Estonian basketball

[rikhardur]

Estonian league (KML), national team et al should go here :)


Valga signed Lithuanian centre Darius Šilinskis.

[Richey666]

Surprising Valga was able to hire Silinskis, he's gonna bring them medal in Estonian championship for sure.

[Gytaz]

Surprising Valga was able to hire Silinskis, he's gonna bring them medal in Estonian championship for sure.

What's the point of your sarcasm?

[Basket_]

Estonian league (KML), national team et al should go here :)


Valga signed Lithuanian centre Darius Šilinskis.

In his debut game, Šilinskis scored 17 points, grabed 12 rebounds and blocked 7(!) shots and his team won the game.

[Demarr]

The championship is surprisingly even this year. It's been a long time since anyone else than BC Kalev/Cramo or Rock played in the finals. The table at the moment:

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/6665/turniiritabel.png

The first 3 columns are: games played, victories, losses.

[Straight forward]

What's the point of your sarcasm?

That's not sarcasm, that's reality Richey is talking about :) Valga is one of the best Estonian teams so far.

Demarr, how do you think, Estonian BB is becoming more popular or is it going forward last two years? Yes, we've noticed more competitive Estonian teams in BBL lately, but I can't decide is it the progress of your teams or just the result of Latvian and Lithuanian club level being dropped. How about NT? Are there interesting prospects around?

[Gytaz]

That's not sarcasm, that's reality Richey is talking about :)

Damn, I was so used to Richey bashing everything related to Lithuania, I just automatically assumed that it was sarcasm. :o:o:o

[Demarr]

Demarr, how do you think, Estonian BB is becoming more popular or is it going forward last two years? Yes, we've noticed more competitive Estonian teams in BBL lately, but I can't decide is it the progress of your teams or just the result of Latvian and Lithuanian club level being dropped. How about NT? Are there interesting prospects around?

Sorry for the late reply, didn't notice this until today.

In my opinion, last year BC Kalev/Cramo and Tartu Rock had the best rosters in their history. However this year, the level of the two grand clubs (BC Kalev/Cramo & Tartu Rock) has dropped, no doubt about that. Mainly because the foreigners aren't as good as they were last year. BC Kalev/Cramo's budget decreased about 40%-50% compared to last year.
Rest of the Estonian teams on the other hand, seem to be a bit stronger than they were before. So thats what makes the level more even.

Popularity? I dare to say that average attendances have gone up this year. Rakvere Tarvas is a very good example - f.e 1700 people attended Tarvas-Rock game according to the official stats. Some people on the contrary claim that there were more than 2000 people at that game. Pretty good number for a town with a population of only 17000. I don't really know the numbers for smaller clubs in the LKL (would be interesting to know though) but for Estonian league that kind of number is quite good. Wouldn't surprise me at all if that number keeps growing during the season.

About the national team..we still haven't chosen the new headcoach. There seems to be two candidates, both Estonians, for that job - Indrek Visnapuu of Tartu Rock and Tiit Sokk. The most interesting prospects, atleast for me, are two guards - Rain Veideman (Tarvas, born 1991, 13.5 PPG this year) and Rannar Raap (KK Pärnu, born 1992, 13.8 PPG). I don't really expect much from them but at the moment they seem to be the brightest talents we got.

[Demarr]

Rakvere Tarvas keeps making pleasant surprises - this time they managed to beat Tartu Rock by 19 points, 93-74! Kristo Saage scored 29 points, Valmo Kriisa & Rain Veideman supported him with 23 and 17 points respectively. Todd Abernethy got 20 points for Rock.

Meanwhile Valga/CKE Inkasso is looking to add a new pointguard at the beginning of the new year. It will probably be a Lithuanian, according to headcoach Augenijus Vaskys,

[Demarr]

Estonian NT got themselves a new headcoach - Tiit Sokk (or also known as Tout Giannopoulos for Greeks). The contract length is 2+2.

The plan is to use our time in the B-division so we could rebuild the team and return to the A-division as a stronger and more competitive team.

