Great loss for CSO Voluntari! The coach of the Romanian Cup winner will continue his career in Poland
Article by David Istrate – published Tuesday, June 3, 2025, 17:44 / Updated Tuesday, June 3, 2025:48
Ainars Bagatskis (58 years old), CSO Voluntari's coach, is in the last matches on the bench of the Ilfovian band. Starting with the next season, Laton technician will prepare Slastk Wroclaw, a tradition team from the Poland's basketball championship.
After two seasons without any trophy, CSO Voluntari was the “revelation” of the season in the Romanian basketball, managing to obtain the gold medals in two competitions. More precisely the white-blue awarded Romanian Cup and then imposed themselves in European North Basketball Leaguea regional European competition in the first years of existence.
The craftsman of this success was Ainars Bagatskis, the coach arrived at Voluntari in 2022, to replace Saşa Ocokoljic. The Latvian had a long career as a player and, afterwards, for a decade and a half, he had prepared groups like Zalgiris Kaunas, Nizhny Novgorod, Maccabi Tel Aviv or Bamberg.
Ainars Bagatskis will prepare Slastk Wroclaw from the 2025-2026 season
Despite the two trophies won in the current season, Bagatskis made the decision to leave CSO Voluntari this summer. According to the Polish press, The technician who runs the male national of Ukraine will continue his career in Orlen Basket Liga at Slastk Wroclaw.
The band with 18 titles, 14 cups and 3 supercupes had an evolution below expectations, finishing the regular season in the 8th position. After two defeats in the play-in, Slastk Wroclaw missed the playoff, stretching the fans to the fullest.
The management of the club made the decision to change Aris Lykogiannis on the Technical Bank and reached an agreement with Ainars Bagatskis, who was looking for a new team. According to Karol Wasiek, it is expected that Slastk Wroclaw will make numerous changes to transform the organization's face.
The news of Bagatskis's departure from Cso Voluntari comes at a time when the Ilfovean band is engaged in the fight for bronze medals in the National Male Basketball League. Monday, June 3, White-blue were defeated with 91-89 by CS Vâlcea 1924in the first match of the small final.
The series between the two groups is played by the format of “the best in 5 matches”. The second party will take place on Wednesday, June 4, at 7:00 pm, also in Râmnicu Vâlcea.
Ainars Bagatskis, in the locker room, after winning the Romanian Cup/Photo: Cătălin Soare (CSO Voluntari)
Ainars Bagatskis: “As a coach, you have to have an idea and work 24/7”
As a coach, you have to have an idea and work 24/7. We have no free days like normal people. We look at the matches, we discuss what we have to prepare and, in addition, we must remain in shape. We have to be healthy if we want to do this in the long run. David Blatt said you have to develop your system and always follow it. If you start to hesitate then you don't know if your system is good or bad
– Ainars Bagatskis, In an interview for gsp.ro
