Perlas (basketball club)

BC Rytas-2 is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The team competes in the National Basketball League (NKL), the second division of Lithuanian basketball. Founded in 2003, it is the reserve team of Rytas Vilnius.

Not to be confused with KK Perlas Vilkaviškis.
Rytas-2
Rytas-2 logo
LeaguesNational Basketball League
Founded2003
HistoryBC Perlas
(2003–2011)
BC Perlas-MRU
(2011–2012)
BC Vilnius-MRU
(2012–2013)
BC Perlas-MRU
(2013–2016)
BC Perlas
(2016–2020)
BC Perlas Energija
(2020–2022)
BC Rytas-2
(2022–present)
ArenaJeep Arena
LocationVilnius, Lithuania
Team colorsBlack, Red and White
     
Head coachLithuania Edvinas Justa
Affiliation(s)Rytas
ChampionshipsNone
WebsiteOfficial website

History

The Perlas club was founded in 2003. Over the decade, the team had many variations of its name, but it always had the word "Perlas" (Pearl) in it except during the 2012–2013 season, when it was called "Vilnius-MRU".[1] It developed young prospects and became a springboard to a professional career for former Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius players, guard Dovydas Redikas and BC Žalgiris former player Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Undoubtedly, Perlas’ best-known alumni is Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, Memphis Grizzlies and Lithuania men's national basketball team center Jonas Valančiūnas.

"Perlas-MRU" qualified for the second-tier Lithuanian basketball league (NKL) playoffs for the first time in the 2006–2007 season. An ambitious and young team, they went on a commercial basis to play in the LKL in 2009. During two seasons in the league, "Perlas-MRU" finished the regular season in 8th and 7th place, respectively. On 14 July 2011, the club merged with NKL champions „Pieno Žvaigždės“, with many players signing with BC Pieno žvaigždės as a result.[2]

In the 2011–2012 season after returning to the NKL, "Perlas-MRU" did not qualify for the playoffs. In the 2012–2013 season, the results for the team were much better. In the regular season, Vilnius team was ranked 12th (14/20), but in the Round of 16 it eliminated fifth-ranked Sūduva-Mantinga (2–1). In the quarterfinals, "Perlas-MRU" met with Jonavos "Triobet" but was eliminated after three intense matches.

In the 2013–2014 season, Perlas once again qualified for the NKL playoffs. In the round of 16, Mindaugas Sakalauskas players crushed Klaipedos Nafta-Universitetas (3–0), but in quarterfinals, they were forced to concede to Delikatesas Joniškis (3–2).[3]

Players

Current roster
BC Perlas Energija roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
SF 0 Lithuania Šukelis, Justas 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 95 kg (209 lb) 25 – (1997-11-22)22 November 1997
PG 2 Lithuania Adomavičius, Arnas 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 23 – (2000-02-03)3 February 2000
PF 7 Lithuania Valantinas, Lukas 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 22 – (2001-02-25)25 February 2001
SG 9 Lithuania Rimkus, Pijus 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 22 – (2001-01-11)11 January 2001
PG 10 Lithuania Rubinas, Jokūbas 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 73 kg (161 lb) 21 – (2002-02-06)6 February 2002
PG 12 Lithuania Klimas, Laurynas 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 19 – (2004-01-27)27 January 2004
F 13 Lithuania Valuntonis, Vilius 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 21 – (2002-01-17)17 January 2002
C 18 Lithuania Jocius, Rokas 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 97 kg (214 lb) 20 – (2003-07-04)4 July 2003
SG 19 Lithuania Bieliauskas, Nojus 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 22 – (2001-01-19)19 January 2001
SF 21 Lithuania Mikėnas, Matas 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 20 – (2003-04-24)24 April 2003
SF 23 Lithuania Subotkevič, Robert 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 25 – (1998-05-27)27 May 1998
SF 26 Greece Kalogiros, Andreas 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 21 – (2002-08-23)23 August 2002
SG 27 Lithuania Šimonis, Adas 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 22 – (2001-05-22)22 May 2001
PF 32 Lithuania Jermolajevas, Erikas 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 22 – (2001-02-24)24 February 2001
SF 90 Lithuania Baltrušaitis, Tautvydas 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 20 – (2003-06-11)11 June 2003
Head coach
  • Lithuania Edvinas Justa
Assistant coach(es)
  • Lithuania Ignas Pagalys
  • Lithuania Gustas Maskoliūnas
Athletic trainer(s)
  • Lithuania Andrius Birulinas
psychotherapist
  • Lithuania Agnė Jonkutė
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured Injured
Updated: 2020-10-19

Notable players

History
Season League Pos. Significant Events Baltic League Pos. LKF Cup
2009–10 LKL 8 Quarterfinalist Challenge Cup 3 Quarterfinalist
2010–11 LKL 7 Quarterfinalist Elite Division 11 First round
2014–15 NKL 1 Quarterfinalist

References
  1. "Pavadinimą pakeitęs "Perlas-MRU" sezonui ruoštis išvyko į Kiniją".
  2. Pieno žvaigždės bought BC Perlas (Lithuanian)
  3. "Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga - NKL". www.nklyga.lt.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.