| Kalev | ||||
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| Leagues | Korvpalli Meistriliiga Baltic Basketball League VTB United League |
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| Founded | 1998 | |||
| History | Ehitustööriist 1998–2005 BC Kalev/Cramo 2005–Present |
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| Arena | Saku Suurhall (capacity: 7,200) |
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| Location | Tallinn, Estonia | |||
| Team colors | Blue and White |
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| President | Ivar Valdmaa | |||
| Head coach | Aivar Kuusmaa | |||
| Championships | 4 Estonian Championships 4 Estonian Cups |
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| Website | bckalev.ee | |||
| Uniforms | ||||
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BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall[1] and Kalevi Spordihall.[2] The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist, but after winning the Estonian title, the name was changed to BC Kalev/Cramo.[3] Kalev/Cramo has won the Estonian title four times (2005, 2006, 2009 and 2011).
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Founded in 1998 under the name Ehitustööriist, the team already entered the Estonian League in its debut season, finishing last in 1999 and 2000 with a combined record of 2–53. Despite of the hard start the team had a firm goal of developing young talent to create one of the top Baltic teams. Ehitustööriist struggled in the Estonian League for three more years between 2001 and 2003, but went a step higher in the 2003–04 season under the Dutch coach Maarten van Gent, finishing fifth overall with a respectable 13–20 record.
It all changed in a historical 2004–05 season, as the club's hard work paid off in the most incredible way. Under the coaching of Allan Dorbek Ehitustööriist won its first Estonian League title by downing Tartu Ülikool/Rock in a thrilling seven-game finals that went down to the final play. A 69–68 win was enough for Kalev to lift the trophy.[4] Kalev also participated in the first season of the Baltic Basketball League finishing eight among ten teams. Soon after that the team changed its name to BC Kalev/Cramo and coached by legendary shooter Aivar Kuusmaa they added a second KML title by beating Tartu Rock 4–3 in the finals.[4] The team also made its European debut by competing in the FIBA EuroCup, but with little success.
2006–07 season started under the new head coach Veselin Matic. Under the Serb's coaching Kalev made it to Round II in EuroCup, but lost to Tartu in the Estonian finals with the games 4–2.[4] In BBL Kalev/Cramo reached to play-offs but lost to BK Ventspils.[5] In 2007–08 Kalev was playing in ULEB Cup, where they managed to get wins over Panionios Forthnet and Adecco ASVEL Villeurbanne. Unfortunately star player Travis Reed could not play in the Estonian League finals and Tartu Rock defeated Kalev 4–0.[4] In BBL the team again played in the play-offs but did not reach the final-four due to a defeat against Latvian squad ASK Riga.[6]
On June 2, 2008, team president Ivar Valdmaa announced that the new head coach for 2008–09 season will be the New Zealand national basketball team head coach Nenad Vučinić.[7] The team started well under the new coach winning the fourth Estonian Cup in a row. Kalev also performed well in the Baltic League. On the 5th of February 2009 Kalev/Cramo defeated BC Žalgiris in the Baltic League and became the first Estonian basketball team in 15 years to defeat the world-famous Lithuanian powerhouse.[8] This victory was one of the teams' seven-game winning streak in the regular season.[9] Kalev/Cramo finished third in the regular season but failed to reach the Final Four due to a defeat in the play-offs against Tartu Rock with Tanoka Beard hitting the decisive long-range three-pointer at the buzzer.[10] Kalev however took a sweet revenge at the Estonian League finals beating archrivals Tartu Rock with the games 4–2.[11]
