2025–26 King Mindaugas Cup

2025–26 Karaliaus Mindaugo taurė
Tournament details
CountryLithuania
CityŠiauliai
VenueŠiauliai Arena
Dates1 October 2025 – 10 December 2025
(Group stage)
20 December 2025 – 18 January 2026
(Quarterfinals)
21–22 February 2026
(Final four)
Teams9
Defending championsŽalgiris
Final positions
ChampionsŽalgiris (9th title)
Runners-upRytas
Third placeLietkabelis
Fourth placeNeptūnas
Awards
MVP Moses Wright

The 2025–26 King Mindaugas Cup, also known as Citadele Karaliaus Mindaugo taurė for sponsorship purposes, was eleventh edition of the Lithuanian King Mindaugas Cup. The final four was hosted by Šiauliai Arena in Šiauliai on 21–22 February 2026.[1]

Žalgiris successfully defended the title for the 6th time in a row after defeating Rytas in the final 101–85.

Format

All 9 teams from 2025–26 LKL season will participate in this tournament. Four teams that participates in Euroleague Basketball and FIBA tournaments, have received bye's to quarterfinals stage, while the remaining teams will participate in round-robin stage, with the Top 4 teams advancing to the quarterfinals.[2]

For a place in the King Mindaugas Cup final four, clubs will play two matches each. The first matches will be played at the home arena of the club that finished lower in the previous 2024–25 LKL season. Second matches will be played at home arena of the club that finished higher in the previous LKL season.[3]

Group stage

Pos Team Pld W L PF PA PD Qualification NEV JUV SIA JON GAR
1 Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 8 5 3 704 703 +1 Advance to Quarterfinals — 88–84 83–78 92–74 72–94
2 Juventus 8 4 4 704 676 +28 100–102 — 96–87 97–83 90–73
3 Šiauliai 8 4 4 699 705 −6 95–92 93–85 — 86–76 89–83
4 Jonava Hipocredit 8 4 4 676 702 −26 88–101 82–80 88–80 — 97–82
5 Gargždai 8 3 5 676 673 +3 90–74 68–72 102–91 84–88 —
Source: LKL.LT

Quarterfinals

Four teams Žalgiris, Rytas, Lietkabelis and Neptūnas have received byes to the Quarterfinals stage due to participating in FIBA and Euroleague Basketball competitions. Mentioned teams make up the first quarterfinals basket according to their position in 2024–25 LKL season. The second quarterfinals basket will consist of the four best teams from the group stage.

The teams in the first basket will be paired with the teams in the second basket in the following order:[2]

  • Žalgiris will play the team that finished fourth in the group stage.
  • Rytas will play the team that finished third in the group stage.
  • Lietkabelis will play the team that finished second in the group stage.
  • Neptūnas will play the team that finished first in the group stage.
Seed 1
Team Pos
Žalgiris 1
Rytas 2
Lietkabelis 3
Neptūnas 8
   
Seed 2
Team Pos
Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 1
Juventus 2
Šiauliai 3
Jonava Hipocredit 4

The club with better overall cumulative score after two quarterfinals matches will advance to the King Mindaugas Cup final four.[3] On 11 December 2025, the schedule of quarterfinals has been announced.[4]

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Žalgiris 207–136 Jonava Hipocredit 118–73 89–63
Rytas 196–176 Šiauliai 97–82 99–94
Lietkabelis 154–144 Juventus 73–76 81–68
Neptūnas 174–143 Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 87–76 87–67

Žalgiris vs. Jonava Hipocredit

21 December 2025
Game 1
 Jonava Hipocredit 73–118 Žalgiris Panevėžys
19:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 21–33, 10–25, 19–35, 23–25
Pts: Slavinskas, Ashton-Langford 12
Rebs: Henry 4
Asts: Ashton-Langford 6
PIR: Slavinskas 16 		Boxscore Pts: Tubelis 20
Rebs: Birutis 8
Asts: Butkevičius 6
PIR: Tubelis 25 		Arena: Kalnapilio Arena
Attendance: 535
Referees: Gintaras Mačiulis, Dovydas Kairys, Ignas Kutka
17 January 2026
Game 2
 Žalgiris 89–63 Jonava Hipocredit Garliava
18:30 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 17–16, 26–13, 26–19, 20–15
Pts: Rubštavičius 16
Rebs: three players 7
Asts: Lô 4
PIR: Rubštavičius 18 		Boxscore Pts: Carter III 13
Rebs: Kirves 6
Asts: Ashton-Langford 5
PIR: Krikke 14 		Arena: Garliava Arena
Attendance: 711
Referees: Juozas Barkauskas, Aurimas Borusas, Jonas Lazauskas

