BC Juventus

Juventus Utena
Nickname	Juvė
Leagues	Lithuanian Basketball League Basketball Champions League
Founded	1999
History	Juventus (1999–2004) Juventus LKSK (2004–2009) Juventus (2009–present)
Arena	Utena's Arena
Capacity	2,000
Location	Utena, Lithuania
Team colors	Red, White and Black
President	Žydrūnas Urbonas
Head coach	Antanas Sireika
Championships	LKBL Champions (2005) RKL Champions (2007) BBL Challenge Cup (2011) Lithuanian Basketball League (2015)
Website	utenosjuventus.lt
Uniforms
Home Away

BC Juventus (Lithuanian: Krepšinio klubas Juventus) is a professional Lithuanian basketball club which currently plays in Lithuanian Basketball League and Baltic Basketball League. BC Juventus basketball club was founded in 1999–2000 season by football player Nerijus Kuzmickas and debuted in the Naujametinis Utenos rajono Mero taurės turnyras (Utena's new year's mayor's cup tournament), the debut season was successful and BC Juventus took bronze in that tournament. Word Juventus means youth. BC Juventus was called "Youth" (Juventus) because of the young, non-professional players in their debut season. In the 2009–2010 season, BC Juventus team debuted in the Lithuania basketball super league LKL and took fourth place as they lost bronze final to Šiauliai. On 15 April 2011, Juventus basketball club was transferred from Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup to Elite Division.^[1]

Players

Retired numbers

Juventus Utena retired numbers
No.	Player	Position	Tenure	Ceremony Date
8	Žydrūnas Urbonas	SF, PF	2009–2012	9/29/2012

Current roster

BC Juventus roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age PG 0 Diggs, Jamar Anthony 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 28 – 27 November 1988 SF 1 Parker, Spencer 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 23 – 15 March 1993 G 2 Bičkauskis, Dovis 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 23 – 5 September 1993 F/C 7 Urbutis, Arminas 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 30 – 15 May 1986 SG 9 Sirutavičius, Gytis 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 33 – 12 January 1983 SG 11 Best, Aaron 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 24 – 9 January 1992 F/C 14 Čepukaitis, Vaidas 2.07 m (6 ft 9 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 27 – 16 May 1989 PF 24 Jakštas, Rolandas 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 24 – 28 September 1992 PG 25 Nikitinas, Ugnius 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) 78 kg (172 lb) 16 – 19 June 2000 C 44 Galdikas, Ovidijus 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) 109 kg (240 lb) 28 – 4 September 1988 F 88 Šulskis, Vytautas 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 28 – 8 August 1988	Head coach Antanas Sireika Assistant coach(es) Žydrūnas Urbonas Legend (C) Team captain Injured Roster Updated: 29 August 2016

Depth Chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench	Bench	Reserve
C	Vaidas Čepukaitis	Ovidijus Galdikas
PF	Valdas Vasylius	Rolandas Jakštas
SF	Vytautas Šulskis	Spencer Parker
SG	Gytis Sirutavičius	Aaron Best
PG	Jamar Anthony Diggs	Dovis Bičkauskis	Ugnius Nikitinas

Season by season

Season	Tier	League	Pos.	Significant Events	Baltic League	Pos.	LKF Cup
2003–04	3	LKBL	6	–	–	–	–
2004–05	3	LKBL	1	Champions	–	–	–
2005–06	3	RKL	3	Bronze medal	–	–	–
2006–07	3	RKL	1	Promoted	–	–	–
2007–08	2	NKL	4	Semifinalist	–	–	–
2008–09	2	NKL	4	Semifinalist	–	–	Fourth round
2009–10	1	LKL	4	Semifinalist	Challenge Cup	5	First round
2010–11	1	LKL	4	Semifinalist	Challenge Cup	1	Second round
2011–12	1	LKL	9	–	Elite Division	11	Second round
2012–13	1	LKL	7	Quarterfinalist	Elite Division	9	Second round
2013–14	1	LKL	7	Quarterfinalist	Elite Division	13	Second round
2014–15	1	LKL	3	Bronze medal	Elite Division	3	Bronze medal

Club history

2000–2007: foundation and participation in RKL

Juventus logo used from 2004 to 2009 seasons.