Sokk said that he wanted to start using players from younger generation a lot earlier but back then, the pressure to stay in the A-division was too big (Sokk was the NT coach during 2004-2007). Now that we are in the B-division, we got nothing to lose. I hope these aren't just words that mean nothing and the dead wood will be actually gone.

What was also mentioned, was that we are probably going to naturalize a foreign center. According to Sokk, it should be a rather young player, who would be ready to commit his future with Estonia.

Hopefully this long-term plan will end well and the rise of Estonian basketball will eventually start. Naive, but optimistic as I am.

[Chigusa]

Demarr,

Club Kalev/Cramo plays in 3 leagues, Estonia, regional Baltic, & VTB United. As follower from the States this is very interesting. What effect does playing in three different leagues have on the players physically? Does the club approach every game in the same way or do they place some games of higher importance? And what do you think about Kalev in Estonian League..now 6-3 but it is really competitive league, not sure they have enough to get back near the top of the standings.

[Mindozas]

Rakvere Tarvas keeps making pleasant surprises - this time they managed to beat Tartu Rock by 19 points, 93-74! Kristo Saage scored 29 points, Valmo Kriisa & Rain Veideman supported him with 23 and 17 points respectively. Todd Abernethy got 20 points for Rock.

Meanwhile Valga/CKE Inkasso is looking to add a new pointguard at the beginning of the new year. It will probably be a Lithuanian, according to headcoach Augenijus Vaskys,

It might be Mazutis, I've read that some estonian team shows interest in him, but he has few offers from latvian and lith clubs too

[Demarr]

Demarr,

Club Kalev/Cramo plays in 3 leagues, Estonia, regional Baltic, & VTB United. As follower from the States this is very interesting. What effect does playing in three different leagues have on the players physically? Does the club approach every game in the same way or do they place some games of higher importance? And what do you think about Kalev in Estonian League..now 6-3 but it is really competitive league, not sure they have enough to get back near the top of the standings.

Our coach Nenad Vucinic usually tries to rest some key players when we are playing Estonian league games. The results there aren't exactly good, as you pointed out. The most important league at the moment for us, I believe, is the Baltic League. Last season we had a great team but narrowly missed out on the Final Four (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLCO3khWvXM), therefore it would be nice if we could make it up this season.

So far I haven't heard the players whine about being tired, but I am afraid that sooner or later it might start having an effect, especially on our frontline. We only got 3 guys, who are taller than 2 metres - Ken Johnson (210), Rait Keerles (201) and Viljar Veski (215). Veski usually doesn't do anything useful for us so Vucinic can't really rely on him. Lack of big men soon could be a big problem for us.


It might be Mazutis, I've read that some estonian team shows interest in him, but he has few offers from latvian and lith clubs too

Would be a very good signing for Valga imo. I highly doubt they could afford him though.

[Demarr]

Valga signed Lithuanian guard Gediminas Navickas. He will be their second foreigner player as they also signed Giedrius Rinkevicius few weeks ago.

[Demarr]

Martin Müürsepp (NBA and CSKA Moscow during his best years) could be making a comeback. After more than 2 years of absence, Rakvere Tarvas added the 35-year-old veteran to their roster.

[Demarr]

The G4S KML final series between Tartu Rock and Rakvere Tarvas have been under way for some time now and the second game was played today. Tarvas are leading 2-0 in overall at the moment as Rock couldn't use their home court advantage. The next two games will take place in Rakvere on Thursday and on Sunday.

Tartu Rock - Rakvere Tarvas 54-70
Tartu Rock - Rakvere Tarvas 63-66

[rikhardur]

Rock Tartu champions for the fourth consecutive year.

[sagenas]

The G4S KML final series between Tartu Rock and Rakvere Tarvas have been under way for some time now and the second game was played today. Tarvas are leading 2-0 in overall at the moment as Rock couldn't use their home court advantage. The next two games will take place in Rakvere on Thursday and on Sunday.

Tartu Rock - Rakvere Tarvas 54-70
Tartu Rock - Rakvere Tarvas 63-66

by the way, what do you think about Estonian player Sim-Sander Vene?

[Demarr]

Two teams that played in the BBL Challenge Cup last year, Tallinna Kalev and TTÜ, decided to merge. The new team is now called Kalev/TTÜ (how original :D). They also signed precontract with Canadian shooting guard Casey Archibald.