Rytas vs. Šiauliai

23 December 2025
Game 1
 Šiauliai 82–97 Rytas Šiauliai
20:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 25–32, 17–27, 24–19, 16–19
Pts: Henderson 15
Rebs: Pleikys 9
Asts: McKnight 7
PIR: Pleikys 16 		Boxscore Pts: Walker 25
Rebs: Gudaitis 10
Asts: Walker 10
PIR: Walker 31 		Arena: Šiauliai Arena
Attendance: 3415
Referees: Juozas Barkauskas, Andžej Urbanovič, Jonas Lazauskas
15 January 2026
Game 2
 Rytas 99–94 Šiauliai Vilnius
18:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 19–22, 33–22, 23–26, 24–24
Pts: Sargiūnas 18
Rebs: Gudaitis 7
Asts: Smith 7
PIR: Smith 26 		Boxscore Pts: Henderson 26
Rebs: Simanić 6
Asts: McKnight 9
PIR: Fofana 26 		Arena: Twinsbet Arena
Attendance: 2158
Referees: Gintaras Mačiulis, Dovydas Kairys, Tomas Stankevičius

Lietkabelis vs. Juventus

20 December 2025
Game 1
 Juventus 76–73 Lietkabelis Utena
19:30 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 18–15, 23–15, 14–18, 21–25
Pts: Vraneš 20
Rebs: Uleckas 6
Asts: Valinskas 4
PIR: Vraneš 24 		Boxscore Pts: Flowers 22
Rebs: Danusevičius 8
Asts: Maldūnas, Kullamäe 3
PIR: Flowers 25 		Arena: Utena Arena
Attendance: 1864
Referees: Artūras Šukys, Aurimas Borusas, Darius Šomka
18 January 2026
Game 2
 Lietkabelis 81–68 Juventus Panevėžys
16:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 14–9, 18–20, 22–17, 27–22
Pts: Kullamäe 24
Rebs: Maldūnas, Aimaq 6
Asts: Kullamäe 6
PIR: Kullamäe 32 		Boxscore Pts: Diarra 15
Rebs: Uleckas 9
Asts: Diarra 5
PIR: Diarra 16 		Arena: Kalnapilio Arena
Attendance: 1979
Referees: Gytis Vilius, Gvidas Gedvilas, Gabrielius Simonavičius

Neptūnas vs. Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas

23 December 2025
Game 1
 Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 76–87 Neptūnas Kėdainiai
18:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 15–26, 28–15, 13–23, 20–23
Pts: Miguel 17
Rebs: Marcinkevičius 8
Asts: Miguel 3
PIR: Muila 17 		Boxscore Pts: Kozys, Lomažs 17
Rebs: Majauskas 8
Asts: Velička 4
PIR: Waterman 23 		Arena: Kėdainiai Arena
Attendance: 918
Referees: Gytis Vilius, Gabrielius Simonavičius, Deividas Mačiulskis
17 January 2026
Game 2
 Neptūnas 87–67 Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas Klaipėda
16:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 17–13, 21–24, 30–15, 19–15
Pts: Lomažs 19
Rebs: Kozys, Waterman 7
Asts: Velička 6
PIR: Lomažs 21 		Boxscore Pts: McLaughlin 16
Rebs: Marcinkevičius 7
Asts: Vaitkus, Chargois 3
PIR: McLaughlin 13 		Arena: Švyturys Arena
Attendance: 1856
Referees: Artūras Šukys, Andžej Urbanovič, Darius Šomka

Final four

Semifinals
21 February 		Final
22 February
    
Žalgiris 119
Neptūnas 81
Žalgiris 101
Rytas 85
Rytas 106
Lietkabelis 89 Third place
22 February
Neptūnas 73
Lietkabelis 94

