Birstono Milasta produced one of the most remarkable comebacks in Lithuanian lower-league history on Sunday, erasing a 17-point first-quarter deficit to beat BC Sirvintos UHB-Group 89-86 in the Nostra.lt RKL A Divizionas grand final and earn promotion to the NKL.
Trailing 8-25 with under three minutes left in the opening period the hosts had opened on a devastating 13-4 burst, hitting six of their first seven shots Milasta looked finished before the game had barely begun. Coach's early timeout changed nothing as Sirvintos' offense hummed like clockwork in front of a packed Sirvintos Sports Center.
Then Milasta flipped a switch. A 10-0 run to close the first quarter cut the deficit to seven (18-25), and the visitors carried that momentum into a second period that saw them completely neutralize Sirvintos' attack. The hosts went scoreless for three minutes as Milasta drew level at 25-24, and the teams entered halftime with Sirvintos clinging to a slim 47-44 lead a far cry from the blowout that had seemed inevitable.
The third quarter was a war of attrition, with Sirvintos holding a 68-62 advantage heading into the fourth. Six points felt like a comfortable cushion. It wasn't.
Tadas Rinkunas opened the final period with a three-pointer plus a foul a 3+1 sequence that became the symbolic turning point of the entire game. From there, Milasta found another gear entirely, ripping off a 9-0 run midway through the quarter to seize a 79-75 lead and silence the home crowd. The momentum had become unstoppable.
The final 30 seconds were pure theatre. Ignas Juskevicius sank two free throws to push Milasta ahead 87-82 with half a minute remaining. Sirvintos clawed back to 84-87 with 13 seconds left, and when Arnas Tilinde (195-SF-1997) missed both free throws at the other end, the door cracked open. Darius Tarvydas (199-F-1991) Sirvintos' leader all season with a 78.7 percent regular-season free-throw clip stepped to the line and calmly converted both. 86-87. Six seconds left.
After a Milasta timeout, Rinkunas was immediately fouled and sank both free throws for 86-89. Tarvydas launched a desperation heave from halfcourt at the buzzer. It missed. Milasta were champions.
Finals MVP Tilinde finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. Rinkunas led the scoring with 21 his fourth-quarter 3+1 the moment the game turned. Aidas Kavaliauskas (186-PG-1995, college: Fairfield) orchestrated the attack with 14 points and nine assists. Milasta's 22 assists to Sirvintos' 15 and their dominance at the free-throw line (27-of-36 versus 15-of-21) were the statistical pillars of their comeback.
For Sirvintos, Tarvydas left everything on the floor 16 points, 11 rebounds, five assists but it was not enough. Rokas Jukonis (194-G/F-1990) added 17 points, seven rebounds, and five assists, and Ovidijus Varanauskas (188-PG-1991) had 16. The sixth seeds in the regular season who had earned the right to host the Final Four, Sirvintos can hold their heads high despite the heartbreak.

Vilniaus Rajono KK-VRSC crowned a dominant 2025-26 campaign by winning the Nostra.lt RKL B Divizionas championship, pulling away from Trakai-Traku SC with a devastating 29-16 fourth quarter to win the Grand Final 87-72 in Pakruojis.
Both teams entered the decider with perfect playoff records, and for three quarters the final delivered on its billing as the season's ultimate contest. VRSC, the pre-tournament favorites, started stronger and built a double-digit lead in the first half, going up by as many as 13 points as they took a 43-34 advantage into the break.
But Trakai refused to fold. A spirited third-quarter rally — winning the period 22-15 — brought the underdogs to within two points at 56-58 entering the final 10 minutes, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
The fourth quarter, however, belonged entirely to VRSC. They opened with a 5-0 burst to re-establish breathing room, then delivered a crushing 15-7 run to push the lead to 73-63 midway through the period. Trakai managed one final surge, cutting the deficit to 70-76 with approximately three minutes remaining, but VRSC responded with the knockout blow — a 9-0 run that stretched the margin to 15 points and sealed the championship beyond doubt.
Finals MVP Tadas Poska (193-SF-1999) was the driving force, pouring in 28 points with three assists in a commanding performance. Dovydas Rimkus (195-G-2001) added 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Karolis Eigminas (186-G-2007) contributed 11 points and Kristupas Kenesis (202-F-2002) dominated the glass with 11 rebounds.
For Trakai, Rapolas Raizys (187-G-2000) led with 14 points and a game-high eight assists, while Giedrius Giedra (207-C-1987) had 13 points and six rebounds and Benas Aleliunas (190-G-2001) added 11.
VRSC had lost only once in the entire regular season — to these same Trakai opponents — making the final a fitting revenge match settled at the most important moment. The Vilnius district side closed their championship campaign exactly as champions should: with authority, emotion, and a powerful finishing kick.