In 1944, the greatest basketball players in Kaunas
assembled and formed the basketball club now known as Zalgiris. From
the beginning, Zalgiris was among the top teams in the Soviet Union
Championship. Just three years after its assembly, in 1947, Zalgiris won
its first championship. As of 1989 Zalgiris had won five gold medals
(1947, 1951, 1985-1987), seven silver medals (1949, 1952, 1980,
1983-1984, 1988-1989) and seven bronze medals (1953-1956, 1971, 1973 and
1978).
Since 1944, many great basketball stars have played for Zalgiris - Stepas Butautas, Vytautas Kulakauskas, Justinas Lagunavicius, Kazimieras Petkevicius, Vincas Sercevicius, Stanislovas Stonkus, Algirdas Linkevicius, Modestas Paulauskas, Valdemaras Chomicius, Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Sergejus Jovaisa, Gintaras Einikis, Arunas Visockas, Saulius Stombergas and
others.
In 1981, a new chapter of the team’s history began. Zalgiris participated in the European Winners Cup for the first time, reaching the quarterfinals placing Zalgiris among the European elite. The second attempt at striking European gold was much more successful. In 1985 Zalgiris reached the finals, coming up just short to Barcelona.
The 1986 season was one of the finest in the team‘s storied history. This time Zalgiris competed with Europe's best in the Champions Cup, making their way to the finals. Zalgiris came up just short again, this time to Cibona. But glory was about to come - Zalgiris then met and defeated Cibona in great fashion in the Intercontinental William Jones Cup, an unofficial world club championship. The beautiful William Jones Cup was brought to Kaunas, making Zalgiris famous all over the world.
At the beginning of the 1980‘s, Zalgiris challenged the perennial Soviet gold medal winner, Moscow CSKA. For three consecutive seasons (1985-1987) Zalgiris won gold medals in the Soviet Union Championship, ending the CSKA dynasty. The players were rewarded, becoming the leaders of the Soviet National team. Arvydas Sabonis, Valdemaras Chomicius and Rimas Kurtinaitis went on to win silver in the 1986 World Championships and gold in the 1988 Olympics.
In 1989, Zalgiris proved itself among Europe‘s elite, reaching the semifinals of the European Winners Cup. This season would prove to be the end of an age in Zalgiris. Many of the team‘s brightest stars - Arvydas Sabonis, Sergejus Jovaisa, Gintaras Krapikas, Valdemaras Chomicius, Arunas Visockas, Algirdas Brazys – left to other European clubs after the iron curtain lifted. Consequently, a new generation of younger players were called upon to continue Zalgiris‘ dominance.
In 1990, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union and Zalgiris left the Soviet championship. In the following years, the team name was officialy changed to BC Zalgiris Kaunas. Even with their new name, Zalgiris went on to win three additional championships without much trouble. It was obvious that BC Zalgiris needed stronger competition to maintain its dominant form of the 1980‘s.
The team got their chance in 1992 when Zalgiris took part in the ProfBasket Cup, defeating teams from nearby countries. Three Zalgiris players (Gintaras Einikis, Arunas Visockas and Romanas Brazdauskis) were members of the Lithuanian national team that took the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
In 1993 the ten best Lithuanian basketball clubs established the first professional basketball league in the country - LKL. BC Zalgiris Kaunas won five LKL championships in the league‘s first five seasons (1993-1998).
In the 1997/98 season, Zalgiris conquered the LKL and brought another trophy to Kaunas, becoming the EuroCup champions. As a result, Zalgiris earned a spot in next season's Euroleague, giving the club a chance to prove itself among Europe's best. The goal to be a player on the highest European stage was achieved.
In the 1998/99 season, Zalgiris players made a very good impression in the preliminary round. Kaunas had 8 victories and was leader of its group. BC Zalgiris Kaunas continued its dominance in the second preliminary round securing first place in their group, giving the club home court advantage in the Euroleague playoffs. The team won all playoff matches with ease and found great success in the Final Four. Zalgiris achieved the ultimate prize, being crowned Euroleague champions!
The same season BC Zalgiris Kaunas added another LKL title and the North European Basketball League (NEBL) championship to their much-storied history.
After the Euroleague championship, the players were snatched up by the richer European clubs. BC Zalgiris Kaunas had to form a new team, which would have to win the championships of both the LKL and BBL and work hard to regain their chance to participate in the Euroleague Final Four. Zalgiris came close to taking part in the Final Four again, when the legendary Arvydas Sabonis was part of the team. Currently, Kaunas is represented well with a new and very young generation of Lithuanian players.
BC Zalgiris Kaunas won 13 LKL championships in 18 seasons (1994-1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011). Moreover, the team was crowned champions of the BBL in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Also the team won the LKF Cup (2007, 2008, 2011).
As part of “NBA Europe Live”, which was created by the NBA and Euroleague, the club received an invitation from the NBA and Euroleague in the summer of 2007 to play three games in North America.
According to Jordi Bertomeu, the CEO of Euroleague, BC Zalgiris Kaunas was invited because of its famous name not only in Europe but also in the United States.