Semifinals

21 February 2026 Žalgiris 119–81 Neptūnas Šiauliai
15:15 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 31–22, 25–22, 35–20, 28–17
Pts: Sleva 23
Rebs: Tubelis 7
Asts: Lô 9
PIR: Tubelis 29 		Boxscore Pts: Lomažs 17
Rebs: Šiliņš 5
Asts: Velička 5
PIR: Lomažs 16 		Arena: Šiauliai Arena
Attendance: 5380
Referees: Artūras Šukys, Gvidas Gedvilas, Andžej Urbanovič
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 1 Nigel Williams-Goss 4 0 6
SG 3 Sylvain Francisco 16 1 3
SF 8 Ignas Brazdeikis 6 3 1
PF 10 Ąžuolas Tubelis 21 7 2
C 7 Moses Wright 9 3 5
Reserves:
G 9 Dovydas Giedraitis 8 1 3
G 12 Maodo Lô 4 1 9
PF 14 Dustin Sleva 23 3 2
C 15 Laurynas Birutis 12 2 0
SG 17 Mantas Rubštavičius 0 0 3
G/F 91 Deividas Sirvydis 9 2 0
F 92 Edgaras Ulanovas 7 1 0
Head coach:
Tomas Masiulis
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 11 Arnas Velička 10 3 5
SG 6 Rihards Lomažs 17 1 3
SF 21 Arnas Beručka 2 0 1
PF 1 Donatas Tarolis 7 1 1
C 25 Kārlis Šiliņš 13 5 1
Reserves:
G 8 Mindaugas Girdžiūnas 13 1 3
F 10 Vitalijus Kozys 0 4 0
F/C 13 Aurimas Majauskas 12 2 1
C 16 Matas Mačijauskas 0 2 0
F/C 24 Zane Waterman 5 3 1
G 77 Kristupas Leščiauskas 2 1 0
Head coach:
Gediminas Petrauskas
21 February 2026 Rytas 106–89 Lietkabelis Šiauliai
18:45 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 29–20, 27–17, 26–22, 24–30
Pts: Sargiūnas 29
Rebs: Gudaitis 7
Asts: Smith 7
PIR: Sargiūnas 31 		Boxscore Pts: Morris 16
Rebs: Maldūnas 6
Asts: Radičević 8
PIR: Furmanavičius 20 		Arena: Šiauliai Arena
Attendance: 3,963
Referees: Gytis Vilius, Saulius Račys, Juozas Barkauskas
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 44 Speedy Smith 3 2 7
SG 10 Jerrick Harding 17 3 2
SF 43 Ignas Sargiūnas 29 6 0
PF 9 Kay Bruhnke 7 6 2
C 8 Artūras Gudaitis 7 7 1
Reserves:
G 1 Jordan Walker (basketball) 22 2 3
SG 16 Ignas Urbonas 5 1 0
G 19 Nikas Stuknys 0 0 0
F/C 21 Gytis Masiulis 13 1 1
SG 22 Gantas Križanauskas 0 0 0
F 24 Jordan Caroline 3 5 5
Head coach:
Giedrius Žibėnas
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 2 Dovis Bičkauskis 0 3 2
SG 7 Kristian Kullamäe 13 2 4
SF 77 Paulius Danusevičius 11 4 3
PF 35 Danielius Lavrinovičius 13 2 0
C 6 Lazar Mutic 5 0 0
Reserves:
SG 1 Jamel Morris 16 2 2
F 4 Justas Furmanavičius 13 4 3
C 12 Gabrielius Maldūnas 13 6 1
G 24 Nojus Kulieša 0 0 0
PG 44 Nikola Radičević 5 3 8
Head coach:
Nenad Čanak (basketball)

Third place game

22 February 2026 Neptūnas 73–94 Lietkabelis Šiauliai
15:15 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 24–16, 12–31, 21–24, 16–23
Pts: Lomažs 27
Rebs: Velička 5
Asts: Velička, Lomažs 6
PIR: Lomažs 31 		Boxscore Pts: Danusevičius 23
Rebs: Maldūnas 12
Asts: Danusevičius, Kullamäe 6
PIR: Danusevičius 32 		Arena: Šiauliai Arena
Attendance: 5380
Referees: Gvidas Gedvilas, Juozas Barkauskas, Gintaras Mačiulis
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 11 Arnas Velička 3 5 6
SG 6 Rihards Lomažs 27 2 6
SF 21 Arnas Beručka 6 1 1
PF 24 Zane Waterman 10 4 1
C 25 Kārlis Šiliņš 6 3 0
Reserves:
F/C 1 Donatas Tarolis 7 2 1
G 8 Mindaugas Girdžiūnas 9 1 0
F 10 Vitalijus Kozys 2 1 1
F/C 13 Aurimas Majauskas 3 1 2
C 16 Matas Mačijauskas 0 1 0
G 77 Kristupas Leščiauskas 0 0 0
Head coach:
Gediminas Petrauskas
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 2 Dovis Bičkauskis 0 2 1
SG 7 Kristian Kullamäe 16 3 6
SF 6 Lazar Mutic 2 3 0
PF 77 Paulius Danusevičius 23 6 6
C 35 Danielius Lavrinovičius 11 5 0
Reserves:
SG 1 Jamel Morris 5 1 2
F 4 Justas Furmanavičius 14 6 1
F 10 Vytenis Lipkevičius DNP
C 12 Gabrielius Maldūnas 14 12 3
G 24 Nojus Kulieša 0 0 0
PG 44 Nikola Radičević 9 4 2
Head coach:
Nenad Čanak (basketball)

