By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a major boost to their frontcourt ahead of the Basketball Champions League Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL, Quarterfinals, Rytas has reached an agreement to bring home 208 cm center Martynas Echodas, as announced on Tuesday. The 28-year-old returns to the Lithuanian capital following a mutual contract termination with Germany’s ALBA Berlin, where a knee injury and limited minutes hampered his recent campaign.
The move marks a homecoming for Echodas, following two previous stints with the Vilnius outfit. “We are delighted that Martynas is coming home,” said sports director Arturas Jomantas. “He is a player who knows the head coach, our system, and the club’s internal values perfectly, so we believe his integration into the team’s processes will be extremely fast.”
“Considering that we face a true marathon of games in April and May, and have recently been suffering significantly from injuries, we sought not only to add depth to our frontcourt rotation but also to acquire a player who has been with a club and involved in a regular training process. We saw that Martynas couldn’t fully realize his potential while playing in Germany, but he knows the environment here well, so we hope his international experience will help us,” added the 40-year-old former player.
The Kaunas native reunited with Rytas before the registration deadline for the BCL Quarterfinals. His statistics in Germany remained modest, averaging 2.8 points and 1.7 rebounds in Champions League play, but his pedigree is undeniable. Just last season with Manisa Divissa, he averaged a dominant 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds.
ALBA’s sporting director, Himar Ojeda, expressed his gratitude for the center’s professionalism during his rehabilitation: “We have agreed with Martynas to terminate his contract and thank him for his time with us in Berlin. We wish him all the best for his future.”
Having passed his medical examination, Echodas is expected to debut on Sunday, with the team coached by Giedrius Zibenas welcoming Gargzdai in Active Vilnius Arena to continue the 2025-26 Betsson LKL Regular Season. His presence will be vital on April 1st, when Rytas faces ERA Nymburk to start a best-of-three series in the Champions League Quarterfinals.