Some Vilnius “Rytas” basketball players are already training for the new season, and the whole team will come together when important players from the Lithuanian national team join the club next week.
Meanwhile, the club’s management went through a hot summer due to other challenges.
Presentation of Vilnius “Rytas” budget
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15min already wrote on Thursday about the club’s general director Martynas Giga presenting a record budget and the club’s strategic plans at a press conference, while the team’s sports director Artūras Jomantas spoke more about the roster composition.
“Basically, we are satisfied with the roster, we look at it positively. Of course, now it is important to wait for the national team players, then we will see a clearer picture,” said A. Jomantas.
After the end of last season, when the club triumphed in the Champions League but stumbled in the LKL quarterfinal series, “Rytas” parted ways with Giedrius Žibėnas.
Now the club’s management confirmed that compensation is being paid to this coach.
“We definitely adhere to the contract and it is valid,” said M. Giga. “Until he finds a new job, he will be paid a salary.”
Having dismissed longtime coach G. Žibėnas, “Rytas” looked for a coach in the market for the first time in the past five summers, which was a new experience for the sports director as well.
“It was a new experience for me. The process went quite smoothly, although there were many discussions and speculations. There were many talks, meetings, both those you wrote about and those you didn’t. The decision was made to move forward with Ned,” said A. Jomantas about the situation when former assistant coach Nedas Pacevičius was finally chosen as the coach.
A. Jomantas clarified the slippery summer rumor that part of the “Rytas” fans opposed negotiations with coach Kazys Maksvytis, allegedly not wanting to see the former Kaunas “Žalgiris” strategist at the helm of the team.
“I wouldn’t say it blocked it. We heard the fans, but we relied on other aspects when choosing the coach,” said A. Jomantas.
According to him, with coach N. Pacevičius’s staff and the assembled players, “Rytas” hopes to renew its fast playing style.
“We want to maintain the aggression in the game, and also add good defense and physicality, so that after defending we can run a fast break,” said A. Jomantas.
The former “Rytas” player, now sports director, also named the team’s goals for the 2026-2027 season.
“KMT final, LKL final, and in the Champions League to go game by game, but we want to reach the final four,” said A. Jomantas.
Guards: Augustas Marčiulionis, Cassius Winston, Michael Devoe, Matas Jogėla, Martynas Paliukėnas;
Forwards: Gytis Radzevičius, Ignas Urbonas, Ricky Lindo, Kay Bruhnke;
Centers: Artūras Gudaitis, Gytis Masiulis, Oskaras Pleikys.
Coaches: Nedas Pacevičius, Vesa Vertio, Mindaugas Brazys, Matas Juzeliūnas, Tadas Jackūnas, Martynas Liuima.
“There were various thoughts, but better 12 confident players than to keep thirteen, fourteen or fifteen depending on possibilities,” said A. Jomantas. “Of course, we expect help from the youth system if needed.
Now we have 12 players and are not thinking about additions, but if the need arises, we will have the opportunity to strengthen.”
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A. Jomantas believes the team will not lack snipers, as some basketball fans worry.
“I think our players can shoot and they will do it. Looking at the accuracy percentages, they are not low,” said the “Rytas” sports director.
A. Jomantas said that working in the basketball market this summer was especially difficult due to rising player prices.
They were mostly inflated by clubs from Turkey, East Asia, and also the US college basketball league (NCAA).
“This year there were situations where it seemed that negotiations had progressed, but then not necessarily famous clubs came and took the players we had targeted,” admitted A. Jomantas.
After last season, some important “Rytas” players left Vilnius, and the club received “significant buyouts” for them, but the club’s management did not specify which ones.
Part of the amounts received from buyouts went to paying compensation for targeted players, for example, Matas Jogėla.
In addition, it was necessary to improve contract terms twice by rewriting the contract with team captain Artūras Gudaitis.
“When other clubs get involved, this happens,” A. Jomantas described A. Gudaitis’s situation.
“Rytas” plans to play its first control game during the training camp in Druskininkai against Panevėžys “Lietkabelis” on September 4.
On September 12-13, a preseason tournament will be held in Vilnius, where “Rytas” will also be joined by Istanbul “Esenler Erospor” (Turkey), Bresse Bourg JL (France), and Jerusalem “Hapoel”.
From September 22-27, as the FIBA Champions League winner, “Rytas” will participate in the Intercontinental Cup tournament in Beijing (China). Vilnius team was placed in Group A together with Rwanda’s “RSSB Tigers” (African champions) and Shanghai “Sharks” (Chinese champions).
“Rytas” will start the LKL championship on October 3 with a match in Vilnius against “Gargždai”.
On October 6, “Rytas” will start the FIBA Champions League tournament with Group A matches, initially playing against Baku “Sabah” (Azerbaijan), and later against “Nanterre 92” (France) and “Trabzonspor” (Turkey).