Final

22 February 2026 Žalgiris 101–85 Rytas Šiauliai
18:00 (EET) Scoring by quarter: 25–21, 37–16, 22–27, 17–21
Pts: Wright 27
Rebs: Wright, Lô 6
Asts: Francisco 10
PIR: Francisco 33 		Boxscore Pts: Sargiūnas 16
Rebs: Gudaitis 6
Asts: Smith 6
PIR: Smith 18 		Arena: Šiauliai Arena
Attendance: 5450
Referees: Gytis Vilius, Artūras Šukys, Saulius Račys
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 1 Nigel Williams-Goss 2 5 6
SG 3 Sylvain Francisco 23 2 10
SF 10 Ąžuolas Tubelis 14 4 1
PF 92 Edgaras Ulanovas 4 2 2
C 7 Moses Wright 27 6 0
Reserves:
SF 8 Ignas Brazdeikis 5 3 1
G 9 Dovydas Giedraitis 4 2 2
G 12 Maodo Lô 8 6 0
PF 14 Dustin Sleva 7 4 1
C 15 Laurynas Birutis 7 2 0
SG 17 Mantas Rubštavičius 0 1 0
G/F 91 Deividas Sirvydis 0 0 0
Head coach:
Tomas Masiulis


2025–26 King Mindaugas Cup champions
Žalgiris
(9th title)


King Mindaugas Cup MVP
Moses Wright
Starters: Pts Reb Ast
PG 44 Speedy Smith 15 1 6
SG 10 Jerrick Harding 11 2 1
SF 43 Ignas Sargiūnas 16 4 0
PF 9 Kay Bruhnke 10 4 1
C 8 Artūras Gudaitis 4 6 1
Reserves:
G 1 Jordan Walker (basketball) 11 0 3
SG 16 Ignas Urbonas 2 2 0
G 19 Nikas Stuknys DNP
F/C 21 Gytis Masiulis 5 4 0
SG 22 Gantas Križanauskas 0 0 0
F 24 Jordan Caroline 11 3 1
Head coach:
Giedrius Žibėnas

Three-Point contest

Further information: LKL Three-point Shootout
Contestants[5]
Pos. Player Team Height (m) Weight (kg) First round Semifinal Final
G Olin Carter III Jonava Hipocredit 1.90 86 18 – –
SG Trenton McLaughlinREP Nevėžis–Paskolų klubas 1.98 91 13 – –
G/F Nojus Mineikis Gargždai 2.01 90 22 22 21
SG Evaldas Šaulys Juventus 1.91 87 12 – –
F/C Dovydas Romančenko Šiauliai 2.06 100 20 15 –
G Nojus Kulieša Lietkabelis 1.93 88 9 – –
F Vitalijus KozysREP Neptūnas 2.01 97 19 (5) (7)AS 22 16
SG Gantas KrižanauskasREP Rytas 1.94 91 19 (5) (6)AS – –
SG Mantas Rubštavičius Žalgiris 1.98 84 18 – –
G Zigmas Petraitis Tornado KM 1.86 73 17 – –
G Jordan Walker Rytas 1.80 77 22 16 –

^REP Trenton McLaughlin replaces Nedas Montvila due to injury.[6] Gantas Križanauskas from Rytas replaces Simonas Lukošius and Vitalijus Kozys from Neptūnas replaces Harrison Cleary due to injuries.[7]
^AS The numbers in parentheses indicate the additional series that was needed after the participants scored the same number of points.

References

  1. ^ "Atskleista, kur vyks KMT finalinis ketvertas". basketnews.lt (in Lithuanian). 17 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Paaiškėjo Citadele KMT formatas bei tvarkaraštis". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 23 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Paaiškėjo visos Citadele KMT ketvirtfinalio poros". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Paaiškėjo Citadele KMT ketvirtfinalio tvarkaraštis". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 11 December 2025. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  5. ^ "Paaiškėjo Snaiperio konkurso, kurį remia "Betsson Casino", dalyviai". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 30 January 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  6. ^ "N.Montvilą snaiperio konkurse pakeis T.McLaughlinas". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 19 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Snaiperio konkurso dieną – pasikeitimai dalyvių sudėtyje". lkl.lt (in Lithuanian). 21 February 2026. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
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