to end the slump, Romanov fired coach Ilias Zouros and replaced him with former Lietuvos Rytas head coach Aleksandar Trifunović. Despite initial improvement, with the team finishing the EuroLeague regular season with a 4–6 record and a trip to the Top 16, the slump continued in the Top 16, with the team ending the EuroLeague season with 0–6 record. After Ty Lawson left the team, Mantas Kalnietis became a true leader for Žalgiris, and played his perhaps best season. The team slowly recovered, winning the LKF Cup. After being eliminated in the VTB playoffs, Žalgiris made the BBL Final Four, winning against Lietuvos Rytas in the finals despite losing leader Sonny Weems (who was released due to injury) and DeJuan Collins (who was released due to failing a drug test). With very solid play from Marko Popovič and Tomas Delininkaitis, Žalgiris retained the LKL title, defeating Lietuvos Rytas in the finals 4–1. The club had achieved a second consecutive 'triple crown' of Lithuanian League, Lithuanian Cup and Baltic Cup. For the 2013 season, Žalgiris signed Lithuanian national team players Rimantas Kaukėnas, Darjuš Lavrinovič and Kšyštof Lavrinovič, Unicaja Malaga star Tremmell Darden, and Oliver Lafayette at point guard. The season began by winning the newly established LKF SuperCup against Lietuvos Rytas. During the season, Mantas Kalnietis left the team and was replaced by Ibrahim Jaaber. Under new coach Joan Plaza, Žalgiris had their best EuroLeague start with five consecutive wins. Žalgiris finished at the top of the group for the first time in 13 years, with an 8–2 record. Žalgiris won the LKL and the 3rd place in VTB League. In their 76–66 home victory against CSKA Moscow, Žalgiris broke their attendance record, with 15,812 spectators. Following the collapse of Ūkio bankas, owner Vladimir Romanov left Žalgiris. Financial troubles returned to the club, and Tremmell Darden and Ibrahim Jabber departed. Paulius Motiejunas was named the team director on 20 March. Žalgiris finished the Top 16 with a 6–8 record, the best in club history. Žalgiris also won the group stage in the VTB United League. In May, Žalgiris won their third straight LKL title, sweeping Lietuvos Rytas 4–0 in the finals. 2013–2016: A new direction and continued domination of the LKL After winning the LKL title, Žalgiris competed in the VTB United League playoffs, defeating Nizhny Novgorod in the quarterfinals but losing to Lokomotiv Kuban in the semi-finals. Despite the loss,