Perlas (basketball club)

BC Perlas Energija, is a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania, currently competing in the Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga. BC Perlas is a daughter club of the Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius.

Perlas Energija
LeaguesNacionalinė krepšinio lyga
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-present)
ArenaJeep Arena
LocationVilnius, Lithuania
Team colorsBlack, Red and White
     
Head coach Edvinas Justa
Affiliation(s)Rytas
ChampionshipsNone
WebsiteOfficial website

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".[1] It developed young prospects and became a springboard to professional career for former Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius players, Dovydas Redikas and BC Žalgiris former player Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Undoubtedly, Perlas’ best-known alumnus is Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius, Memphis Grizzlies and Lithuania men's national basketball team center Jonas Valančiūnas.

"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 as a result.[2]

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 .[3]

Players

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

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
  2. Pieno žvaigždės bought BC Perlas (Lithuanian)
  3. "Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga - NKL". www.nklyga.lt.
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