BC Sakalai
| BC Sakalai | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Leagues |
Lithuanian Basketball League Baltic Basketball League | ||
| Founded | 1991 | ||
| Dissolved | 2013 | ||
| Arena |
Ekinstos laisvalaikio centras (capacity: 1,000) | ||
| Location | Vilnius, Lithuania | ||
| Team colors |
Yellow and green | ||
| President | Linas Kvedaravičius | ||
| Championships |
Lithuanian Basketball A League (1994) Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup (2009) | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
BC Sakalai was a professional basketball club based in Vilnius, Lithuania, playing in the Lithuanian Basketball League and the Baltic Basketball League. They played their home games at the 1,000-seat Ekinstos laisvalaikio centras.
Sakalai means falcons in Lithuanian language.
Franchise history
Beginning and LKAL champions (1991–1994)
BC Sakalai began playing in 1991 at the Lithuanian Basketball A League (LKAL). In 1994, Sakalai managed to win the LKAL Championship and in June 1994, the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) Committee accepted them into the LKL.
LKL debut (1994–1995)
In their debut season, Sakalai finished in 8th place (17 wins and 23 losses). Their first win was against NECA Kaunas, 100–88. In the playoffs, Sakalai lost the series 0–2 in the first round to [[BC Žalgiris Žalgiris Kaunas]].
LKL, Korać Cup and Saporta Cup (1995–1999)
In the 1995–96 LKL season, Sakalai finished in 5th place and also competed in the Korać Cup. In the Korać Cup, Sakalai moved up to the Round of 16, where they lost to Croatia Osiguranje Split. The team became a strong playoff team, even finishing in 3rd place in the 1997-98 regular season, though losing both the semifinals and bronze medal series, finishing 4th.
Luck changed the next season, as Sakalai won 3rd place in the 1998–99 LKL season and were invited to the Saporta Cup, where they reached the Round of 16 before losing to Panionios Athens.
LKL and BBL (1999–2008)
Since 1999, Sakalai have become the second-best team in Vilnius after Lietuvos rytas. In the 1999–2000 LKL season, Sakalai won 4th place, being unable to repeat in 3rd place. In the 2000–01, 2001–02, and 2002–03 LKL seasons, Sakalai finished in 6th, 6th, and 5th places respectively. They also played in the Saporta Cup in the 2000–01 season.
In 2003–04 and 2004–05 LKL seasons, Sakalai were one away from 3rd place, but lost to Šiauliai both times. Also, in 2005, Sakalai competed in the first Baltic Basketball League season, finishing in 6th place. The next three seasons, Sakalai won 5th, 7th, and 7th places respectively.
BBL Challenge Cup winners (2008–2009)
In 2008, Sakalai continued playing in the Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup. On April 11, Sakalai won the 2008–09 BBL Challenge Cup, defeating VEF Rīga 84–77. They lost the series 2–1 to Nevėžis Kėdainiai for the opportunity to play in the Elite Division and stayed in the BBL Challenge Cup for the 2009–10 season.
Decline (2009–2013)
The team's success quickly ran out, and in the next few seasons they plummeted to the bottom in the LKL standings. In 2013, after a very poor season (finishing second to last), the team was ejected from the LKL due to a very poor financial situation. The situation of the team was left uncertain. During the 2013–14 season, it was announced that Sakalai was dissolved.
Season by season
| Season | League | Pos. | Significant events | Baltic League | Pos. | LKF Cup | European competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | LKAL | 1 | Promoted | – | – | – | – |
| 1994–95 | LKL | 8 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – | – |
| 1995–96 | LKL | 5 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – | Played Korać Cup |
| 1996–98 | LKL | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 1998–99 | LKL | 3 | Bronze medal | – | – | – | Played Saporta Cup |
| 1999–00 | LKL | 4 | Semifinalist | – | – | – | Played Saporta Cup |
| 2000–01 | LKL | 6 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – | – |
| 2001–02 | LKL | 6 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – | – |
| 2002–03 | LKL | 5 | Quarterfinalist | – | – | – | – |
| 2003–04 | LKL | 4 | Semifinalist | – | – | – | – |
| 2004–05 | LKL | 4 | Semifinalist | Elite Division | 6 | – | – |
| 2005–06 | LKL | 5 | Quarterfinalist | Elite Division | 8 | – | – |
| 2006–07 | LKL | 7 | Quarterfinalist | Elite Division | 13 | – | – |
| 2007–08 | LKL | 7 | Quarterfinalist | Elite Division | 17 | – | – |
| 2008–09 | LKL | 7 | Quarterfinalist | Challenge Cup | 1 | Eighth finalist | – |
| 2009–10 | LKL | 9 | – | Challenge Cup | 3 | Second round | – |
| 2010–11 | LKL | 11 | – | Challenge Cup | 7 | Quarterfinalist | – |
| 2011–12 | LKL | 10 | – | Challenge Cup | 3 | First round | – |
| 2012–13 | LKL | 10 | - | Elite Division | 11 | – | – |
Notable players
-
Andrius Giedraitis 1994–1999 - Alvydas Pazdrazdis 1999–2000
- Saulius Kuzminskas 1999–2000
- Simas Jasaitis 2000–2001
- Mindaugas Lukauskis 2001–2002
- Marius Prekevičius 2001–2002
- Renaldas Seibutis 2003–2005
- Martynas Gecevičius 2004–2007
- Mindaugas Kuzminskas 2006–2007
- Ramūnas Šiškauskas 1996–1998
- Dainius Šalenga 1998–2000
Championships
- Lithuanian Basketball A League champions: 1994
- Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup champions: 2009