• Juventus basketball club was founded in 1999 and debuted in Naujametinis Utenos rajono Mero taurės turnyras (Utena's new year's mayor's cup tournament) and took third place. First team roster consisted of other sports players: football players and one handball player. First team captain, which also founded Juventus basketball team was football player Nerijus Kuzmickas (played in Kauno Inkaras team), now Šiauliai football academy, child and teenage coach. In the debut Juventus season also played: Egidijus Varnas (FK Ekranas), Tomas Keraitis, Tomas Karvelis and others.
• In 2003–2004 season, Juventus basketball team was coached by Rimvydas Vaitkus. Juventus debuted in Lithuania basketball B league and in their debut season, BC Juventus took sixth place.
• After year, in 2004–2005 season, Juventus basketball team was coached by Mindaugas Kildišius. Juventus basketball team first time in the club history won LKBL championship (same like RKL) and won right to participate in the LKAL championship (same like NKL). But because of various bureaucracy barriers, Juventus basketball team wasn't permitted to debut in the second-tier Lithuania basketball league.
• During 2005–2006 season, BC Juventus took third place in RKL tournament.
• After year, in 2006–2007 season Juventus basketball team won RKL championship once again and in transition match to the NKL championship, BC Juventus won against Kauno LKKA-Atletas basketball team. But this wasn't the end for Juventus in the 2006–2007 season as BC Juventus went until third Lithuania basketball federation (LKF) stage and only there, after two unremitting matches lost to Klaipėdos Neptūnas. Same year, team coach Mindaugas Kildišius, was named the best RKL championship coach.

2007–2009: NKL

Žydrūnas Urbonas joined Juventus in 2009 and later became president of the club.

• In 2007–2008 season Utena's basketball team debuted in the NKL championship and won regular season (25 wins and 7 loses), however in the final standings BC Juventus took only fourth place. In the end of 2007, Juventus guard Raimondas Ambrulaitis was named "Lithuania basketball discovery of the year", team coach Mindaugas Kildišius was named the best 2007–2008 NKL season coach.
• After year, in 2008–2009 season, Juventus basketball team won NKL regular season once again and participated in NKL championship semi-finals. In 2009, Juventus wasn't able to participate in the NKL finals, because of that team coach Mindaugas Kildišius retired from his position. Also because of that, Mindaugas Kildišius assistant Rolandas Urkis coached Juventus basketball team until the end of the season.^[2] On 15 June 2009 LKF decided to let Juventus basketball team participate in the Lithuania super basketball league LKL because of the commercial principles.^[3] For the permission to participate in the LKL, Juventus basketball team had to pay 350 thousand LTL.^[4]

2009–present: LKL

• On 20 August 2009 Gintaras Kručkauskas became main Juventus basketball team coach.^[5] The 2009–2010 LKL season was the most successful in the club history as Juventus basketball team took fourth place in the LKL championship.^[6]
• On 7 July 2010 Robertas Giedraitis became main BC Juventus coach.^[7]

BC Juventus, prior the 2014-15 season (LKL bronze medalists).

• During 2010–2011 season, BC Juventus first time in the club history became Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup champions.^[8] Also BC „Juventus" made a huge surprise as they eliminated 7-time LKL Bronze streaker Šiauliai in the first round of LKL playoffs (first game: 105:94,^[9] second game: 91:81^[10]). After eliminating Šiauliai in quarter-final, BC Juventus reached LKL semi finals and met Lithuania basketball powerhouse Žalgiris. On 27 April 2011 BC Juventus lost first game at Kaunas Sports Hall against Žalgiris with result 63–95,^[11] the second match took place on 29 April 2011 in Utena. Juventus lost the second game too and had to fight for LKL Bronze against Rūdupis.^[12] Juventus lost first Bronze game at Prienai with result 65–79,^[13] the second game was unsuccessful for Juventus too as they lost it in their home arena in Utena with result 73–98.^[14] The third game took place in Prienai, which Juventus team lost with result 83–84,^[15] because of that they lost Bronze series 0–3 against Rūdupis and took fourth place in the LKL championship that season.
• In the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, Juventus did not accomplish anything notable. After the 2011-2012 season, where Juventus missed the playoffs entirely, Robertas Giedraitis was fired as head coach. After Rytis Vaišvila was hired as head coach, Juventus made the playoffs in 2013, and fought valiantly against BC Lietuvos rytas, though losing the series 0-2.
• In the 2013-2014 season, Juventus replaced coach Vaišvila with former longtime Žalgiris player, coach and sports director Vitoldas Masalskis. Despite high hopes, the season started poorly, and coach Masalskis was replaced with Virginijus Sirvydis, former longtime player in the LKL. The move helped the team regroup and reach the playoffs, but lost to BC Prienai. The team also played in the BBL Elite division, but didn't make the playoff stage for two straight seasons.

