U18 League (2025-2026)
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U18 League 2025-26
U18 League Final: Tornado KM Kaunas U18 team - Siauliu KA Saule-SG-ASKA U18 team 76-68 Tornado KM Kaunas U18 team (Aivaras Grigaliunas): Aliukonis Tauris 18, Lukosiunas Lukas 16, Linartas Neidas 14, Steputis Azuolas 9, Lazdauskas Matas 7, Ulanovas Kimas 6, Voronicas Danas 3, Zigmantas Matas 3, Petraitis Zigmas 0, Vaitkevicius Kasparas 0, Kryzius Benas 0, Jatuzis Arnas 0, Klevinskas Jonas 0, Siupsinskas Jonas 0 Standings 2025-26
- qualified to the play-offs Stats Leaders 2025-26
PPG
RPG
APG
SPG
BPG
 VKKM Player of the Week: Round 22 (RS)  Zalgiris  Tornado KM topple regular-season leaders Saule to claim LIDL-MKL U18 crown
Arrived: Tauris Aliukonis (Next Generation Team Ulm U18 team), Lukas Lukosiunas (Tornado Kaunas U16 team), Jonas Siupsinskas (Tornado Kaunas U16 team), Arnas Voronicas (Tornado Kaunas U16 team), Danas Voronicas (Tornado Kaunas U16 team), Benas Kryzius (Tornado Kaunas U16 team)
Average Height: 194.0 cm (6'4.3'')
Average Age: 17.8
 Tornado KM topple regular-season leaders Saule to claim LIDL-MKL U18 crown-May 10, 2026
Tornado KM-Xiaomi from Kaunas captured the 2025-26 LIDL-MKL U18 Boys' championship on Saturday, upsetting regular-season winners Siauliu KA Saule-SSG 76-68 in the Final Four title game in Siauliai. Coach Aivaras Grigaliunas' side executed their defensive game plan to perfection, keying on Saule's two biggest threats Rinaldas Kairys (2008) and Gabrielius Krivas (199-F-2008) and grinding out a victory that grew more comfortable in the final quarter after a competitive first half. Center Tauris Aliukonis (204-F-2008) led the champions with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Lukas Lukosiunas (184-SG-2009) added 16 points and six assists and Neidas Linartas (202-F-2008) contributed 14. For Saule, Dagnius Varikas (2008) scored 16, Krivas had 14 with nine rebounds, Arijus Busma (196-F-2008) added 12, Magnas Butkus (2008) 11, and Kairys finished with 10 points and seven assists but the Siauliai side's shooting deserted them at crucial moments in the second half. "We came in with a clear plan and emphasis on their leaders," Grigaliunas said. "The guys listened at halftime and did an excellent job on both ends. Respect to Siauliai and coach Dainius Bertulis great work." An emotional Aliukonis reflected on the significance: "This is our last year together. We put so much love, work, and fight into this this victory means everything." Bertulis, whose team's silver represented a historic achievement for Siauliai youth basketball, was gracious: "The final came down to small details. Tornado have more experience, and we didn't make the best choices in attack. But I'm proud of these young men many doubted their potential, and look where they are today." In the bronze-medal game, Klaipedos KM rallied from a double-digit halftime deficit to crush Vilniaus KM-Zalia Giria 82-67 behind Jonas Zabitis (192-G-2009)' 15 points and nine rebounds. Coach Mindaugas Stasys credited a defensive transformation after the break: "In the second half Vilnius scored only 19 points. Everything starts with defense." Eurobasket.com All-Lithuanian U18 League Awards 2026-May 11, 2026
 The standout forward Tauris Aliukonis was selected as the Player of the Year of the championship-winning the Jonava.
He received multiple other awards, was honored as the Finals MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, Domestic Player of the Year, Forward of the Year and was named to the First Team.
With Aliukonis' excellent performance, the Jonava achieved the best record of the season in the league, finishing with an impressive 17 to 4 in the regular season.
Aliukonis' excellent performance assisted his team in beating the Saule 76 to 68 in the final.
He was the Player of the Week honoree in the league.
Aliukonis conducted his way to the fifth position in averaging a commendable over 16 points per game.
He also averaged 8 rebounds per game in the league.
Aliukonis has totalled 5 games of 20 or more points and recorded double-doubles in 6 games on the year.
His 29 points against Vilniaus KM I Rytas Under 18 team were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Titas Bakanas, 18-year old guard from the V.Knasiaus KM-JUMEX Under 18 team, earned the Guard of the Year at the Lithuania.
He also earned a spot in the First Team.
Bakanas registered over 7 rebounds per game that season in the league.
He received Player of the Week award twice during the 25 26 campaign.
Bakanas led the Lithuania in points per game with 23.
He has totalled 7 games of 20 or more points on the year and had 30 or more points in 3 games.
Bakanas recorded double-doubles in 3 games at the event.
His 40 points against the Perkunas were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
The standout forward Neidas Linartas was voted to the First Team of the championship-winning Omega-Tauras Kauno.
His excellent performance assisted his team in beating the Saule 76 to 68 in the final.
Linartas was previously named to Honorable Mention last year selection.
He was voted Player of the Week twice during the 25 26 campaign.
With finesse and precision, Linartas claimed the third position in points per game, delivering a stellar almost 18 points per game average.
Linartas also logged over 7 rebounds per game over the season in the league.
He has totalled 5 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 3 games on the year.
Linartas' 30 points against the VKM 2 were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Despite Linartas' young age he had an impressive career.
He was selected as the Eurobasket All-Lithuanian Under 18 League Honorable Mention in 2025.
Rinaldas Kairys, 17-year old from the finalist team Siauliu KA Saule-SG-ASKA Under 18 team, was selected to the First Team of Lithuania.
With Kairys' excellent performance, the finalist team Siauliu KA Saule-SG-ASKA Under 18 team achieved the best record of the season in the league, finishing with an impressive 19 to 1 in the regular season.
His best performance made his team reach the final but they were defeated by Tornado KM Kaunas Under 18 team 68 to 76.
Kairys averaged almost 16 points per game in the league.
He led the Lithuania in assists per game with almost 7.
Kairys has totalled 8 games of 20 or more points and notched double-doubles in 2 games on the year.
His 23 points against the Zalgiris were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Gabrielius Krivas, 17-year old forward from the Siauliai, was chosen to the First Team at the Lithuania.
His best performance made his team reach the final but they were defeated by Tornado KM Kaunas Under 18 team 68 to 76.
Krivas' court vision propelled him to the fourth spot in points per game an outstanding average of almost 17.
He also recorded over 7 rebounds per game that season in the league.
Krivas has totalled 4 games of 20 or more points and registered double-doubles in 2 games on the year.
His 29 points against the Zalgiris were the most he scored in the 25 26 season.
Player of the Year:  Finals MVP: Defensive Player of the Year: Domestic Player of the Year: Guard of the Year: Forward of the Year: Coach of the Year:  Eurobasket.com Lithuanian U18 League First Team 2026  Aliukonis  Linartas  Kairys  Krivas Bakanas First Team Eurobasket.com Lithuanian U18 League Second Team 2026  Ulanovas  Agajev  Butkus  Bukelskis  Varikas Second Team Eurobasket.com Lithuanian U18 League Third Team 2026  Lukosiunas  Sliogeris  Steputis  Busma  Janeliauskas Third Team *The awards were created by Eurobasket.com staff based on the stats (if available), teams' performance and players' performance.
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