Slanina – about “Šiauliai” at the foot of LKL, the fate of Sireika and the mayor’s carpet

Both Khimkis and Šiauliai, mentioned here as an example, have only achieved two mid-season wins, but both R. Kurtinaitis and A. Sireika, despite the arrows of criticism running through them, still hold their positions. .

True, the pressure in the city of the Sun is growing, and the changes gradually mature: in mid-December, public discontent with the results and what is happening in the team, the mayor of the city Artūras Visockas, also appointed the champion. European Donatas Slanina as the new club director. Coincidence or not, but only after the first changes in management did Šiauliai achieve the hottest victory of the season so far, when in the eighth final of the Citadele-King Mindaugas Cup he eliminated the 25-point deficit and miraculously surpassed the barrier by Alytus Dzūkija.

And although in the first match of the quarterfinals, which took place just a couple of days later, the multiple LKL award winners from Šiauliai 76:91 did not hold out against Klaipėda’s “Neptune” and greatly complicated their chances of reaching the final event of the KMT.

“It is not very realistic to expect success this season. Let’s use it as preparation for next season. Next year we need another result: fifth place or more. There must be a fight on the ground, in the end,” urges the mayor of Šiauliai, A. Visockas.

How else will you try to save Šiauliai this season? What goals are realistic in it? Where does Slanina see the greatest untapped resources? What do you think of A. Sireika’s chair? Is it immovable or still brittle? And how do you assess the role of the mayor as a doorman?

Above all this – on the latest Delfi TV show “Basketball Zone”.

– Donatai, “Šiauliai” is currently the last, ten. Why is that? What were the biggest mistakes made?

– I would not like to look for some excuses and everything else. We have to realize that a very important player, Ryan Anderson, was lost at the beginning of the season.

In my head, planning the content and training cycles could have been more effective. I don’t know how much it could produce results, but I would like a slightly different approach to this day. Naturally, we can say very clearly whether the coach’s methodology is suitable for the players or not. So looking ahead, we have options for what we can do: there are options A, B and C. So far we have identified some problems and we want a different job.

I don’t even think about that 10th place right now. I think about what we can do and fix. We don’t set very big goals for ourselves, but one of the main goals is really not to stay in 10th place and climb a few steps. I never liked saying which place would suit. Now the most important thing for us is to discover our rhythm, strength, confidence and play well, then those victories will come one way or another. I know time is short, but the road will be short.

– Is it true that you are considering giving Coach A. Sireika a trial period and then deciding his fate?

– We communicate with Antanas every day. One of the problems is the methodology of their work and the defense system that does not work (shooters spend on average even after 93.3 points – Krepšinis.lt). This needs to be addressed. I would like a different approach from technical staff and staff to training content, because those stereotypical working methods need to change. We are trying to talk about it. I would like to see the division between administration and personnel disappear.

We are also trying to plan short-term goals, like the KMT comeback match in Klaipeda, because all the teams are now concentrating on this tournament.

But we also look at long-term goals. Say whether Sireika will run until the end of the season or not, no one can. We have different options. Now we want to change the very nature of work. We’ll see if we can do that. Usually these things don’t happen quickly.

– You have already had a meeting with the mayor of Šiauliai, A. Visockas. What did you agree with him? And in general, do you think the city’s basketball club is accountable to the municipality?

– I thanked the mayor for his trust. He recalled some aspects and the fact that “Šiauliai” is not only a men’s basketball club, but also a women’s team. The wish was expressed not to turn away from the fans, even in such a situation and with such results.

The municipality, which is the main shareholder of Šiauliai, is the people who invest in the club, so there shouldn’t even be a debate about whether we should be accountable to the public. We just have to look as much as possible to the townspeople and our fans, because we, as a club, want to be this more than basketball, only that the current situation does not help.

The entire show “Basketball Zone” – on video.