The season was a disappointment to Kalev/Cramo, the team struggled throughout the year. They tried out many players, but could not find their game. As a result, Nenad Vučinić left in the beginning on January and Alar Varrak took over the coaching.[12] Kalev also added Estonian national teams head coach Tiit Sokk.[13] Kalev did not reach the play-offs of the Baltic Basketball League and finished third in KML, losing against Tartu Rock in semifinals. The team also participated in the first season of VTB United League but finished with no victories in Group B against PBC CSKA Moscow, Žalgiris Kaunas and Azovmash Mariupol.[14]
For the 2010-11 season the team brought back Aivar Kuusmaa as the head coach and as a result Kalev became the Estonian champion for the fourth time. They smashed Tartu Rock with the games 4-0 to lift the trophy. [15] Other results were more mediocre: Kalev finished the Baltic League in 7th place and was left last in their group in the VTB United League. The teams' only win in the United League came at home against Asseco Prokom Gdynia. [16]
| Season | KML | Cup | BBL | Europe | Coach | Roster |
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| 1998–99 | 6th | Allan Dorbek | Karmo Allikas, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Rait Keerles, Kristjan Laurits, Erik Lepajõe, Kuldar Lossmann, Jesper Parve, Kristo Reinumäe, Priit Silland, Indrek Suur, Teet Telgma, Ivo Uibukant, Mart Uuehendrik, Kristjan Vanaselja, Veljo Vares | |||
| 1999-00 | 7th | Allan Dorbek | Erik Dorbek, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Remo Holsmer, Roland H. Jones Jr, Erik Lepajõe, Indrek Läte, Jesper Parve, Kristjan Puusild, Kristo Reinumäe, Priit Silland, Teet Telgma, Ivo Uibukant, Mart Uuehendrik, Kristjan Vanaselja | |||
| 2000–01 | 7th | Allan Dorbek | Gregor Arbet, Cornelius Ausborne, Erik Dorbek, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Terry Hailey, Rait Keerles, Rait Käbin, Erik Lepajõe, Nikolai Martshenko, Sergei Oleinikov, Jesper Parve, Kristjan Puusild, Kristo Reinumäe, Priit Silland, Oliver Tammsalu, Teet Telgma, Taavi Tuisk, Ivo Uibukant, Martin Viiask | |||
| 2001–02 | 6th | 11th | Allan Dorbek | Gregor Arbet, Troy Coleman, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Tanel Einaste, Tanel Kaljula, Rait Keerles, Rait Käbin, Erik Lepajõe, Erkko Linnas, Heiko Niidas, Kristjan Puusild, Heiki Riives, Vaiko Riives, Raido Ringmets, Kaido Saag, Gert Seinberg, Oliver Tammsalu, Teet Telgma, Teet Tiisvelt, Taavi Tuisk, Reemo Veski | ||
| 2002–03 | 7th | 1/4 Final | Allan Dorbek | Carson Cunningham, Maksim Darski, Tanel Kaljula, Rait Keerles, Aba Koita, Rait Käbin, Erik Lepajõe, Kristjan Makke, Heiko Niidas, Heiki Riives, Vaiko Riives, Raido Ringmets, Kaido Saag, Gert Seinberg, Aleksander Suits, Oliver Tammsalu, Taavi Tuisk, Tõnu Uusmaa, Alar Varrak | ||
| 2003–04 | 5th | Final 4 | Maarten van Gent | Daniel Johnson, Raido Ringmets, Reimo Tamm, Tanel Kaljula, Jesper Parve, Raido Roos, Erik Dorbek, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Maksim Darski, Kristjan Makke, Rait Keerles, Greg McQuay, Veljo Vares, Tõnu Uusmaa, Aba Koita, Allen Watson | ||
| 2004–05 | Champion | 1/4 Final | 7th | Allan Dorbek | Georgi Osatshi, Tanel Kaljula, Veljo Vares, Henri Ausmaa, Martin Uusmaa, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Kristo Saage, Heiko Niidas, Reimo Tamm, Rait Keerles, Sten Möldre, Tõnu Uusmaa, Victor Gonzalez, Erik Dorbek, Howard Frier, Nathan Mielke | |
