BASKETBALL SCHOOL "TORNADO" Lithuanian teams triumphed in the international basketball tournament Christmas Cup 2014
December 27-29, 2014 Tornado baskeball school has organised youth basketball tournament Christmas Cup 2014. There were 22 teams from Lithuania and foreign countries which competed in three age groupes (2000, 2002 and 2003).
This winter tournament was attended by guests from Latvia, Belarus, Poland and Slovenia. Also ten teams from Lithuanian have participated in Christmas Cup 2014. Total number of participants exceeded 300. Games were played not only in Kaunas city sports halls, but also in Kaunas district. At Garliavos culuture and sports center, winners teams were awarded by Lithuanian basketball coach and the honorary president of Lithuanian Basketball Federation - Vladas Garastas and Kaunas district Mayor Valerijus Makūnas. The Mayor was happy that the tournament was really great, Tornado basketball school proclaims the name of Kaunas district and strengthen international pertnership.
In the group of boys born in 2000 there were eight teams, devided to two groups. The strongest team became Lithuanian second place winners Tornado KM – „Viči. The basketball players of coach Šarūnas Zablockis suffered only one loss during the tournament but showed really high level of basketball. The second place won Jonavos KKSC - Ramidonas (coach Edvinas Zinys). After great match with guests from Slovenia – Krvavec - Europcar, bronze medals went to Kauno KM „Aisčiai“ (Coach Donatas Velička).
Top 5 players of group 2000:
1. Tornado KM - "Viči" - Benjaminas Koveras
2. Tornado KM - "Viči" - Tautvydas Kupstas
3. Kauno KM "Aisčiai" - Gytis Asačiovas
4. Jonavos KKSC - Ramidonas - Edvinas Neimontas
5. Krvavec - Europcar - Tine Zevnik
In group 2002 there where six teams. They played entire tournament in a single round - robin schedule. For the won match team got 2 points, for losing - 1. Team, which collected the most points, won the tournament. So, the first place winners, without any losses, became Tornado KM – „Fudo“ with coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas. Silver medals went to Polish basketball team – MKK Basket Koszalin (coach Barlomej Siewruk). And the third place won Minsk, „Tsmoki“ players with coach Siargey Shunevich.
Top 5 players of group 2002:
1. Tornado KM - "Fudo" - Matas Makauskas
2. Tornado KM - "Fudo" - Kristupas Viršilas
3. MKK Basket Koszalin - Filip Siewruk
4. Liepaja LSSS - Kristers Matisons
5. Minsk 2006 - Anton Bayarin
At the group of youngest players eight team were fighting for the name of the winner. The most strong team became Kauno KM „Aisčiai“ led by coach Julius Pranevičius. Second place won players of coach Egidijus Vasiliauskas from Šiauliai basketball academy „Saulė“. The best fight there was for broze medals between Moscow, Dinamo and Tornado KM – „Scandagra“. Finally, after game, the winners of third place became Tornado KM – „Scandagra“ with coach Tomas Kentra.
Top 5 players of group 2003:
1. Kauno KM "Aisčiai" - Rokas Jocius
2. Šiaulių KA "Saulė" - Titas Pažarauskas
3. Tornado KM - "Scandagra" - Rokas Mankus
4. Dinamo, Maskva - Andrej Šostko
5. Krvavec - Tonač - Matja Samar
Director of „Tornado“ BS Dainius Čiuprinskas: „I am really happy that with support of Kaunas district Mayor Valerijus Makūnas we can organize this annual international basketball tournament. It’s wonderful to welcome competitive teams from foreign, to see great emotions of kids and compete with teams, playing variety type of basketball. We would like to thanks for parents of our basketball players. They not only were great fans, but also helped us to welcome our guests and were with us during all the tournament! With all of your help, we annually grow and move forward! ".
