Newcomers from Neris valley: welcome, Jonava Hipocredit!

BC Jonava Hipocredit is the fourth club from Lithuania to play in the European North Basketball league.

Šiauliai played in competition from 2021 until 2025.

Wolves Vilnius joined the league in 2022-2023 and Utena Juventus in 2023-2024.

Jonava club – then Cbet Jonava – hosted the 2022 ENBL technical meeting at the Best Western Santakos hotel in Kaunas, held during the FIBA Europe Cup qualifiers.

Recently Jonava made it to the Betsson LKL playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

The highest achievements – fourth place finishes in 2022 and 2025.

Team also played at the 2026 King Mindaugas Cup and registered four wins there.

On September 26, 2023, Jonava debuted at the Basketball Champions league qualifiers, facing SIG Strasbourg.

The club continued its season at the 2023-2024 FIBA Europe Cup, topped Group C with a 4-2 record and made it to the second round or Top 16.

Jonava Hipocredit predecessor – Statyba Jonava – was formed in 1969 and represented the city until 1999.

Since 1983 the team was sponsored by the Jonava nitrogen fertilizer factory.

Nowadays Achema is the largest fertilizer producer in the Baltic States.

The most famous Statyba Jonava players were Rimantas Grigas – a former head coach of Lithuania`s women`s national team and Aistes LSMU Kaunas – and his predecessor Algirdas Paulauskas.

Statyba Jonava joined the LKL in 1994 and featured a bunch of well known players and coaches like Sydney Olympics bronze medalists Darius Maskoliūnas and Tomas Masiulis, Barcelona Olympics bronze medalist Romanas Brazdauskis and Athens semifinalist Vidas Ginevičius.

Ginevičius – a former point guard – is an assistant coach at Gargždai, while the 1999 Euroleague champion Masiulis is a head coach of Žalgiris from 2025.

BC Jonava was founded in 1999.

Supported by the local government, it played in the Lithuanian second division from 2005 until 2021.

The team finally won the NKL championship in 2021 and – thanks to its new arena – entered the LKL.

A Prienai born Virginijus Šeškus coached Jonava from 2020 until 2024.

Šeškus won two Lithuanian Cups with Prienai (2013, 2014) before the introduction of King Mindaugas Cup.

His trophy case included a Baltic Basketball league title (2017) and two NKL titles (2009, 2021).

During the 2017-2018 season Šeškus coached the Ball brothers LiAngelo and LaMelo, raising a significant media interest on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, despite poor results.

Šeškus led Jonava to silver finish at the 2023 King Mindaugas Cup.

Steponas Babrauskas took the coaching reins in October 2025, replacing Paulas Juodis.

On October 9, 2025, Babrauskas posted his first win, defeating Šiauliai, 88-80, at the King Mindaugas Cup.

Babrauskos played for Rytas Vilnius, 2008-2014.

He won the 2009 ULEB Cup, the 2009 and 2010 Lithuania championship, the 2009 and 2010 Lithuania Basketball federation Cup, the 2009, 2010 and 2018 Baltic Basketball league.

Babrauskas also won the 2007 Latvian championship with ASK Rīga and head coach Ramūnas Butautas.

Jonava assistant coach is Arturas Milaknis – one of the greatest shooters in Lithuanian basketball history.

A former Žalgiris Kaunas star is the all time leader in three pointers made in the Lithuanian Basketball league.

Jonava arena (capacity 2200) opened its doors on September 14, 2017.

Jonava is located 20 kilometers from Kaunas airport (KUN) and 100 kilometers from Vilnius airport (VNO).

Club's website: www.bcjonavahipocredit.lt