Baloncesto León

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Baloncesto León
Logo
Club Name Club Baloncesto León
Founded 1981
Arena Palacio de los Deportes,
León, Spain
Capacity 6,000
Chairman Flag of Spain Miguel Fernández-Llamazares
Manager Flag of Spain Joaquín Rodríguez
Coach Flag of Spain Gustavo Aranzana
League LEB
2007-08 ACB
18th - Relegated
Website www.baloncestoleon.com

Club Baloncesto León is a basketball team, based in León, Spain. It plays in the basketball Second division, the LEB.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Early years (1981-1988)

Baloncesto León was founded by José Antonio Moirón García, Enrique Emperador Marcos, Juan Carlos Rodríguez Villanueva, Lisardo Mourelo González and Alberto Sobrín Martínez in León on 20 May 1981.

It began to play in Tercera División, the fourth division of Spanish basketball. In 1981, the team was promoted to Segunda División B. After four years playing in the third division, Baloncesto León was promoted to Segunda División, the second division.

[edit] Aranzana's first era (1989-1997)

In the middle of the 1988-1989 season, the coach Mariano Parra was sacked because Baloncesto León was in relegation posts. Then Baloncesto León signed Gustavo Aranzana, the coach of Cajapalencia, a team which was playing in Segunda División. Baloncesto León managed to leave relegation, and the next year, led by Xavi Fernández, was promoted to the ACB for first time in its history.

Baloncesto León's years under Aranzana's leadership were the most successful in the history of the team. Both in the 1991-1992 and 1992-1993 seasons, Baloncesto León reached position six in ACB.

In 1994 several things changed. The team changed the color of the t-shirt from yellow and green to red. Also, Xavi Fernandez transferred to FC Barcelona. Finally, in 1997, Aranzana left the team.

[edit] Decline and relegation (1997-2000)

In 1997, Edu Torres was hired as coach. He left the team after two years of failing to enter the playoffs. In 1999-2000, the team, coached by José Luis Oliete, was the last team in the classification, so Baloncesto León was relegated to LEB.

[edit] LEB (since 2000) and Aranzana's second era (since 2005)

Since 2000, Baloncesto León has been playing in the second category of Spanish basketball. The team has come close to promotion on several occasions, but has not achieved it.

After being coached by Roberto Herreras, Quino Salvo and Ángel Jareño, in 2005, Gustavo Aranzana was signed again as coach. In 2005-2006, Baloncesto León was, along with CAI Zaragoza, the highest ranking team in the LEB regular season. In fact, Baloncesto León won the Regular Season. In the playoff, Baloncesto León easily defeated Palma Aqua Mágica and reached the semifinal round. Both final competitors of the semifinals get promoted. The rival was Bruesa GBC, 5th in regular season, which defeated Baloncesto León by 3-0. CAI Zaragoza did not get promoted.

In 2006-2007 the team reached the second position in the end of the Regular Season. For first time in several years the team got a private sponsorship, Climalia. In the playoff, Baloncesto León defeated again Palma Aqua Mágica, (3-2). In the semifinals, they played versus CAI Zaragoza. León won the round 3-2, so, along with Ricoh Manresa got promoted to Liga ACB the 5/26/2007.

[edit] Current squad 2007/08

Baloncesto León roster
v  d  e
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt.
C 13 Flag of the United States Flag of Spain Barnes, Lamont 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
PG 5 Flag of Spain Bernabé, Juanjo 1.82 m (5 ft 12 in)
SG 7 Flag of Argentina Flag of Italy Bulfoni, Javier 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
SG 9 Flag of Spain Calvo, Jorge 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
PG 9 Flag of Spain Diéguez, Jaime 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
SF 14 Flag of the United States Evans, Heshimu 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
C 10 Flag of Spain García, Daniel 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)
PF 32 Flag of the United States Hughes, Rick 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
PG 6 Flag of Spain Marco, Carles 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
PF 4 Flag of Spain Otegui, Urko 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
SF 8 Flag of the United States Flag of France Strong, Danny 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
C 25 Flag of the United States Thompson, Kevin 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
SG - Flag of Spain Urtasun, Txemi 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
SF 15 Flag of Spain Yáñez, Nacho 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Head coach
  • Flag of Spain Gustavo Aranzana
Assistant coach(es)
  • Flag of Spain Javier Gonzalo

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (*) Playing only in Euroleague
  • (INJ) Injured

Roster • updated 2008-01-08


[edit] Famous players

  • Flag of Spain Xavier Fernández
  • Flag of Spain José Lasa
  • Flag of the United States Essie Hollis
  • Flag of the United States Cornelius Thompson
  • Flag of the United States Tate Decker

[edit] Famous coaches

  • Flag of Spain Gustavo Aranzana

[edit] List of coaches

  • Flag of Spain José Estrada 1980-1984
  • Flag of Spain Antonio Garrido 1984-1987
  • Flag of Spain José Clavijo 1987-1988
  • Flag of Spain Mariano Parra 1988-1989
  • Flag of Spain Gustavo Aranzana 1989-1997
  • Flag of Spain Eduard Torres 1997-1999
  • Flag of Spain Jose Luis Oliete 1999-2000
  • Flag of Spain Roberto Herreras 20002-2002
  • Flag of Spain Quino Salvo 2002-2003
  • Flag of Spain Angel Jareño 2003-2005
  • Flag of Spain Gustavo Aranzana 2005-

[edit] External links