Songaila Seeks Roster Additions for Šiauliai, Cites Slight Concern

As the new basketball season looms, "Šiauliai" head coach Darius Songaila is focused on finalizing the team's roster, expressing a slight unease about the remaining personnel gaps. The team is actively preparing for its first home game on August 26 against the current Latvian-Estonian league champions, Valmiera Glass VIA, an event exclusively for season ticket holders.

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It's been a good week – we started working, and everyone is doing it very willingly.

Songaila described the initial training week as highly positive, noting the players' enthusiasm and eagerness to return to the court. "The players arrived longing for basketball," he stated, highlighting the camaraderie among returning players and the integration of new faces. He admitted to missing the daily grind of club coaching after leading the Lithuanian U20 national team in the European Championship.

"I miss the work. The specifics here are completely different – with the national team or with a club," Songaila explained. "Certain faces are familiar, but there are also new ones, and they need to be integrated. We are waiting for that excitement for the season, for the fans, for the EuroCup. I miss the whole collective feeling."

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The players arrived longing for basketball. Those who were here last year miss each other, the communication, their own people. So far, everything is very good.

The team's current roster includes Karolis Lukošiūnas, who is returning to "Šiauliai" after seven years and is currently with the Lithuanian men's national team preparing for World Cup qualifiers. Songaila anticipates Lukošiūnas will join the club camp in the coming days. However, the coach acknowledged the need to sign one more player, stating, "There is some concern because the season is not far off, and we would like to have everything." Despite this, he expressed confidence that the situation would be resolved soon.

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I miss the work. The specifics here are completely different – with the national team or with a club. Certain faces are familiar, but there are also new ones, and they need to be integrated. We are waiting for that excitement for the season, for the fans, for the EuroCup. I miss the whole collective feeling.

Songaila encouraged fans to purchase season tickets, promising an exciting season ahead, including participation in the EuroCup. "You can say that there are definitely still memberships available," he said with a smile. "A very interesting season awaits, with EuroCup battles added. Buy memberships, come support us, because we will need it even more this season." The team's first official home game is scheduled for September 23 against Panevėžys "Lietkabelis," followed by their return to international competition on September 30 against London "Lions."

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There is some concern because the season is not far off, and we would like to have everything. But that's the situation, and we are working on this issue and hope that everything will be fine soon.