BC Rytas

Founded

1997

Hall

Siemens Arena
(11,000 seats)

Homepage

bc.lrytas.lt

president

Gedvydas Vainauskas

director

Martynas Purlys

Trainer

Tomas Pačėsas Lithuania , since December 2015

league

LKL
2014/2015: 2nd place

ULEB Eurocup
2009: 1st place

BBL
2008/2009: 1st place

Colours

Black red

home

Away

successes

Winner ULEB Eurocup 2005, 2009
Lithuanian champion: 2000, 2002, 2006, 2009, 2010

The BC Lietuvos Rytas is the most important basketball club from the Lithuanian capital Vilnius . Along with Žalgiris Kaunas, it is one of the two top basketball clubs in Lithuania. He plays in the Lithuanian LKL and permanently in the European club competitions. The name was donated by the largest Lithuanian daily newspaper Lietuvos rytas, which also has its own sports hall and Lietuvos rytas television (including TV3).

history

BC Lietuvos rytas was founded in 1964 in the Soviet era under the name Statyba and took part in 17 Soviet championships. The best placement was a third place in the 1978/79 season. After the independence of Lithuania, the club took part in four LBL championships under the old name. Again, the best placement was a third place in the 1993/94 season.

After the takeover of the club by the largest Lithuanian daily newspaper Lietuvos rytas in 1997, the club developed into the most important opponent of the traditional club BC Žalgiris Kaunas in the national league. The two teams regularly compete in the national championship and also play an important role in European competitions. The regular successes came with the new club sponsor. In 2000 the Lithuanian championship was won for the first time. This success was repeated in 2002.

On May 15, 2002 the establishment Viešoji įstaiga "Krepšinio rytas" (seat: Ozo g. 14A, Vilnius) was registered. It is managed by Martynas Purlys and employs 22 people (2016).

Further important steps in the history of the association took place in 2004. In that year, the new Siemens Arena was ready to move into . In the same year LRytas won its first European title with the ULEB Cup . Also in 2007 the club was in the final of the ULEB Eurocup, but failed at Real Madrid. The most successful year in the club's history so far was the year 2009, when, in addition to the Lithuanian championship, they won the BBL and the ULEB Eurocup final after beating BK Chimki .