Tampere. Tampere Pyrinnö has been difficult in the women’s basketball league in recent months. Injuries have plagued. The loss tube that started just before the Christmas break has already stretched to seven matches.
In the middle of February, the tube finally breaks when the star -studded star player Saana Kujala Raises his team backpack. 22-year-old Kujala forces the Finnish player an exceptionally frenzied double double: 39 points and 10 rebounds.
Tapiola’s Honka crashes with Pyyniki. In the league table, the column of the Pyrenees is recorded for the first time in almost two months.
The statistics that are nicked in one game in Kujala is shamelessly hard, but it is not a surprise.
Already last season, Kujala, a Hyvinkää -based Kujala, rose to the top ten of the League points exchange with almost 19 points last season.
At the closing ceremony of the season, Kujala was awarded not only as the most advanced player in the League, but also as a player of the year.
– It’s hard to praise yourself, but you have heard from outsiders that I have been able to become a leading player. I feel like I can help the team, Kujala says modestly to Sports at Pyynik’s Ballroom.
Lea Hakala Dominates the Basketball League Point Statistics for decades, but today you can find Finnish names in the Korik Queen lists among US stars. Of course, even domestic stars always come up, AWAK KUIER Even after 47 points, it’s only five years.
– Every Finnish player has the opportunity. When you can work hard and be involved with that mentality, Kujala says of the league’s elite.
However, the toughest Finnish names often continue to the professional fields outside domestic borders. However, Kujala has not done it yet. Nor did he go to US universities, even though there were plenty of attracters.
Kujala has made his decisions on his own terms. And I was able to work out hard.
“I actually follow every game”
The worn expression describes that some athletes live and breathe their species. Saana Kujala may not breathe basketball, but she plays and watches a lot of basketball. So really a lot of basketball.
Kujala currently focuses only on basketball. There are eight times a week and almost weekly league matches. Kujala, who has broken into the national team, also camps and plays regularly with Susiladies.
In addition to his own exercises and matches, Kujala says he is very active in watching both the women’s and the men’s basketball league.
Sure, there are often other games on the laptop screen, but Kujala seeks to see every single one in the Finnish Main Series matches. Looking at the recordings saves time over the game breaks.
– Well, there are probably some days that I’m not watching any games. But then there are days to watch a couple of, three games in the tube, Kujala says.
Looking at the games you constantly learn more about the sport. Watching your own series of games also stays on the map of the opponent’s game patterns and players’ features.
– Of course you get skout reports before the game, but following the way you know differently what others are doing. But I love the basket, I enjoy it. That’s probably the biggest reason, Kujala laughs.
Men’s basketball league is also influenced by love: Kujala’s boyfriend Joona Hakamaa is the captain of the Kauhajoki Karhubasket. Kujala says he also watches all the games in the series on the men’s side and travels around the Karhubasket’s home and away matches what has been made up of their own games.
Rejected the offers of US universities
Kujala has already played six seasons in the basketball league. The career path has been quite different from other national team talent.
Early in his career, Kujala did not make major deviations from a typical player path. Kujala, who made his debut at the age of 16 in his breeding club in Hyvinkää, at the age of 16, celebrated his breeding club in a small role in the bronze medal. After a couple of seasons, Kujala went to Helsinki at Sports High School and HBA-Märsky.
At Mäkelänrinne, Kujala put the ball in a bag in the basketball league and felt a student cap on his head. When the top five friends from HBA took their next step by going to US universities, Kujala decided to stay in Finland.
Many were waiting for the bids to move behind the racket, but the decision was a long reflection. He wanted to make a decision that feels his own.
– I have had challenges with English already during school hours and I had hardly had to use it. I wondered that I may not have been a dozen students, but I should still study in English. In the United States, if you do not take care of school, you will not play, Kujala explains.
Kujala did not go out to find out his academic ability in a new culture and environment that felt weak in a new culture, but chose ToPo, who made a powerful rise to the top.
Kujala, who had had discussions with various US schools, feared that he would have to “come home by the first milk train”. On the other hand, he also feared that he would have to regret his decision.
– But at no point did I regret it in this three years. It may tell you that it was the right decision, Kujala says.
“Abroad when it feels right”
In a safe environment, Kujala has taken major development leaps, especially after a couple of hours of train.
Kujala won the Finnish Cup and silver in the league in the Torpa boys. At the end of the season, a well -off, who often started off the bench, was awarded the best sixth player of the season.
Kujala took his next step again within Finland’s borders. He moved to the Tampere Pyrinth, where the development leap was stunning. Kujala played a big role and broke into the elite players in the series.
– Saana played the season as expected. There was potential, and he performed accordingly. Saana has the potential to play in European fields, in any series, the head coach of the Pyrenees Petteri Molenius notes.
– It’s really important to have different paths. Many players have gone there in the US, but it is possible to develop in other ways. Saana and Annika Aarrejoki have shown it in our team.
It will be time to go abroad later. Its time may be soon, or not. Kujala rose to a level where inquiries about the European series are beginning to come. But in this case, Kujala also listens to himself.
– Of course I have a desire to go to the foreign fields at some point. Then when it feels right.
– Now I want to finish this season with honor, and hopefully it is enough for the medal. Yes, I see the potential in our team.
Pyrenees Kayla Shaw He sees the potential in Kujala to transfer abroad – even for the language that he had plagued before.
– Saana’s English skills have developed a lot a year! He has clearly gained confidence in talking to me. He helps me with my Finland and I help her with English. It’s fun, Shaw laughs.
Kujala confirms the US attention. Out -of -field conversations with Americans who have become friends have brought credit to their own language skills. In Tampere, he even plays a role in video meetings in English.
– I might not have thought a couple of years ago that English was not so difficult. English skill no longer has any problem to leave, Kujala says.
There is no need to go abroad for the 2027 European Championships, as one of the early stages will be played in Espoo. Perhaps Finland will continue its games after the opening leg outside the country. Saana Kujala has certainly been headed there if it feels right.