After two seasons, Sylvain Francisco will no longer wear the jersey of Zalgiris Kaunas. During his two years in Kaunas, he not only helped the team win four titles and return to the EuroLeague playoffs, but also built a special connection with Zalgiris fans.
Following the Lithuanian Basketball League championship victory and the end of the season, Francisco shared his emotions with Zalgiris TV and bid farewell to the fans who embraced him in Kaunas. The full video is available on the Zalgiris YouTube channel.
“I’m happy that we finished the season on a positive note. There are many teams that didn’t win a championship, so I’m very happy. Two years have flown by, and I have so many memories in my head. It feels like I spent ten years here. During this period in Kaunas, I truly grew, matured, became more open to experiences beyond basketball, and discovered many of them. I remember when I was young and didn’t have a place to train, didn’t have access to a gym around the clock. Here, having everything I needed, my goal was to become the best version of myself, sacrifice for the team, reach the EuroLeague playoffs, the Final Four, and win it. Every player on the team gave everything, and most people never saw how hard we worked. There were difficult days, but we stayed together and always bounced back. I have so many memories and stories, and it feels like there should be more, but this is the end, and that makes me very sad, especially because of the fans, who were always there for us,” Francisco said openly.
The French guard also shared a story about failing a medical examination before expressing his gratitude to Zalgiris fans.
“Kaunas became my second home. I even want to buy a house here so I can come back during the summers. I love this place; the fans are incredible. I always want to thank them and take photos with them. The most important thing is that they are very respectful. When I’m eating, people simply ask if they can take a picture after I finish. There are also many children, and I just can’t say ‘no’ to them. The fans will always have a place in my heart because they showed me so much love, and I want to give that love back. Without them, we would not have achieved what we managed to accomplish,” Francisco said emotionally.
Zalgiris invites fans to watch the full video and hear Francisco’s farewell message and wishes for the club.
