BC Kibirkštis explained

BC VIČI-Aistės Kaunas was a Lithuanian women's basketball club based in Kaunas. Before ceasing operations due to financial difficulties,[1] the team was the most titled women's basketball club in Lithuania.

History

The team, originally called "Kibirkštis" (transl. "Spark"), was founded in Vilnius in 1961 as homage to a nearby electrical welding equipment plant. Its first coach was Algis Gedminas, a no-nonsense disciplinarian who had previously taught at a Moldavian pedagogical institute. Under Gedminas's direction, Kibirkštis quickly became a powerhouse in the Soviet Lithuanian women's basketball league, winning back-to-back championships in the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as several bronze medals in the top-tier Soviet basketball tournament. The team was led by women who represented Soviet Union national team in various European Championships and Olympic Tournaments, including Larisa Vinčaitė, Angelė Jankūnaitė-Rupšienė and Vida Šulskytė-Beselienė.

After Lithuania's restoration of independence, the team continued to dominate in the Lithuanian basketball championship, attracting local talent such as Aneta Kaušaitė and Jurgita Štreimikytė-Virbickienė (the first two Lithuanian players in the WNBA) and international talent alike. During this transitionary period, Kibirkštis's name changed to "Ryšininkas-Šviesa" in 1990, "Telerina" in 1992, "Lietuvos Telekomas" in 1995 and "TEO" in 2006. The team also established a subsidiary club "Lintel-118" around 2000, which tailored to youth development and competed in LMKL and LMKAL until its folding in 2006.[2] One notable alumna is Gintarė Petronytė, a two-time EuroCup Women champion who started her career with "Lintel-118" in 2005.

Telekomas reached unprecedented heights in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 season, when, headed by Algirdas Paulauskas, the team won the LMKL, BWBL tournaments and reached the semifinal in the top-tier EuroLeague Women tournament. WNBA All-Star and Champion Katie Douglas, European Basketball Champion Jurgita Štreimikytė and two-time EuroLeague bronze medalist Sandra Linkevičienė formed this team’s core.

In 2010, TEO relocated to Kaunas and was renamed "VIČI-Aistės". After two successful seasons, the team dissolved due to a lack of sponsorship.

Titles

SeasonDomestic LeagueRegional LeagueInternational League
LeaguePosLeaguePosLeaguePos
1961–62 Lithuanian Soviet Championship3 USSR Championship24
1963–64 USSR Championship14
1964–65 USSR Championship15
1965–66 Lithuanian Soviet Championship3 USSR Championship13
1967–68 Lithuanian Soviet Championship1 USSR Championship4
1968–69 Lithuanian Soviet Championship1 USSR Championship3
1969–70 Lithuanian Soviet Championship1 USSR Championship5
1970–71 Lithuanian Soviet Championship1 USSR Championship3
1971–72 Lithuanian Soviet Championship1 USSR Championship3
1972–73 Lithuanian Soviet Championship3 USSR Championship7
1974–75 USSR Championship6
1975–76 USSR Championship5
1976–77 USSR Championship4
1977–78 USSR Championship4
1978–79 USSR Championship4
1979–80 USSR Championship6
1980–81 USSR Championship9
1981–82 USSR Championship8
1983–84 USSR Championship3
1989–90 Lithuanian League1
1990–91 Lithuanian League1
1991–92 Lithuanian League1
1992–93 Lithuanian League1
1994–95 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
1995–96 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League2
1996–97 Lithuanian League Baltic League2
1997–98 Lithuanian League Baltic League
1998–99 Lithuanian League Baltic League3
1999–00 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2000–01 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1Euroleague WomenEight Final
2001–02 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1Euroleague WomenGroup Stage
2002–03 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2003–04 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1Euroleague WomenGroup Stage
2004–05 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1Euroleague Women3
2005–06 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1Euroleague Women4
2006–07 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2007–08 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2008–09 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2009–10 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2010–11 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1
2011–12 Lithuanian League1 Baltic League1

Notable players

Head coaches

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Moterų Eurolyga – be Lietuvos klubų. basketnews.lt. lt. 2020-06-01.
  2. Web site: LMKL pirmenybėse žais Latvijos čempionės. kauno.diena.lt. lt. 2020-06-03.

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