Rashaun Broadus, the star of the team in the 2014–15 season.

• In 2014–15 LKL season the club reached new highs. Before the season, the well-known Rashaun Broadus was signed, and quickly became the leader of the team. The team took 5th place during the regular LKL season and in the quarterfinals they met the 4th seed BC Pieno žvaigždės. After the impressive series, Juventus overcome Pieno žvaigždės 3–2 and qualified into the LKL semifinals for the third time in club's history.^[16] Despite having a regular season victory over BC Žalgiris, Juventus was no match for BC Žalgiris in the semifinals, losing the series 0:3. Though, Juventus shockingly defeated Euroleague participant Neptūnas 3:2 and won LKL bronze medals for the first time in club's history.^[17] Rashaun Broadus led the team with 25 points and 10 assists in the crucial game. His comment following the game was: "We don't care what anybody thinks about us. We played hard every game. Everybody told us that we will be down 3–0 and now we won medals".^[18] Juventus also finished 4th in the LKF Cup, as well as winning the bronze medals in the BBL, capping off the most successful season in club history.
• In 2015-2016 season Utenos Juventus was invited compete in ULEB Eurocup for the first time in the club history as LKL bronze medalists.^[19] Though, they decided to choose the FIBA Europe Cup version instead.^[20] By preparing for their debut in the first-ever European competition, BC Juventus signed with former Lithuania men's national basketball team head coach Antanas Sireika to replace the LKL bronze medals winning Dainius Adomaitis, who signed with Neptūnas Klaipėda.^[21][22] Juventus qualified into the second stage of the FIBA Europe Cup by being the second-best team among teams which took third place in their groups.^[23] After successfully playing at the Round of 32 where they took first place in the group, Juventus advanced into the playoffs but there they were immediately eliminated by the Croatian powerhouse Cibona Zagreb after two close games (78–83, 84–87).^[24] In the LKL playoffs, Juventus defeated BC Vytautas in the quaterfinals 3-2, but lost to Žalgiris in the semifinal sweep 0-3. In the bronze medal game, Juventus lost to BC Lietuvos rytas 0-3.
• In 2016-2017 season Juventus qualified into the Basketball Champions League after crushing FC Porto 77–59 on September 29, 2016.^[25]

Club name changes

• 2000–2004 Utenos Juventus
• 2004–2009 Utenos Juventus LKSK (LKSK means: English: Lithuania military sports club, Lithuanian: Lietuvos kariuomenės sporto klubas)
• 2009–present Utenos Juventus

Head coaches

• Gintaras Kručkauskas (2009–2010)
• Robertas Giedraitis (2010-2012)
• Rytis Vaišvila (2012–2013)
• Vitoldas Masalskis (2013)
• Virginijus Sirvydis (2013–2014)
• Dainius Adomaitis (2014–2015)
• Antanas Sireika (2015–present)

Notable players

• Virginijus Praškevičius (2009–2010)
• Aurimas Kieža (2010–2011)
• Marius Prekevičius (2010–2011)
• Žydrūnas Urbonas (2009–2012)
• Ejike Ugboaja (2013)
• Jeremy Hazell (2013-2014)
• Rashaun Broadus (2014–2015)
• Ovidijus Galdikas (2016–present)
• Jamar Diggs (2016–present)

Mascot

From 2012 BC Juventus has its own mascot, named Juvis. Juvis is a red color devil, wearing the blue color sneakers and mostly carries the golden fork. The golden fork form reminds horseshoe, symbolizing the Utena city coat of arms.

