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.

Rytas-2
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 edit

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 edit

Current roster edit

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

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  •   Injured

Updated: 2020-10-19

Notable players edit

History edit

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 edit

  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.

External links edit