BC Kalev/Cramo

This article is about the basketball club. For the football club, see JK Tallinna Kalev.
Kalev
Leagues Korvpalli Meistriliiga
VTB United League
BBL
Founded 1998
History Canon ENM
1998–1999
Ehitustööriist
1999–2005
BC Kalev/Cramo
2005–Present
Arena Tallinn Arena
(capacity: 6,000)
Saku Suurhall
(capacity: 7,200)
Location Tallinn, Estonia
Team colors Blue and white
         
President Estonia Ivar Valdmaa
Head coach Estonia Alar Varrak
Championships 7 Estonian Championships
4 Estonian Cups
Website bckalev.ee
Uniforms
Home
Away
Home court Saku Suurhall

BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, VTB United League and BBL. 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 in 2005, the name was changed to BC Kalev/Cramo.[3] Kalev/Cramo has been the most successful team in Estonia in recent years winning the Estonian title four years in a row.

History

1998–2004

Founded in 1998 under the name Canon ENM,[4] the team already entered the Estonian League in its debut season, finishing last with no victories to their name. In 1999 the name was changed to Ehitustööriist and the team only managed to get 2 wins in the domestic league. 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.

2004–2006

It the 2004–05 season, 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.[5] 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 Aivar Kuusmaa they added a second KML title by beating Tartu Rock 4–3 in the finals.[5] The team also made its European debut by competing in the FIBA EuroCup, but with little success.

2006–2008

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.[5] In BBL Kalev/Cramo reached to play-offs but lost to BK Ventspils.[6] 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.[5] 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.[7]

2008–2009

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.[8] 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.[9] This victory was one of the teams' seven-game winning streak in the regular season.[10] 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.[11] Kalev however took a sweet revenge at the Estonian League finals beating archrivals Tartu Rock with the games 4–2.[12]

2009–2011

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.[13] Kalev also added Estonian national teams head coach Tiit Sokk.[14] 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.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17]

Accomplishments per season

Trophies and awards

Trophies

Individual awards

KML Most Valuable Player

KML Finals MVP

KML Best Defensive Player

KML Coach of the Year

Baltic League MVP

Baltic League MVP of the Month

All-KML First Team

All-KML Defensive Team

Players

Roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Kalev/Cramo roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 4 Estonia Olmre, Sten 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 20 – 31 January 1995
G 6 Estonia Veideman, Rain 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 23 – 1 October 1991
F 7 Ukraine Pecherov, Oleksiy 2.13 m (7 ft 0 in) 106 kg (234 lb) 29 – 8 December 1985
G 8 Brazil Machado, Scott 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 24 – 8 June 1990
G 9 Estonia Keedus, Erik 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 25 – 27 April 1990
G 11 Estonia Dorbek, Martin 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 24 – 21 January 1991
F 12 Estonia Kajupank, Indrek 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 26 – 15 May 1988
G 13 Estonia Arbet, Gregor 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 31 – 19 June 1983
G 22 Latvia Šķēle, Armands 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 31 – 4 September 1983
F 25 United States Singler, E. J. 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in) 91 kg (201 lb) 24 – 6 June 1990
F 33 Estonia Kitsing, Kristjan 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 24 – 11 December 1990
F 34 United States Benson, Keith 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 26 – 13 August 1988
C 49 Lithuania Kupšas, Mindaugas 2.17 m (7 ft 1 in) 125 kg (276 lb) 24 – 9 April 1991
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: February 28, 2015

Depth Chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Keith Benson Mindaugas Kupšas
PF Kristjan Kitsing Erik Keedus
SF Gregor Arbet E. J. Singler Indrek Kajupank
SG Armands Šķēle Rain Veideman
PG Scott Machado Martin Dorbek Sten Olmre

In

Out

Notable players

To appear in this section a player must have either:
For a listing of past rosters, see BC Kalev/Cramo past rosters.
For a listing of past players, see Category:BC Kalev/Cramo players.

