By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko head coach Sarunas Jasikevicius addressed speculation regarding the club’s offseason plans, offering high praise for Lithuanian guard Ignas Sargiunas.
While the Playoffs of the 2025-26 installment of the EuroLeague remain the immediate priority, with his side facing Zalgiris in a best-of-five series for a ticket to the 2026 EuroLeague Final Four, presented by Etihad, 50-year-old Jasikevicius acknowledged the Rytas standout as a player he has monitored since his developmental years.
Sargiunas played within the Zalgiris system from 2015 to 2018, primarily at the youth level. During this same period, Jasikevicius was establishing his coaching legacy at the club, serving as an assistant before taking over as head coach between 2014 and 2020.
“I have liked him since his time in the Zalgiris youth system, where he consistently competed against more experienced players,” mentioned the 50-year-old coach ahead of Game 1 against Zalgiris in Istanbul’s Ulker Sports Arena on Tuesday evening.
Highlighting the 26-year-old combo guard’s toughness, Saras noted that Sargiunas is fearless and possesses a palpable hunger for success. When asked directly if the player is prepared to leap to the EuroLeague stage, Jasikevicius was optimistic. “I think so,” he stated simply.
Regarding the rumors linking Fener to both Sargiunas and Kosner Baskonia’s Trent Forrest, he maintained a composed stance. While he refrained from confirming any finalized deals, he didn’t dismiss the possibility of a future collaboration. “There are always a lot of rumors,” he said. “We will see if we can really work together next year.”
Beyond the transfer market, Jasikevicius emphasized that the series against Zalgiris will be decided by discipline. “At the end of the day, it comes down to effort and determination,” he explained.