Finland's Salin, Lee back in Spain

LAS PALMAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup/EuroBasket 2015) - The "Susijengi" have returned.

Several months after playing for Finland in Spain in the country's first-ever appearance at a FIBA Basketball World Cup, Sasu Salin and Gerald Lee have signed contracts with teams in the Liga Endesa.

Salin, a 23-year-old shooting guard, has left Union Olimpija in Slovenia and joined Herbalife Gran Canaria, a side that is also competing in the Eurocup.

Spanish basketball remembers the two players as important parts of a Finnish squad that played in front of raucous crowds and in exciting World Cup games in Group C, in Bilbao.

While Real Madrid and Barcelona have been the dominant teams in Spain's top flight in recent years, the Liga Endesa has a reputation of being good from top to bottom, and having well-supported teams.

Finnish basketball has been rising every year. - Salin

Speaking to FIBA.com, Salin says the move of two Susijengi stars to Spain is further indication that Finnish basketball is on the way up.

"The respect wasn't so high before so now it's great to see Gerald Lee and I come here," he said.

Lee had only recently travelled to Spain to face Valencia Basket in a Eurocup game, one that his team won.

"Coming here was one of my personal goals, and this is a great opportunity," Lee said.

"[The Liga Endesa] is a very physical and fast league."

"I was the little boy who went there [Ljubljana] the past four years," he said.

"I got a little more mature and my skills went up. 

"As a person, also, it made me stronger being there all those years. 

"But I came here to Spain because the league is probably one of the top in Europe, if not the top, and the product of the games."

He will now get a chance to play for Aito Garcia Reneses, a renowned teacher of the game who has worked with many youngsters over the years like Ricky Rubio and Pau Ribas of Spain and Tomas Satoransky of the Czech Republic.

Garcia was Spain's coach at the 2008 Olympics.

"I hope to keep improving," Salin said. 

"I have heard great stories about Aito Garcia so that helps. 

"It's a great situation."

While their focus is on fitting in with their new teams, the players will eventually turn their attention back to the national side.

Finland will play at the EuroBasket for a third consecutive time this summer.

They will compete in Group A with hosts France, Russia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Israel.

The top four sides will advance to the next stage of the competition.

"It's going to be a tough group coming up," Salin said.

"[We're in] the same group as the hosts. There is also Russia, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Israel - tough teams every one of them.

"A lot depends who they have in their teams but every team is full of very good players.

"I hope we are going to have our best squad."

Finland's fans and players rode a rollercoaster of emotions at Spain 2014.

The Susijengi, which is Finnish for Wolfpack, had around 10,000 fans in Bilbao to watch Group C games and create a party-like atmosphere in the city.

They all enjoyed the high of beating Ukraine, but also had some disappointments, including excruciating defeats in their last two games to Turkey and New Zealand.

"Tough losses, they always make you stronger," Salin said.

"We're not the type that gives up."

We have shown already that we can compete against anyone. - Salin

Salin's first game with his new team was scheduled for Wednesday in Podgorica, Montenegro, against one of Lee's old clubs, Buducnost.

He will then return to the Canary Islands and have the sun on his back.

"What I've heard about the weather is good and there are also supposed to be pretty many Finns there," he said, before laughing and adding, "But I don't know if that's a good thing."

FIBA