It may be said with great confidence that BC Zalgiris Kaunas has earned its place among the best teams in Europe and plans to remain among Europe‘s elite for a very long time.
Source: http://www.zalgiris.lt/
Since 1944, many great basketball stars have played for Zalgiris - Stepas Butautas, Vytautas Kulakauskas, Justinas Lagunavicius, Kazimieras Petkevicius, Vincas Sercevicius, Stanislovas Stonkus, Algirdas Linkevicius, Modestas Paulauskas, Valdemaras Chomicius, Arvydas Sabonis, Rimas Kurtinaitis, Sergejus Jovaisa, Gintaras Einikis, Arunas Visockas, Saulius Stombergas and
others.In 1981, a new chapter of the team’s history began. Zalgiris participated in the European Winners Cup for the first time, reaching the quarterfinals placing Zalgiris among the European elite. The second attempt at striking European gold was much more successful. In 1985 Zalgiris reached the finals, coming up just short to Barcelona.
The 1986 season was one of the finest in the team‘s storied history. This time Zalgiris competed with Europe's best in the Champions Cup, making their way to the finals. Zalgiris came up just short again, this time to Cibona. But glory was about to come - Zalgiris then met and defeated Cibona in great fashion in the Intercontinental William Jones Cup, an unofficial world club championship. The beautiful William Jones Cup was brought to Kaunas, making Zalgiris famous all over the world.
At the beginning of the 1980‘s, Zalgiris challenged the perennial Soviet gold medal winner, Moscow CSKA. For three consecutive seasons (1985-1987) Zalgiris won gold medals in the Soviet Union Championship, ending the CSKA dynasty. The players were rewarded, becoming the leaders of the Soviet National team. Arvydas Sabonis, Valdemaras Chomicius and Rimas Kurtinaitis went on to win silver in the 1986 World Championships and gold in the 1988 Olympics.
In 1989, Zalgiris proved itself among Europe‘s elite, reaching the semifinals of the European Winners Cup. This season would prove to be the end of an age in Zalgiris. Many of the team‘s brightest stars - Arvydas Sabonis, Sergejus Jovaisa, Gintaras Krapikas, Valdemaras Chomicius, Arunas Visockas, Algirdas Brazys – left to other European clubs after the iron curtain lifted. Consequently, a new generation of younger players were called upon to continue Zalgiris‘ dominance.
In 1990, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union and Zalgiris left the Soviet championship. In the following years, the team name was officialy changed to BC Zalgiris Kaunas. Even with their new name, Zalgiris went on to win three additional championships without much trouble. It was obvious that BC Zalgiris needed stronger competition to maintain its dominant form of the 1980‘s.
The team got their chance in 1992 when Zalgiris took part in the ProfBasket Cup, defeating teams from nearby countries. Three Zalgiris players (Gintaras Einikis, Arunas Visockas and Romanas Brazdauskis) were members of the Lithuanian national team that took the bronze medal in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
In 1993 the ten best Lithuanian basketball clubs established the first professional basketball league in the country - LKL. BC Zalgiris Kaunas won five LKL championships in the league‘s first five seasons (1993-1998).
In the 1997/98 season, Zalgiris conquered the LKL and brought another trophy to Kaunas, becoming the EuroCup champions. As a result, Zalgiris earned a spot in next season's Euroleague, giving the club a chance to prove itself among Europe's best. The goal to be a player on the highest European stage was achieved.
In the 1998/99 season, Zalgiris players made a very good impression in the preliminary round. Kaunas had 8 victories and was leader of its group. BC Zalgiris Kaunas continued its dominance in the second preliminary round securing first place in their group, giving the club home court advantage in the Euroleague playoffs. The team won all playoff matches with ease and found great success in the Final Four. Zalgiris achieved the ultimate prize, being crowned Euroleague champions!
The same season BC Zalgiris Kaunas added another LKL title and the North European Basketball League (NEBL) championship to their much-storied history.
After the Euroleague championship, the players were snatched up by the richer European clubs. BC Zalgiris Kaunas had to form a new team, which would have to win the championships of both the LKL and BBL and work hard to regain their chance to participate in the Euroleague Final Four. Zalgiris came close to taking part in the Final Four again, when the legendary Arvydas Sabonis was part of the team. Currently, Kaunas is represented well with a new and very young generation of Lithuanian players.
BC Zalgiris Kaunas won 13 LKL championships in 18 seasons (1994-1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011). Moreover, the team was crowned champions of the BBL in 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2011. Also the team won the LKF Cup (2007, 2008, 2011).
As part of “NBA Europe Live”, which was created by the NBA and Euroleague, the club received an invitation from the NBA and Euroleague in the summer of 2007 to play three games in North America.
According to Jordi Bertomeu, the CEO of Euroleague, BC Zalgiris Kaunas was invited because of its famous name not only in Europe but also in the United States.
It may be said with great confidence that BC Zalgiris Kaunas has earned its place among the best teams in Europe and plans to remain among Europe‘s elite for a very long time.
Source: http://www.zalgiris.lt/
0 Comments:
Post a Comment