BC Perlas Energija, is a professional basketball club based in
Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of 592,389 (according to the state register) or 625,107 (according to the municipality of Vilnius). The population of Vilnius's functional urb ...
,
Lithuania
Lithuania (; lt, Lietuva ), officially the Republic of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Respublika, links=no ), is a country in the Baltic region of Europe. It is one of three Baltic states and lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea. Lithuania ...
, currently competing in the
Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga
The National Basketball League (NKL) (), also known as 7bet-NKL for sponsorship reasons, is the second-tier basketball minor league in Lithuania. It is placed below the top division Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL). The competition currently consis ...
. BC Perlas is a daughter club of the
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius.
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 2012-2013 season, when it was called "Vilnius-MRU". It developed young prospects and became a springboard to professional career for former
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius players,
Dovydas Redikas
Dovydas Redikas (born 11 December 1992) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player.
Professional career
On 13 September 2018 Redikas joined Apollon Limassol of the Cypriot League.
National team career
Redikas won five gold medals with Lithu ...
and
BC Žalgiris
Basketball Club Žalgiris ( lt, Krepšinio klubas Žalgiris) is a professional basketball team that is based in Kaunas, Lithuania, and competes domestically in the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL, Lithuanian Basketball League). Founded in 1944, i ...
former player
Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Mindaugas Kuzminskas (born 19 October 1989) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He also represents the Lithuanian national team. He is 2.05 m (6'8 ") tall, and he can play bo ...
. Undoubtedly, Perlas’ best-known alumnus is
Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius,
Memphis Grizzlies
The Memphis Grizzlies (referred to locally as the Grizz) are an American professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Grizzlies compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference ...
and
Lithuania men's national basketball team
The Lithuania men's national basketball team ( lt, Lietuvos nacionalinė vyrų krepšinio rinktinė) represents Lithuania in international basketball competitions. They are controlled by the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, the governing body f ...
center
Jonas Valančiūnas
Jonas Valančiūnas ( ; ; born 6 May 1992) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 ...
.
"Perlas-MRU" qualified for second tier Lithuanian basketball league (NKL) playoffs for the first time in the 2006-2007 season. An ambitious and young team in 2009 went on a commercial basis to play in the
LKL. During two seasons in the league "Perlas-MRU" finished regular season respectively in 8th and 7th places. On 14 July 2011, the club merged with NKL champions
„Pieno Žvaigždės“, with many players signing with
BC Pieno žvaigždės
BC Pieno žvaigždės ( lt, Krepšinio klubas Pieno žvaigždės) is a professional basketball club from Pasvalys, Lithuania which currently plays in the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). The club name comes from the main sponsor Pieno žvaigžd ...
as a result.
In 2011-2012 season after returning to the NKL, "Perlas-MRU" did not qualify for the playoffs. In 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 2013-2014 season Perlas once again qualified for NKL playoffs. In round of 16 Mindaugas Sakalauskas players crushed
Klaipedos Nafta-Universitetas (3:0) and in quarterfinals after 5 games was forced to concede to
Delikatesas Joniškis .
Players
Current roster
Notable players
*
Jonas Valančiūnas
Jonas Valančiūnas ( ; ; born 6 May 1992) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was selected by the Toronto Raptors with the fifth overall pick in the 2011 ...
*
Mindaugas Kuzminskas
Mindaugas Kuzminskas (born 19 October 1989) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Pınar Karşıyaka of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He also represents the Lithuanian national team. He is 2.05 m (6'8 ") tall, and he can play bo ...
*
Eimantas Bendžius
Eimantas Bendžius (born 23 April 1990) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Dinamo Sassari of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). His primary position is small forward, but he can also play as a power forward, if needed.
Profess ...
*
Arvydas Šikšnius
*
Deividas Sirvydis
Deividas Sirvydis (born 10 June 2000) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBA G League. Sirvydis was selected 37th overall by the Dallas Mavericks in the 2019 NBA draft and was then traded to the Detr ...
*
Evaldas Kairys
Evaldas Kairys (born October 11, 1990) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League. He plays in the center position.
Professional career
Kairys been a part of Lietuvos rytas Vilnius you ...
*
Dovis Bičkauskis
Dovis Bičkauskis (born 5 September 1993 in Šiauliai) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Lietkabelis Panevėžys of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Standing at , he plays at the point guard position.
Career
Bičkausk ...
*
Margiris Normantas
Margiris ,,Margo" Normantas (born 27 October 1996) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Standing at , he mainly plays at the shooting guard position.
Early career
Before s ...
*
Marek Blaževič
Marek Blaževič (born 1 September 2001) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Monbus Obradoiro of the Spanish Liga ACB. Standing at , he plays the center position.
Professional career
Blaževič made his professional debut with B ...
*
Gytis Radzevičius
Gytis Radzevičius (born 17 July 1995) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League
Lithuanian may refer to:
* Lithuanians
* Lithuanian language
* The country of Lithuania
* Grand Duchy of ...
*
Dominykas Domarkas
Dominykas Domarkas (born April 24, 1992) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Hermine Nantes Basket of the Pro B.
Professional career
Domarkas began his career with the National Basketball League (NKL) in Kaunas LKKA-Atletas. In ...
*
Edvinas Šeškus
Edvinas Šeškus (born 10 March 1995) is a Lithuanian basketball player for CBet Jonava of the Lithuanian Basketball League. He mainly plays the shooting guard position.
He is 196 cm (6' 5") tall and weighs 100 kg (220 lbs).
C ...
*
Saulius Kulvietis
Saulius Kulvietis (born February 14, 1991) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Śląsk Wrocław of the PLK. Standing at , he plays at the small forward and power forward positions.
Professional career
On July 29, 2018, Kulvietis s ...
*
Paulius Dambrauskas
Paulius Dambrauskas (born 16 December 1991) is a Lithuanian basketball player who last played for Astoria Bydgoszcz of the Polish Basketball League.
Professional career
In 2010, Dambrauskas signed a long-term contract with BC Lietuvos Rytas. In ...
*
Vytautas Šarakauskas
Vytautas Šarakauskas (born 8 February 1982 in Belgrade Serbia) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Neptūnas-Akvaservis.
Professional career
Šarakauskas started his career in SSK–Perlas Vilnius, which played in the LKAL l ...
*
Vilmantas Dilys
*
Augustas Marčiulionis
Augustas Marčiulionis (born 21 March 2002) is a Lithuanian basketball player who currently plays for NCAA Division I Saint Mary's College after having played for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL). Standing , he plays the ...
*
Einaras Tubutis
Einaras Tubutis (born 4 November 1998) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Élan Chalon of the LNB Pro A. Standing 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in), he plays the power forward position. Tubutis has competed with the Lithuanian junior national t ...
History
References
External links
*
BC Perlasat NKL.lt
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bc Perlas
Basketball teams established in 2003
Sport in Vilnius
Perlas
2003 establishments in Lithuania