Previous seasons rosters

Team roster of 2009–2010 season

Nr.	Name, second name	Position	Height	Weight	Date of birth	Previous club
10	Gintautas Matulis	3 Small Forward	195 cm	095 kg	6 December 1986	„Juventus"
4	Darius Pakamanis	2 Shooting Guard	192 cm	080 kg	8 September 1981	„Šiauliai“
8	Žydrūnas Urbonas	3 Small Forward	198 cm	100 kg	4 October 1976	„Alytus“
7	Audrius Mineikis	4 Power Forward	201 cm	098 kg	18 July 1977	„Juventus"
11	Tomas Jasiulionis	5 Center	208 cm	115 kg	11 January 1986	St. John's
21	Paulius Morkeliūnas	4 Power Forward	201 cm	105 kg	22 January 1985	„Neptūnas“
22	Arūnas Vasiliauskas	4 Power Forward	200 cm	105 kg	22 March 1985	„Aisčiai“
31	Jonas Elvikis	3 Small Forward	195 cm	092 kg	9 July 1982	„Sumychimprom“
14	Šarūnas Vėlius	4 Power Forward	207 cm	102 kg	11 June 1983	„Kaunas TRIOBET“
5	Nikoloz Vashakidze	1 Point Guard	192 cm	088 kg	14 June 1985	„Abro Universitetas“
15	Virginijus Praškevičius	5 Center	206 cm	112 kg	4 March 1974	„Šiauliai“
13	Tomas Gaidamavičius	1 Point Guard	192 cm	86 kg	19 July 1982	„Synthesia“

Coaches

• Gintaras Kručkauskas
• Žydrūnas Urbonas

Players which left „Juventus" during the season

• Žilvinas Kuklierius
• Mohamed Seck

Team roster of 2010–2011 season

Nr.	Name, Second Name	Position	Height	Weight	Date of birth	Previous club
3	Žygimantas Šeštokas	2 Shooting Guard	196 cm	88 kg	30 March 1986	„Meresta“
5	Gediminas Maceina	1 Point Guard	188 cm	88 kg	28 August 1984	„Techasas“
8	Žydrūnas Urbonas	3, 4 Small Forward, Power Forward	198 cm	100 kg	4 October 1976	„Juventus"
9	Marius Pociukonis	1, 2 Point Guard, Shooting Guard	189 cm	80 kg	1 April 1982	„Mureš“
10	Gintautas Matulis	2, 3 Shooting Guard, Small Forward	195 cm	95 kg	6 December 1986	„Juventus"
11	Vaidas Čepukaitis	4, 5 Power Forward, Center	207 cm	104 kg	16 May 1989	„Žalgiris-Sabonio mokykla“
12	Tomas Markevičius	3 Small Forward	192 cm	86 kg	29 June 1985	„Juventus KKSC“
14	Aurimas Adomaitis	4, 5 Power Forward, Center	203 cm	96 kg	5 April 1987	„Alytus“
17	Jonas Elvikis	2, 3 Shooting Guard, Small Forward	195 cm	92 kg	9 July 1982	„Juventus"
22	Arūnas Vasiliauskas	3, 4 Small Forward, Power Forward	200 cm	105 kg	22 March 1985	„Juventus"
24	Marius Prekevičius	1, 2 Point Guard Shooting Guard	195 cm	90 kg	22 May 1984	„Šiauliai“
25	Aurimas Kieža	3, 4 Small Forward, Power Forward	203 cm	97 kg	25 October 1982	„Pallacanestro“

Coaches

• Robertas Giedraitis
• Žydrūnas Urbonas

Players which left „Juventus" during the season

• Ignas Šijanas (until 2010.11.16)
• Tomas Jasiulionis (until 2010.11.19)
• Juozas Ramanauskas (until 2010.11.19)

Team roster of 2011–2012 season

Nr.	Name, Second Name	Position	Height	Weight	Date of birth	Previous club
4	Aras Bražiūnas	1 Point Guard	190 cm	75 kg	16 January 1994	„Juventus-KKSC"
5	Gediminas Maceina	1 Point Guard	188 cm	83 kg	28 August 1984	„Techasas"
8	Žydrūnas Urbonas	3, 4 Small Forward, Power Forward	198 cm	100 kg	4 October 1976	„Juventus"
9	Tomas Gaidamavičius	1 Point Guard	191 cm	86 kg	19 July 1982	„Apollon"
10	Gintautas Matulis	2, 3 Shooting Guard, Small Forward	195 cm	95 kg	6 December 1986	„Juventus"
11	Roman Gumenyuk	5 Center	220 cm	120 kg	19 September 1987	„Šiauliai“
12	Mantas Vilimas	3 Small Forward	198 cm	90 kg	11 July 1989	„VPU-Šviesa“
13	Darius Pakamanis	2 Small Forward	192 cm	88 kg	8 September 1981	„Melilla“
15	Karolis Petrukonis	5 Center	212 cm	115 kg	18 May 1987	„Lietuvos rytas“
22	Arūnas Vasiliauskas	3 Small Forward	200 cm	100 kg	22 March 1985	„Aisčiai“
30	Žygimantas Šeštokas	2 Shooting Guard	196 cm	88 kg	30 March 1986	„Meresta“
33	Vaidotas Volkus	4 Power Forward	203 cm	95 kg	21 May 1985	„Techasas“

