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Mistakes, Hard Work and Victories: The 2025/2026 All-Season Team

Mistakes, Hard Work and Victories: The 2025/2026 All-Season Team

On June 10, during the Tornado Basketball School graduation celebration, two All-Season Teams were announced, as is tradition every year – the First Team and the Second Team. In addition, the “Tornado Player of the Season” award was presented to an individual who embodies everything the Tornado community strives for: an outstanding work ethic, a responsible attitude toward academics, strong athletic achievements, and exemplary behavior both on and off the court.
What does it mean for these players to be recognized among the best performers of the season, and what lessons would they like to pass on to younger Tornado basketball players? Read their thoughts below.

First All-Season Team 
TAURIS ALIUKONIS | Tornado KM - "Xiaomi" (Born in 2008) | Coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- To me, it is a great recognition of all the work I put in throughout the season. It feels rewarding to see that my efforts in practices and games were noticed. However, this award does not belong only to me – my coaches, teammates, and everyone who supported me throughout the season all played a part in it.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe the most important factors were discipline, consistency, and the desire to improve every day. I tried to give my maximum effort in every practice, work extra on my weaknesses, and stay focused even when things were not going the way I wanted. The trust and support of my coaches and teammates were also extremely important.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players who dream of making the All-Season Team one day?
- The most important thing is not to be afraid of hard work and to be patient. Improvement does not happen overnight, so every day you should try to become at least a little better than you were yesterday. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes because they are often the best way to learn. It is also important to listen to your coaches, believe in yourself, and never lose motivation.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- What stands out the most is the end of the season and the results our team achieved. The best feeling was seeing all our hard work pay off and watching the team grow throughout the season. Moments like these and the emotions after important victories are what stay with you the longest.

NEIDAS LINARTAS | Tornado KM - "Xiaomi" (Born in 2008) | Coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- Being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team means a lot to me. It is a great recognition of all the work I put in throughout the season and proof that determination and hard work produce results. I am grateful to my coaches, teammates, and everyone who supported me and helped me improve. Recognition like this motivates me to keep pushing forward and strive for even higher goals.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe discipline and the desire to constantly improve helped me the most. I worked as hard as possible in every practice and dedicated extra time to individual development. The support of my teammates and parents, as well as the positive atmosphere within the team, were also very important because achieving such results alone would be extremely difficult.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players who dream of making the All-Season Team one day?
- I would advise younger Tornado players not to be afraid of making mistakes and to always work hard in every practice. Stay fully focused in every game and listen carefully to your coach’s instructions. Most importantly, try to become better every day and enjoy playing basketball. If you remain determined and believe in yourself, you can definitely achieve your goals.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment of the season was the U18 MKL Championship Final Four and our hard-fought victory against Šiauliai KA “SAULĖ” I – ŠSG. We were unable to defeat them during the regular season, so winning in the final brought incredibly strong emotions. It was an especially sweet victory that showcased our team’s character, focus, and all the work we had put in throughout the season.

LUKAS LUKOŠIŪNAS | Tornado KM - "Metga" (Born in 2009) | Coach Mantas Lauraitis
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- It is a great recognition of all the work I put in throughout the season. It gives me even more motivation to continue improving and pursuing my goals, but it is also an achievement that belongs to the entire team.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe my desire to win and achieve my goals contributed the most. Throughout the season, I gave my all in both practices and games and refused to give up when facing challenges. The support of my friends and family was also extremely important, motivating me to keep moving forward and aim for even better results.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- Don’t be afraid of making mistakes and learn from both your own and others’ errors. Work hard every day and never be lazy. It is also important to listen to your coaches because their advice helps you improve. After losses, don’t hang your head—accept them as lessons and keep moving forward.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment was the Final Four tournament in Šiauliai, where I competed against older players. We managed to defeat Šiauliai in the final and win the championship title. I was also selected to the All-Season Team, making it one of the most memorable and important moments of the season.
I truly did not expect it, so this nomination was a pleasant surprise. It is a great recognition and motivation for me to continue working hard. It also encourages me to strive not only in basketball but also in academics and other areas of life.

VYTIS BUROKAS | Tornado KM - "Stora Enso" (Born in 2010) | Coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- It is a great recognition and motivation for me to continue working and improving. It is rewarding to know that my efforts were noticed, but this achievement also belongs to the entire team and coaching staff.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe hard work and the desire to become better every day helped me the most. The support of my coaches and teammates was also extremely important.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- I would advise them not to be afraid of making mistakes, to listen to their coaches, and to work consistently. Never give up after setbacks and always strive to become a better player every day.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment was a game in which we found ourselves in a seemingly hopeless situation, but we never gave up and kept fighting. In the end, we managed to come back and secure the victory. It showed the strong character of our team, and that is something that makes me very proud.

JONAS VALANČIUS | Tornado KM (Born in 2011) | Coach Donatas Mikulevičius
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- It is a great recognition of all the work I put in throughout the season. It is rewarding to see that my efforts in practices and games were noticed. This kind of award motivates me to continue improving and striving for even greater goals.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe discipline, consistency, and perseverance helped me the most. I tried to give my best in every practice, work on my weaknesses, and help the team whenever I could. The support of my coaches and teammates was also very important.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players who dream of making the All-Season Team one day?
- The most important thing is not to be afraid of making mistakes and to keep learning. You need to work every day toward your goal, be patient, and stay motivated even when things are not going your way. Every practice is an opportunity to become a better player.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moments were the team's important victories and the emotions that followed them. Moments like these show how much can be achieved when people work together. Individual awards are nice, but team accomplishments bring the greatest joy.


