Rakvere Tarvas

Rakvere Tarvas
Nickname Tarvad (Aurochses)
Leagues KML
EuroChallenge
Baltic Basketball League
Founded 2006
History 2006 – present
Arena

Rakvere Spordihall

(capacity: 2,422)
Location Rakvere, Estonia
Team colors Yellow and blue
         
Head coach Estonia Andres Sõber
Championships 1 Estonian Cup
Website http://www.bctarvas.ee
Uniforms
Home
Away

BC Rakvere Tarvas is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Rakvere which is participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and EuroChallenge. The club has not won an Estonian championship title.[1]

History

Martin Müürsepp played one season for the team.

2006–2007

Founded in 2006 BC Rakvere Tarvas replaced the former team based in the same town, Rakvere Palliklubi, which had had financial problems during its existence, including bankruptcy in 2004 (then KK Rakvere).[2] Estonian basketball coach Andres Sõber, who had conducted the previous team and also Tallinna Kalev, created the team and named it after the Tarvas statue, which is symbol of the town. (The ancient name of Rakvere was Tarvanpää, literally "Head of an aurochs"). The new team consisted mainly of the former team's players with some additions from abroad and eventually finished in 6h place.

2007–2009

The following season was a rough year for BC Rakvere Tarvas, as they failed to play well and were lack of consistency. Legionaries stayed with the team for a very short period and the team were unable to get decent signings. They finished 9th in the table and had to play relegation games against Esiliiga (second tier of Estonian basketball pyramid) winners KK Hito and won comfortably 93:55.[3] For the 2008-09 season Andres Sõber did not bring any foreign additions, as he was able to form a decent team with local players only, including Kristo Saage who had not find his game with BC Kalev/Cramo. Tarvas finished sixth with ten wins in 28 games.

2009–2011

2009-10 was a breakthrough season for BC Rakvere Tarvas as they managed to keep their key players with the team and make good signings. Young talent Rain Veideman was brought from bottom-finished Kuremaa SK, Valmo Kriisa and Rain Raadik who were released by BC Kalev/Cramo, Richard Anderson[4] and Reinar Hallik from Valga/CKE Inkasso and eventually Martin Müürsepp,[5] the first and so far only Estonian to play in the NBA, agreed to help his first coach. The composition of very different players surprised Estonian basketball scene, as they led the league from mid-October until March. In the play-offs they beat TTÜ KK 4-3 and in the finals they lost 2-4 to Tartu Rock, despite leading the series 2-0 after away games.[6] For the 2010-11 season, BC Rakvere Tarvas changed most of its squad. It was also the first season when BC Rakvere Tarvas decided to take part in the Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup. With 2-6 record they were dropped out from group stages,[7] but they achieved another great result with Estonian Basketball Cup silver medals.[8] In the play-offs they were beaten with overall score of 1-5, finishing the season in the expected 4th place.[9]

2011–present

Since 2011 the team has relied on their signings who have been playing for the team since the 2009-10 season triumph. Foreign signings have since then been from Latvia, who have represented their country in EuroBasket, for instance Kaspars Cipruss,[10] Raimonds Vaikulis,[11] Rinalds Sirsniņš,[12] Juris Umbraško and Ivars Timermanis. They are not the first Latvians to play professional basketball in Rakvere, in early 2000s Igors Melniks and Edmunds Valeiko also played in then-called KK Rakvere. Valeiko also played for BC Kalev in the European competition.[13] For the 2011-12 season BC Rakvere Tarvas reached the finals of BBL Challenge Cup, but lost there to BC Lietkabelis. In the domestic competition Tarvas won their second medal as the team finished 3rd in Korvpalli Meistriliiga.[14] The team will also compete in the European competition for the first time, facing Turkish club Tofaş S.K. in the preliminary round.[15] Rakvere Tarvas became Estonian Basketball Cup holders, when they defeated TYCO Rapla in the final with the score of 81:64.[16] On the road, they beat defending Estonian champions BC Kalev/Cramo in the semi-final.[17]

