LRT Radio journalist Benas Klimaitis reported that “Juventus” received a letter from the FIBA Champions League confirming that if they advance to the LKL final, the Utena team would secure a spot in the 2026-2027 season of the Champions League group stage.
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This would be “Juventus'” return to this tournament after eight years – the only time the Utena team played in the Champions League group stage was in the 2017-2018 season.
At the start of the 2016-2017, 2021-2022, 2024-2025, and 2025-2026 seasons, “Juventus” played in the Champions League qualifiers but did not advance to the group stage.
“Juventus” unexpectedly eliminated Vilnius “Rytas” 2-0 in the LKL quarterfinals, and in the semifinal series against Klaipėda “Neptūnas,” they won the first away game and lead the best-of-five series 1-0.
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A ticket to the final would open the way to Europe for the Utena team, as the other three LKL semifinal teams play in EuroLeague, not FIBA-organized tournaments: “Žalgiris” plays in the EuroLeague, while “Neptūnas” and Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” play in the EuroCup.
If they lose the semifinal series, “Juventus” would again have to compete in the FIBA Champions League qualifiers next season.
We will definitely see Vilnius “Rytas” in the group stage of this tournament, who suffered a fiasco in the LKL but won the Champions League trophy for the first time in the club’s history. This will be the seventh season for Vilnius in this tournament.
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