‡ Note: Signed in February 2008, released in March 2009. Did not play any games.[18][19]

Head coaches

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.[20] For the next season Kuusmaa was named second coach beside Veselin Matić. 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.[8] 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 and fifth Estonian championship during the next two seasons. The 2012–13 season started off with bad results and Kuusmaa resigned in November 2012, Alar Varrak once again took over as head coach.[21]

Name Period Trophies
Estonia Allan Dorbek 1998–2003 –
Netherlands Maarten van Gent 2003–2004 –
Estonia Allan Dorbek 2004–2005 2004–05 Estonian League
Estonia Aivar Kuusmaa 2005–2006 2005 Estonian Cup
2005–06 Estonian League
Serbia Veselin Matić 2006–2008 2006 Estonian Cup
2007 Estonian Cup
New Zealand Nenad Vučinić 2008–2010 2008 Estonian Cup
2008–09 Estonian League
Estonia Alar Varrak (interim) 2010 –
Estonia Aivar Kuusmaa 2010–2012 2010–11 Estonian League
2011–12 Estonian League
Estonia Alar Varrak 2012– 2012–13 Estonian League
2013–14 Estonian League

References

  1. ↑ "Saku Arena ". sakusuurhall.ee. Retrieved on 2009-01-22
  2. ↑ "Kalevi Spordihall". spordihall.ee. Retrieved on 2009-01-22 (Estonian)
  3. ↑ "Kohmakat nime Ehitustööriist asendab särav BC Kalev". Eesti Päevaleht (2005-07-02). Retrieved on 2008-06-14 (Estonian)
  4. ↑ "BC KALEV/CRAMO TALLINN basketball team". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved on 2012-01-24
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Estonian EMKL Play-Offs 2001–2008". Eurobasket.com. Retrieved on 2009-01-24
  6. ↑ "Ventspils puts an end to Estonian dreams". SEB BBL Homepage (2007-04-07). Retrieved on 2009-01-22
  7. ↑ "Valters just could not miss". SEB BBL Homepage (2008-04-11). Retrieved on 2009-01-22
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Vucinic inks in Estonia". Basketball New Zealand (2008-06-05). Retrieved on 2008-06-14
  9. ↑ "Kalev/Cramo takes a historic win against Zalgiris". SEB BBL Homepage (2009-02-05). Retrieved on 2009-02-07
  10. ↑ "The Incredibles – Kalev/Cramo wins again!". SEB BBL Homepage (2009-01-03). Retrieved on 2009-04-12
  11. ↑ "Beard leads Rock to Final Four". SEB BBL Homepage (2009-04-01). Retrieved on 2009-04-12
  12. ↑ "Kalev/Cramo celebrate SEB KML triumph". Eurobasket.com. (2009-06-01). Retrieved on 2009-07-16
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Tall Blacks coach Vucinic finds new club". stuff.co.nz (2010-01-07). Retrieved on 2010-04-08
  14. ↑ "BC Kalev/Cramo abitreeneriks saab Tiit Sokk". Eesti Päevaleht (2010-01-21). Retrieved on 2010-04-08 (Estonian)
  15. ↑ "Group B – Team standings". VTB United League. Retrieved on 2010-04-08
  16. ↑ "BC Kalev/Cramo is Estonian champion!" Eurobasket.com (2011-05-14). Retrieved on 2011-05-29
  17. ↑ "Game: Kalev 77 - 70 Asseco Prokom" VTB United League (2011-01-12). Retrieved on 2011-06-30
  18. ↑ "Martin Müürsepp mõtleb Eesti meistritiitlist". SPORT.ERR.EE (2008-03-01). Retrieved on 2009-09-14 (Estonian)
  19. ↑ "Kalev/Cramo peatas Müürsepaga lepingu". Õhtuleht (2009-03-09). Retrieved on 2009-09-14 (Estonian)
  20. ↑ "Hüvasti, korvikütt Kuusmaa! Edu, treener!". Õhtuleht (2005-06-16). Retrieved on 2009-01-22 (Estonian)
  21. ↑ "Kalev/Cramo ja Aivar Kuusmaa teed läksid lahku". Sport | ERR (2012-11-24). Retrieved on 2013-01-15 (Estonian)

External links