Players

Current roster

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

Rakvere Tarvas roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
G 4 Estonia Paiste, Mario 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 25 – 3 September 1989
G 6 Estonia Laur, Siim 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 27 – 21 August 1987
G 7 Estonia Metsaru, Andri 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) 75 kg (165 lb) 19 – 13 June 1995
G 10 Estonia Peterson, Robert 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 25 – 27 March 1990
F 11 United States Haughton, David 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 23 – 1 August 1991
G 13 Estonia Kaasik, Erik 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) 14 – 20 May 2000
F 14 Estonia Jurtom, Martin 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 21 – 11 March 1994
F 15 Estonia Veevo, Taavi 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 19 – 20 October 1995
C 17 United States Brooks, Julius 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 105 kg (231 lb) 24 – 26 October 1990
F 21 Latvia Umbraško, Juris 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 35 – 25 July 1979
G 23 Estonia Tribuntsov, Raimond 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 19 – 29 November 1995
G 24 United States Raley-Ross, Brandis 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in) 89 kg (196 lb) 28 – 6 February 1987
G 30 Slovenia Špan, Jan 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 22 – 20 November 1992
G 35 Estonia Ramul, Sander 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) 18 – 27 July 1996
F 51 Estonia Hallik, Reinar 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 31 – 5 January 1984
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
  • Estonia Madis Putko
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: January 23, 2015

Leagues recap

Season KML Cup BBL Europe Coach Roster
2006–07 6th 1/4 final Andres Sõber James Allen, Maksim Darski, Allan Ehte, Timo Eichfuss, Reinar Hallik, Mattias Hunt, Mooses Kaja, Silver Kallas, Karlis Karm, Steve Käro, Priit Lokutshievski, Mihkel Mager, Kaspar Põldmaa, Kristo Saage, Madis Shumanov, Aleksandr Surovnev, Raivo Tribuntsov, Jarmaine Vanness, Karl Vimberg, Alesh Zivanovic
2007–08 9th 1/4 final Andres Sõber Maksim Darski, Allan Ehte, Eric Lane, Hubert Radke, Mart Suursu, Titi Spasojevic, Kaspar Põldmaa, Karl Vimberg, Steve Käro, Timo Eichfuss, Priit Lokutshievski, Mattias Hunt, Raido Villers, Silver Kallas, Mihkel Mager, Mooses Kaja, Dwayne Smith, Mario Luik, Andre Pärn, James Allen
2008–09 6th 1/4 final Andres Sõber Mattias Hunt, Mooses Kaja, Cristo Kens, Kristjan Keres, Mario Luik, Oliver Metsalu, Jesper Parve, Sven Pugonen, Kristo Saage, Madis Shumanov, Priit Silland, Ando Tagamets, Ivar Tulit, Joonas Vaino, Allar Velleramm, Raido Villers, Karl Vimberg
2009–10 2nd 1/4 final Andres Sõber Rainer Amor, Richard Elias Anderson, Reinar Hallik, Mattias Hunt, Sven Kaldre, Sander Karro, Cristo Kens, Marko Kostap, Valmo Kriisa, Jörgen Martinson-Hiiuväin, Oliver Metsalu, Martin Murumägi, Martin Müürsepp, Andreas Märtson, Rain Raadik, Kristo Saage, Janis Vahter, Rain Veideman, Raido Villers, Ardo Ärmpalu
2010–11 4th 2nd 21st Andres Sõber Richard Elias Anderson, Martin Dorbek, Howard Frier, Matthew Ambrose Hall, Sander Karro, Cristo Kens, Aron Kuusik, Renato Lindmets, Jörgen Martinson-Hiiuväin, Brett McGee, Oliver Metsalu, Joosep Pokla, Heiko Rannula, Kristo Saage, Ivars Timermanis, Janis Vahter, Raimonds Vaikulis, Joonas Vaino, Viljar Veski, Raido Villers
2011–12 3rd 3rd 13th Andres Sõber Janis Vahter, Timo Oja, Valmo Kriisa, Allan Ehte, Kristjan Rinaldo, Viljar Veski, Juris Umbraško, Reinar Hallik, Kaspars Cipruss, Oliver Metsalu, Martin Dorbek, Joonas Vaino, Rinalds Sirsniņš
2012-13 3rd Winner 1/4 final EuroChallenge QR Andres Sõber Oliver Metsalu, Reimo Tamm, Allan Ehte, Kaido Saks, Illimar Pilk, Raitis Grafs, Renato Lindmets, Krists Piternieks, Māris Ļaksa, Brandis Raley-Ross, Anthony Stewart, Juris Umbraško
2013-14 3rd 3rd 1/8 final EuroChallenge Group Stage Andres Sõber Māris Ļaksa, Juris Umbraško, Kristo Saage, Giedrius Gustas, Silver Leppik, Sander Saare, Mihkel Kurg, Raimond Tribuntsov, Andri Metsaru, Taavi Veevo, Madis Shumanov, Rait Keerles, Larry Hall, Gregory Jenkins, Laurynas Mikalauskas, Mattias Hunt