Coaches

• Robertas Giedraitis
• Žydrūnas Urbonas

References

1. Grellet, Jared. "Juventus and KK Kaunas bolster Lithuanian ranks in Elite Division.". BBL.net. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
2. NKL. NKLyga.lt (20 April 2009). Retrieved on 11 November 2011.
3. "LKL nutarė į savo gretas priimti „Rūdupį" ir „Juventus-LSKL"". Kauno.Diena.lt. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
4. ''LKL.lt''. Lkl.lt. Retrieved on 11 November 2011. Archived 4 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
5. "G.Kručkauskas tapo "Juventus LKSK" vyriausiuoju treneriu". Krepsinis.net. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
6. "Uteniškiai įveikė Prienų klubą ir LKL reguliariajame sezone užėmė 4-ąją vietą". Sportas.ATN.lt. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
7. ""Juventus" klubo treneriu oficialiai tapo R.Giedraitis". Krepsinis.net. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
8. ""Juventus" iškovojo BBL Iššūkio taurę (triumfo VIDEO)". Krepsinis.net. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
9. "„Juventus" pirmą kartą klubo istorijoje įveikė „Šiaulius" ir LKL ketvirtfinalio serijoje išsiveržė į priekį". 15min.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
10. "Staigmena: „Juventus" nutraukė bronzinę „Šiaulių" seriją LKL čempionate". 15min.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
11. "„Žalgiris" LKL pusfinalį pradėjo sutriuškindamas „Juventus" (video, komentarai, foto, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
12. "„Žalgiris" be vargo pateko į LKL finalą (komentaras, foto, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
13. Miklovas, Jonas. "Pirmąjį mūšį dėl bronzos laimėjo „Rūdupis" (video, foto, komentarai, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
14. Pupininkas, Martynas. "LKL mažasis finalas: „Rūdupis" sudavė dar vieną smūgį „Juventus" ekipai (video, komentarai, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
15. Miklovas, Jonas. "LKL bronza pirmą kartą istorijoje atiteko „Rūdupiui" (video, foto, komentarai, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
16. "„Juventus" dramatiškai žengė į LKL pusfinalį (3 video, foto, komentarai, statistika)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
17. "„Neptūnas" liko be medalių – pirmą kartą istorijoje LKL bronzą iškovojo „Juventus"". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
18. Vyšniauskas, Rytis. "Broadusas: „Visi sakė, kad seriją pralaimėsime 0-3, o dabar grįžtame su bronzos medaliais" (video)". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
19. "Proposed team list for the 2015-16 Turkish Airlines Euroleague and Eurocup". EuroleagueBasketball.net. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
20. "Utenos „Juventus" renkasi FIBA Europos taurės turnyrą". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
21. "Antanas Sireika vadovaus Utenos „Juventus"". 24sek.lt. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
22. Spurytė, Virginija. "Oficialu: D. Adomaitis kovoje dėl „Neptūno" vairo nurungė K. Kemzūrą ir V. Chomičių". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
23. "Utenos „Juventus" taip pat pateko į kitą FIBA Europos taurės etapą". TV3.lt. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
24. "„Juventus" apmaudžiai krito Zagrebe ir baigė pasirodymą „FIBA Europe" taurėje". Krepsinis.net. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
25. "„Juventus" žengė į Čempionų lygą". BasketNews.lt. Retrieved 29 September 2016.

External links

• Official website of BC Juventus (Lithuanian)
• Official BC Juventus Facebook group (Lithuanian)
• BC Juventus YouTube channel
• BC Juventus LKL.lt (Lithuanian)
• BC Juventus BBL.lt (English)