BC Kalev/Cramo made their first movements on the market too as they announced Aivar Kuusmaa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aivar_Kuusmaa) as their headcoach for the next 3 years.

[rikhardur]

Two teams that played in the BBL Challenge Cup last year, Tallinna Kalev and TTÜ, decided to merge. The new team is now called Kalev/TTÜ (how original :D). They also signed precontract with Canadian shooting guard Casey Archibald.

BC Kalev/Cramo made their first movements on the market too as they announced Aivar Kuusmaa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aivar_Kuusmaa) as their headcoach for the next 3 years.
I think there will be lot of confusion between the two teams :p

[auris1]

I think there will be lot of confusion between the two teams :p

why?
I noticed the smiley,but still...
Estonians are not that slow)

[rikhardur]

why?
I noticed the smiley,but still...
Estonians are not that slow)
I didn't mean Estonians in particular, I just wanted to say that two Kalev teams will create some confusion if you don't add the TTÜ, Cramo or BC to it. At least to me :D

[auris1]

I didn't mean Estonians in particular, I just wanted to say that two Kalev teams will create some confusion if you don't add the TTÜ, Cramo or BC to it. At least to me :D
Nah Rick
i know what you meant,no need to explain.
It just what we don't say it out loud around here

[ErikEst]

Hey everyone, who are interested in Estonian league, Estonian NT, Estonian teams and our players. I have a blog about all of that. It is in Estonian, but in the upper right hand corner i have an Google Translator application to translate the text in a language you want it. It's not the perfect solution, but it's the best i have time for right now. I'm thinking of making this a bilingual blog (Estonian & English), but that will happen probably, when the KML regular season starts. Please give me feedback on it. My last post is actually a preview for the new season, where i talk about all the teams, who they aquired, who the lost, their budgets, hopes for the season and all that.

http://kmlblogi.blogspot.com/

If you want to know anything about Estonian basketball, ask me.

[Demarr]

The rosters of Estonian BBL Elite teams so far:

BC Kalev/Cramo

PG: Tanel Sokk, Reimo Tamm, Marko Riis
SG: Gert Dorbek, Kristo Orula
SF: Gregor Arbet, Kaido Saks
PF: Rait Keerles, Jason Jones (USA-FRA), Kristjan Kitsing
C: Robert Krabbendam (NED), Joosep Toome

Headcoach: Aivar Kuusmaa, assistants: Alar Varrak, Martin Müürsepp

The first choice for the center position was actually Artsiom Parakhouski, who in the end signed for VEF. There were some talks about recruiting Josh Lomers, but the club and the player couldn't find an agreement and now that Kalev hired Toome, the arrival seems highly unlikely. I'm also quite excited about the prospect of Kitsing, who has been training with Kalev for some time now (although I'm not sure if Rock and Kalev have agreed the buyout yet), he could turn out quite handy for Kalev.

Tartu Rock

PG: Nate Rohnert (USA), Sten Sokk
SG: Giorgi Tsintsadze (GEO), Silver Leppik, Kristjan Evart
SF: Timo Eichfuss, Marek Doronin, Tanel Kurbas
PF: Janar Talts, Asko Paade, Rain Raadik
C: Callistus Eziukwu (USA), Vallo Allingu

Headcoach: Indrek Visnapuu, assistants: Gert Kullamäe, Toomas Kandimaa

Rock announced the signings of Tsintsadze and Talts today. Janar Talts has got a clause in his contract that allows him to leave abroad if a good offer comes around and I really hope it does. Rohnert and Eziukwu are still on try-out period.

TTÜ/Kalev

PG: Valmo Kriisa, Raido Roos
SG: Casey Archibald (CAN), Margus Klementsov, Sixten Tomingas
SF: Illimar Pilk, Kiur Akenpärg, Erik Keedus, Mooses Kaja
PF: Bambale Osby (USA), Andre Pärn
C: Kristjan Makke, Gabriel Hughes (USA)

Headcoach: Üllar Kerde, assistant: Margus Metstak

[ErikEst]

Are you sure, that Sixten T. is gonna play in the TTÜ/Kalev's first team?

