Location Vilnius, Lithuania President Vytenis Tupčiauskas Date founded 2003 | Team colors Black, Red and White Head coach Arvydas Gronskis | |
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Leagues Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga History BC Perlas
(2003-2011)
BC Perlas-MRU
(2011-2012)
BC Vilnius-MRU
(2012-2013)
BC Perlas-MRU
(2013-present) Arena MRU sports hall, Ateities g. 20, Vilnius (MRU) League National Basketball League | ||
BC Perlas, also known as BC Perlas-MRU because of its affiliation with Mykolas Romeris University, 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.
Vilnius Perlas-MRU club founded in 2003. Over the decade, the team has changed a lot of names. Since the 2004-2005 season it constantly figured "Perlas" name. After the 2012-2013 season, the team has become a "Vilnius-MRU" and recovered the 2014-2015 season, "Perlas-MRU" name. Developed young prospects the team became a springboard to professional career for former's Lietuvos Rytas players, Eimantas Bendžius, Dovydas Redikas and BC Žalgiris former player Mindaugas Kuzminskas. Undoubtedly, the capital's best-known alumnus - Toronto Raptors and the Lithuania men's national basketball team center Jonas Valančiūnas.
For the first time, in the second-largest Lithuanian basketball league (NKL), "Perlas-MRU" qualify for the playoff 2006-2007 season. An ambitious and young team in 2009 went on a commercial basis to emulate the LKL. During two seasons in the league "Perlas-MRU" ranked respectively finished regular season 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.
In 2011-2012 season after returning to the NKL, "Perlas-MRU" did not qualify for the playoffs. 2012-2013 season the capital team results were much better. Vilnius team in the regular season ranked 12th place (14/20), but the Round of 16 2:1 eliminated the fifth ranking which was to Sūduva-Mantinga. In the quarterfinals, "Perlas-MRU" met with Jonavos "Triobet". These teams confrontation took three matches and a thriller of 2:1 and won the final four NKL allowed Jonava team.
2013-2014 season, Vilnius residents allowed back into the NKL playoff round. Round of 16 Mindaugas Sakalauskas players 3:0 broke Klaipedos Nafta-Universitetas and the quarterfinals to three victories in 2:3 admitted Joniškio "Delikatesas" advantage.