Honours and awards

Honours

Individual awards

Baltic League MVP of the Month

Notable players

Valmo Kriisa playing against Latvia

Players denoted in bold have represented their respective countries in the FIBA World or FIBA Europe final tournaments

References

  1. ↑ Basket.ee
  2. ↑ Paju, Tarmo. "Kaheksa klubi ihkab meistriliigasse". Õhtuleht (2006-07-27). Retrieved on 2012-03-13 (Estonian)
  3. ↑ Relegation play-off at basket.ee Retrieved on 2012-04-02 (Estonian)
  4. ↑ Jurtšenko, Ivar. "Sõber:'Kanada tsenter liitub Tarvaga nädala pärast". Delfi (2010-01-27). Retrieved on 2012-03-16 (Estonian)
  5. ↑ Värv, Maarja. "Müürsepp liitubki Tarvaga". Postimees (2010-02-25). Retrieved on 2012-03-16 (Estonian)
  6. ↑ KML Play-offs Basket.ee Retrieved on 2012-04-02 (Estonian)
  7. ↑ 2010-11 Standings at bbl.net Retrieved on 2012-04-02
  8. ↑ Järvela, Ott. "TÜ/Rock ei andnud Tarvasele mingit võimalust!". Õhtuleht (2010-12-30). Retrieved on 2012-04-02 (Estonian)
  9. ↑ Pahv, Peep. "TTÜ/Kalev alistas Tarva ja võitis pronksmedalid". Postimees (2011-05-08). Retrieved on 2012-04-02 (Estonian)
  10. ↑ "Rakvere Tarvas palkas Läti tsentri". Delfi (2011-09-01). Retrieved on 2012-03-16 (Estonian)
  11. ↑ "Veel üks Läti tippkorvpallur Eestisse - Tarvas täieneb Raimonds Vaikulisega!". Õhtuleht (2011-01-31). Retrieved on 2012-03-16 (Estonian)
  12. ↑ Arike, Ville. "Rakvere Tarva treeningutega ühines veel üks Läti ekskoondislane". Delfi (2012-01-02). Retrieved on 2012-03-16 (Estonian)
  13. ↑ Pahv, Peep. "Edmunds Valeiko ootas Kalevi kutset". Õhtuleht (2001-01-06). Retrieved on 2012-04-18 (Estonian)
  14. ↑ PRONKSID KÄES! Tarvas alistas piimameistrid ka teistkordselt Õhtuleht. 7 May 2012. Retrieved on 30 May 2012. (Estonian)
  15. ↑ "Tarvas kohtub eurosarjas türklastega, Tartul vastased idast, läänest ja lõunast". Õhtuleht (2012-07-06). Retrieved on 2012-08-10 (Estonian)
  16. ↑ "Rakvere edge Rapla to clinch Estonian Cup title". Eurobasket.com (2012-12-22). Retrieved on 2012-12-22.
  17. ↑ Arike, Ville. "Tarvas tegi seda jälle!". Õhtuleht (2012-12-22). Retrieved on 2012-12-22 (Estonian)

External links