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 u ...

, 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 consi ...

. BC Perlas is a daughter club of the

Lietuvos Rytas Vilnius Rytas Vilnius is a Lithuanian professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The club was founded in 1997 from another club, Statyba, and has become one of the most successful Lithuanian basketball clubs. Rytas have won two EuroCup t ...

. 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

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 Lith ...

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, ...

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 b ...

. Undoubtedly, Perlas’ best-known alumnus is

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 ...

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 žvai ...

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

* Eimantas Bendžius *

Arvydas Šikšnius Arvydas Šikšnius (born 10 October 1987) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player, who currently plays for Pieno žvaigždės Pasvalys of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Professional career Šikšnius won the Lithuanian Basketball Lea ...

* Deividas Sirvydis *

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 * Margiris Normantas *

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 BC ...

Gytis Radzevičius Gytis Radzevičius (born 17 July 1995) is a Lithuanian professional basketball player for Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League. Playing career Radzevičius started his professional career in KK Kupiškis basketball team. He moved ...

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. I ...

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, Kulvieti ...

* Paulius Dambrauskas * Vytautas Šarakauskas * Vilmantas Dilys * Augustas Marčiulionis *

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 ...

History

References

External links

*
BC Perlas
at NKL.lt {{DEFAULTSORT:Bc Perlas Basketball teams established in 2003 Sport in Vilnius Perlas 2003 establishments in Lithuania