| 2005–06 | Champion | Winner | 9th | FIBA EuroCup Round I | Aivar Kuusmaa | Turner Battle, Erik Dorbek, Gert Dorbek, Karl-Peeter Dorbek, Howard Frier, Victor Gonzalez, Tanel Kaljula, Rait Keerles, Sten Möldre, Heiko Niidas, Andre Perry, Andre Pärn, Kristo Saage, Reimo Tamm, Joosep Toome, Veljo Vares, James Williams, Ardo Ärmpalu |
| 2006–07 | 2nd | Winner | 1/4 Final | FIBA EuroCup Round II | Veselin Matić | James Allen, Gregor Arbet, Catalin Burlacu, Erik Dorbek, Kendrick Johnson, Tanel Kaljula, Kristjan Kangur, Rait Keerles, Valmo Kriisa, Cornelius McFagdon, Heiko Niidas, Heiko Niidas, Jason Pryor, Travis Reed, Tanel Sokk, Joosep Toome |
| 2007–08 | 2nd | Winner | 1/4 Final | ULEB Cup Regular Season |
Veselin Matić | Sergo Atuashvili, Howard Frier, Dušan Jelić, Mateo Kedzo, Marlon Parmer, Edward Scott, Tanel Sokk, Martin Viiask, Valmo Kriisa, Igor Jokic, Bojan Pelkic, Vladimir Vuksanovic, Travis Reed, Rait Keerles, Gregor Arbet, Kristjan Kangur, Joosep Toome, Kristo Saage, Nathan Johnson, Martin Müürsepp |
| 2008–09 | Champion | Winner | 1/4 Final | EuroChallenge Regular Season |
Nenad Vučinić | Gregor Arbet, Nate Fox, Indrek Kajupank, Kristjan Kangur, Rait Keerles, Valmo Kriisa, Tanel Kurbas, John Linehan, Kevin Lyde, Martin Müürsepp, Josh Pace, Rain Raadik, Tanel Sokk, Viljar Veski |
| 2009–10 | 3rd | Finalist | 7th | VTB United League Group Stage |
Vučinić[12] Varrak |
Josh Akognon, Gregor Arbet, Aleksandar Boijc, Erik Dorbek, Gert Dorbek, Martin Dorbek, Charron Fisher, Balgoj Janev, Ken Johnson, Indrek Kajupank, Rait Keerles, Tanel Kurbas, Jason Miller, Kevin Owens, Rain Raadik, Marko Riis, Tanel Sokk, Viljar Veski |
| 2010–11 | Champion | 3rd | 7th | VTB United League Group Stage |
Aivar Kuusmaa | Jaan Puidet, Tanel Sokk, Gert Dorbek, Remy Põld, Mihkel Schleicher, Kristo Orula, Joosep Toome, Kaido Saks, Reimo Tamm, Kristo Mangelsoo, Gregor Arbet, Janar Areng, Marko Riis, Riho Suija, Rait Keerles, Heiko Rannula, Michael Dunigan, Kristjan Kitsing, Raiko Orumaa, Armands Šķēle |
| 2011–12 | Finalist | VTB United League | Aivar Kuusmaa | Pavel Ulyanko, Tanel Sokk, Gert Dorbek, Mihkel Schleicher, Joosep Toome, Kaido Saks, Reimo Tamm, Gregor Arbet, Nikolay Varbanov, Marko Riis, Armands Šķēle, Bamba Fall, Kristjan Kitsing |
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Roster • updated October 22 2011 |
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| Pos. | Starter | Bench | Bench | Bench | Inactive |
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| C | Nikolay Varbanov | Bamba Fall | Mihkel Schleicher | ||
| PF | Pavel Ulyanko | Kristjan Kitsing | Joosep Toome | ||
| SF | Gregor Arbet | Kaido Saks | |||
| SG | Armands Šķēle | Gert Dorbek | |||
| PG | Tanel Sokk | Reimo Tamm | Marko Riis |
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Kalev's first and longest serving head coach is Allan Dorbek. Together with his long-time assistant Maarten van Gent (head coach in 2003–04 season) they brought the team to an international level. As a result of their hard work, Kalev won its first Estonian title in 2005 under the name Ehitustööriist. In 2006, together with a new name and management, the team introduced former top basketballer Aivar Kuusmaa as the new head coach.[19] For the next season Kuusmaa was named second coach beside Veselin Matic. The Serb coached Kalev/Cramo for two seasons winning two Estonian cups, but no domestic championships. In summer of 2008 the team signed a two-year contract with New Zealander Nenad Vučinić.[7] Vučinić won the 2008–09 Estonian Cup and national championship with the team and led Kalev to the third place in the BBL regular season. 2009–10 season was not so good and Vučinić was replaced by Alar Varrak in early January 2010. In summer 2010 Kalev brought back Aivar Kuusmaa as the head coach and the team won their fourth Estonian championship.
List of head coaches:
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