in scoring with averages of 18.7 points 2.7 rebounds and 4 assists in 33 games.

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Lietuvos Rytas signed Predrag Samardziski

His good season in Turkey paid off.


Lietuvos Rytas announced the signing of center Predrag Samardziski(2.14-C) via their official website for 1 season with the option to extend the contract for one more season. This will hopefully be Samardziski's first gig in the Euroleague after a long career in the Adriatic League playing for Partizan and FMP Zeleznik.

This season he played in Turkey for Olin where he was the starting center averaging 12.1 points 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 35 games.

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