Second All-Season Team 
ĄŽUOLAS STEPUTIS | Tornado KM - "Xiaomi" (Born in 2008) | Coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- It means a lot to me. I am proud to be part of it. It represents recognition for all the hard work put in throughout the season.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- Discipline is the key. Every day, you create a plan and stick to it. Success is built not only on the basketball court but also away from it. That includes proper rest as well. Throughout the season, I was guided by one thought: become at least 0.1% better every day than you were yesterday.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- I encourage younger Tornado players to believe in themselves and not be afraid of making mistakes. It is also important to set goals and pursue them. Give your all in practice, and your efforts will not go unnoticed.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment was the MKL final when the buzzer sounded and we all started celebrating the championship title. That feeling cannot be described in words. It is a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life.

BENAS KRYŽIUS | Tornado KM - "Metga" (Born in 2009) | Coach Mantas Lauraitis
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- This award is proof that hard work brings positive results. It is rewarding to know that my coaches recognize the effort I put into practices and, I believe, my solid performances in games as well.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe this achievement was made possible by hard work in practice, the support of my teammates, and the guidance of my coach. Without these three things, it is very difficult to achieve strong results.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- I would advise younger Tornado players not to be afraid of making mistakes because, as we all know, mistakes are one of the best ways to learn — both from your own experiences and from others. Listen carefully to your coach's advice and take it to heart. Be a great teammate both on and off the court. Most importantly, on the court, focus on doing what you do best rather than trying to do everything you might be capable of.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment was our U17 quarterfinal series against VKM, especially the third game, which we lost in the most heartbreaking way possible. As a team, we truly believed that this would finally be the year we broke through the quarterfinal barrier and reached the U17 Final Four. On a more positive note, winning the U18 championship title was certainly one of the highlights of the season.

JONAS ŠIUPŠINSKAS | Tornado KM - "Metga" (Born in 2009) | Coach Mantas Lauraitis
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- To me, it represents recognition of hard work, effort, and dedication to basketball. Over the past few seasons, I have also had to deal with several injuries, which makes this recognition even more meaningful. It is rewarding to see that all the work I invested in practices and games was noticed. This motivates me to keep pushing forward and striving for even greater goals.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe patience, diligence, and consistent work contributed the most to this season's results. I focused on improving every day and never gave up when faced with challenges. The support of my teammates, coaches, parents, and the entire Tornado community was also extremely important.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- I would advise them to pursue their goals systematically and not expect immediate results. It is important to be patient, work consistently, and never be afraid to test your limits. Setbacks should not discourage you — they should be viewed as valuable experiences that help you grow and improve.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The most memorable moment of the season was winning the MKL U18 Championship, as it was my first title of that level. Another important achievement was winning the silver medal at the HNBT tournament with the U17 team. That tournament provided valuable experience and helped me develop even further as a player.

AURIMAS MALDUTIS | Tornado KM - "Stora Enso" (Born in 2010) | Coach Aivaras Grigaliūnas
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 All-Season Team mean to you?
- It is a great recognition and appreciation of all the work I put in throughout the season. This acknowledgment motivates me to continue improving and striving for even higher goals.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- I believe perseverance and the desire to improve were the biggest factors. Even when things did not go as planned, I tried not to give up and instead learn from my mistakes. The advice of my coaches and the support of my teammates also played a major role. I believe that my constant desire to become a better player helped me reach this level.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players?
- I would encourage them to always believe in themselves and never give up, even when things are difficult. Listen to your coaches, give your maximum effort in every practice and game, and never be afraid of making mistakes because mistakes are valuable learning opportunities. If you are committed to improving and truly enjoy basketball, the results will come naturally.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- The MKL season stands out the most. As a team, we had a very strong season and showed in the playoffs that we could compete against the best teams. Although we fell slightly short of our ultimate goal, I believe we demonstrated great character and took a significant step forward. Another unforgettable moment was my debut in the RKL league, which was an important experience and another milestone in my basketball journey. This season provided many valuable lessons and motivation to achieve even more in the future.

JOKŪBAS ZABLOCKIS | Tornado KM (Born in 2011) | Coach Donatas Mikulevičius
- What does being selected to the 2025/2026 Second All-Season Team mean to you?
- It feels great to be selected to this team because it is not something that happens every year. It motivates me to continue improving and striving for more.
- Which of your qualities or habits contributed the most to such a successful season?
- Throughout the season, we played as one team. Determination to achieve our goals and hard work were the key factors behind our success.
- What advice would you give to younger Tornado players who dream of making the All-Season Team one day?
- I would advise them to always work with determination and commitment in practice, never stop giving their best effort, listen to their coaches, and keep pursuing the goals they set for themselves.
- What moment from this season stands out the most to you and why?
- Without a doubt, the most memorable moment of the season was winning the championship title. After last year, we knew we had to return to where we belonged and reclaim what was ours.