2008-09 club profile: Siauliai
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 In its relatively short history, Siauliai has become the third team in Lithuania behind powerhouses Zalgiris and Lietuvos Rytas, but a bigger budget, a good number of supporting fans and a brand new arena could to be the start of a better future. Players like Mindaugas Zukauskas, Donatas Slanina, Robertas Javtokas and Andrius Slezas started their careers at Siauliai, as well as coaches Antanas Sireika and Robertas Giedraitis.
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Siauliai Roster 2008-09
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| Name |
Pos.
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Height
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| Virgilijus Praskevicius |
F
|
2.06
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| Saulius Kuzminskas |
C
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2.11
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| Laimonas Lukosevicius |
F
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1.93
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| Aurimas Birgelis |
G
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1.90
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| Mindaugas Kuzminskas |
G
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2.03
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| Gediminas Maceina |
G
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1.88
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| Gintaras Kadziulis |
G
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1.93
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| Andrius Slezas |
F
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2.00
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| Vaidotas Volkus |
F
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2.03
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| Gintautas Vileita |
G
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1.92
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| Augustinas Vitas |
C
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2.10
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| Vitalijus Stanevicius |
F
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2.01
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| Zilvinas Petraitis |
G
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1.94
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| Rolandas Vaiciunas |
F
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2.01
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| Robertas Giedraitis |
Head Coach |
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BC Siauliai has had few foreign players in more than a decade, showing its trust in local players and making its fans proud of their own homegrown talents. The team found instant success in the Lithuanian League, finishing fourth in 1995, 1997 and 1999. Siauliai made its European competitions debut in the 1996 Korac Cup. Siauliai made it to the 1998 Korac Cup first elimination round and reached the eighthfinals in 1999. Siauliai went one step further in 2000, finishing third overall behind only L. Rytas and Zalgiris. In fact, Siauliai has reached the Lithuanian League semifinals every year since 1999, and has ranked third eight times in the last nine years. Siauliai and its all-Lithuanian lineup led by Giedrius Peciulionis and Vaidas Pauliukenas reached the 2000 Korac Cup elimination rounds. Zalgiris has swept Siauliai in the Lithuanian League semifinals in each and every season since 2002, but the team has been competing hard in each and every competition. Arturas Jomantas, Zydrunas Urbonas and Darius Pakamanis helped Siauliai to reach high in the 2005 FIBA EuroCup Challenge, finishing third in Conference North. Siauliai also found success in the Baltic League, placing third in 2005 and 2006. Siauliai was once again third in the Lithuanian League in 2007 and made the Baltic League semifinals for the third consecutive year. Siauliai did not reach the 2008 ULEB Cup elimination rounds due to its tie-break disadvantage against Alba Berlin and Bosna, but did host the Baltic League and Lithuanian Cup final fours. With a talented group of players and a bright future ahead, Siauliai will try to make its fans proud with some Eurocup success.
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Eurocupbasketball.com
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