the LKL and won bronze. The following season was even better - Rytas won LKL silver, losing only to reigning EuroLeague champions Žalgiris Kaunas. The team also took second place in 1997 William Jones Cup. However, the biggest success at that time came in 2000, when Vilnius' side, led by the so-called "big three"—Ramūnas Šiškauskas, Andrius Giedraitis and Eric Elliott, combined with youngsters Arvydas Macijauskas and Robertas Javtokas, managed to win LKL. The team was coached by Šarūnas Sakalauskas. It was the first time in the history of the Lithuanian Basketball League that Žalgiris Kaunas did not win the LKL title. Also, Rytas reached the Saporta Cup semifinal, where they met last season's EuroLeague runner-up Kinder. After an upset home win 70–60, Lietuvos rytas lost in Italy 83–71, with Šiškauskas missing a three-pointer which would have won the two-game series for his team. The next season, due to the split between the FIBA and ULEB, Rytas played in the FIBA SuproLeague, making it to the quarterfinals, but losing to Anadolu Efes S.K.. The team won third place in the NEBL. In the LKL finals, Žalgiris Kaunas defeated Lietuvos rytas in a tough five-game series 3–2. In 2002, Lietuvos rytas repeated their triumph in the LKL, this time in a dramatic seven-game final series with the last game decided in overtime. The team played without center Robertas Javtokas, who was seriously injured in a motorbike crash. Lietuvos rytas also won the NEBL title in 2002, becoming the last team to win the tournament. The team held first place in the group stage of the Saporta Cup but lost in the quarterfinals to Hapoel Jerusalem. Over the next two seasons, Lietuvos rytas lost in the LKL finals to Žalgiris Kaunas. They had more success in Europe, though, finishing in second place in the FIBA Champions Cup regional stage (though losing to Hemofarm Vršac in the final stage). The team also debuted in the ULEB Cup, getting to the quarterfinals but losing to Hapoel Jerusalem. Success in the ULEB Cup and Euroleague (2004–2008) 2004–05: ULEB Cup champions After not winning any title in the past two seasons Lietuvos rytas decided that change was needed and began recruiting foreign coaches, the first of them being Serbian Vlade Đurović. Midway through the season, team leader Frederick House suffered a season-ending injury; head coach Đurović resigned and was replaced by Slovenian Tomo Mahorič. Despite this, newcomer