page_title: BC Rytas
section_title: 2013–14: Downfall of Lietuvos rytas
hierarchical_section_title: BC Rytas / History / Big dreams, small achievements (2010–2014) / 2013–14: Downfall of Lietuvos rytas
caption_attribution_description: English: Basketball player Juan Palacios
context_page_description: BC 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 titles, five Lithuanian League titles, three Lithuanian Cups and three Baltic Championships. The team plays their home games at the 11,000-seat Siemens Arena and the 2,741-seat Jeep Arena.
  Some of the greatest Lithuanian basketball players have played for Rytas over the years including: Šarūnas Marčiulionis, Šarūnas Jasikevičius, Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Arvydas Macijauskas, Jonas Valančiūnas, Martynas Gecevičius, Renaldas Seibutis, Simas Jasaitis, Robertas Javtokas, Darius Songaila, Marijonas Petravičius, Rimantas Kaukėnas, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Gintaras Einikis.
  Rytas plays in the EuroCup, Lithuanian Basketball League, and the King Mindaugas Cup.
  The team's farm club, Perlas, is used for the development of young players and plays in the second-tier NKL.
context_section_description: Due to the unsuccessful past season, the manager decided to almost completely rebuild the team: eight players left after the team lost LKL finals to the rival Žalgiris Kaunas. Former team leader Martynas Gecevičius was recalled after a two-season break and a notable point guard Omar Cook was signed. Because the team was second in the domestic league, it had to hope for a EuroLeague wild card. The team did not receive it, and had to participate in EuroLeague's qualification tournament once again, which was held in Vilnius.
  This time, Rytas, led by Renaldas Seibutis and Martynas Gecevičius, was successful—it won three games in a row (against VEF Rīga, EWE Oldenburg and Telenet Oostende), and qualified for the EuroLeague. To strengthen the team roster before the EuroLeague games, Lietuvos rytas signed former NBA and Lithuania national team player Darius Songaila. On 18 October 2013, Lietuvos rytas started the 2013–14 EuroLeague season with an 84–83 victory against Panathinaikos Athens after Renaldas Seibutis's winning shot in overtime. The game was selected EuroLeague's Game of the Week and re-broadcast in over 150 countries worldwide. However, after this, the level of play of the Lithuanian team declined significantly and Rytas was unable to win any more games. Six games were lost by 10 points or more and it ended being the worst Lietuvos rytas season ever in the EuroLeague - a disappointing 1-9 record. After this, coach Dirk Bauermann was fired and replaced by Aleksandar Petrović. The change helped and on 22 December, Rytas crushed its rival Žalgiris Kaunas 90–58. After being eliminated in the EuroCup playoffs by Crvena zvezda Belgrade, Lietuvos rytas also suffered a defeat in the LKF Cup finals - losing to TonyBet Prienai 91–92. This led to the firing of coach Aleksandar Petrović, who was replaced by Dainius Adomaitis.
  Despite two victories against Rytas biggest rival Žalgiris Kaunas during regular season, the LKL playoffs were a disaster for Lietuvos rytas. Due to rare situation in LKL standings, Rytas and Žalgiris Kaunas met in the semifinals and not in the finals for the second time since 1998. Darius Songaila's 28 points led Rytas to a first series victory in Vilnius with 90–85 result. Rytas lost to Žalgiris in Kaunas 57–72 and the series was tied at 1–1. The third crucial game was played in Vilnius, however it was unsuccessful for the home team. Despite having multiple leads, Rytas lost 71–73 to Žalgiris Kaunas and did not qualify to the LKL Finals for the second time in club history = Žalgiris won the series 2–1. Team captain Steponas Babrauskas described it as a "tragedy". Moreover, one of team leaders Renaldas Seibutis injured his eye after contact with Vytenis Lipkevičius and required surgery causing him to miss the rest of the season. The disastrous season continued for Rytas in the VTB playoffs. After defeating Triumph Lyubertsy 3–0 in the first round, Rytas lost to Nizhny Novgorod 1-3 in the semifinals, losing a chance to play in the 2014–15 EuroLeague season. Rytas finished in third place in the LKL, winning the series against TonyBet Prienai 3–0 and winning the bronze medal. This was the team's worst season since 1998–99.
caption: Juan Palacios was one of the team leaders in the 2013–14 season.
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