[Demarr]

Are you sure, that Sixten T. is gonna play in the TTÜ/Kalev's first team?

Well, their official website has it so and after all he played for them in Rakvere Cup. I wouldn't be very surprised if he started the season with the second team though.

[ErikEst]

Estonian league standings right now.

BC Kalev/Cramo 5-0
Tartu Ülikool/Rock 4-1
KK Pärnu 2-1
Tallinna Kalev/TTÜ 3-2
Tallinna Kalev/TTÜ II 3-2
BC Rakvere Tarvas 2-3
Valga/CKE Inkasso 1-3
Piimameister Otto/Rapla 1-4
Võru KK 0-5

STATS

Points
Rannar Raap ('92) KK Pärnu - 25.0
Anthony Brown Valga/CKE Inkasso - 21.5
Heigo Erm PM Otto/Rapla - 18.6

Rebounds
Anthony Brown Valga/CKE Inkasso - 11.8
Silver Kuuba Võru KK - 10.2
Callistus Eziukwu TÜ/Rock - 9.8

Assists
Reimo Tamm BC Kalev/Cramo - 4.4
Rain Kärner ('91) KK Pärnu - 4.0
Derek Winston Valga/CKE Inkasso -3.8

Blocks
Callistus Eziukwu TÜ/Rock - 2.0
Bambale Osby TTÜ/Kalev - 1.8
Anthony Brown Valga/CKE Inkasso - 1.3

Steals
Timo Oja Valga/CKE Inkasso - 3.0
Rannar Raap ('92) KK Pärnu - 3.0
Heigo Erm PM Otto/Rapla - 2.8


Also, I'm doing a TOP3 of Estonian league ESTONIAN players for each position this week. First up were Point Guards, check it out --> http://kmlblogi-english.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-3-pgs.html

[cikladols]

What about these players - Martin Viiask, Kristo Aab, Erik Dorbek, Ardo Armpalu, Raido Villers ? Are they playing somewhere this season or maybe retired ?

[Demarr]

What about these players - Martin Viiask, Kristo Aab, Erik Dorbek, Ardo Armpalu, Raido Villers ? Are they playing somewhere this season or maybe retired ?

None of them is playing in KML anymore, so I believe they are retired, yes. At least they aren't playing on professional level.

[rikhardur]

Rock Tartu claimed the Estonian Cup after beating Tarvas 81-51.

[Demarr]

Estonian champions BC Kalev/Cramo resigned with Armands Škele. 2-years contract.

http://bckalev.ee/full_uudis.php?action=fullnews&showcomments=1&id=120

[rikhardur]

Tartu Ulikool clinch Estonian Cup title

Tartu Ulikool - Kalev/Cramo 87:81

Tartu Ulikool celebrated the Estonian Cup title. They overcame their archrivals Kalev/Cramo in the Final. Vallo Allingu (206-C-78) stepped up with 23 points and 8 rebounds to pace the winners.
It was a tough battle from starting minutes. The teams were knotted at 21 after ten minutes of action. Tartu Ulikool put their noses in front in the second frame. They earned a narrow 45:41 halftime advantage. Tartu boosted the gap in the third term. They stretched the margin to as many as 7 points 70:63. Kalev/Cramo tried to stay within striking distance throughout the final period but Tartu remained calm and executed the victory at the end. Tanel Kurbas (197-F-88) posted 15 points, while Bill Amis (205-F-87, college: Hawaii) finished with 14 points in the winning effort. Tanel Sokk (184-G-85) answered with 15 points for Kalev/Cramo. Gert Dorbek (194-G-85) had 14 points in the loss.

Tartu Ulikool: Vallo Allingu 23, Tanel Kurbas 15, Bill Amis 14
Kalev/Cramo: Tanel Sokk 15, Gert Dorbek 14
http://www.eurobasket.com/Estonia/basketball.asp?NewsID=254396

[njOb]

Hehee, I didn't know that we hav Estonian Cup. Anyways Tartu Ülikool have new head-coach Gert Kullamäe.
http://www.eurobasket.com/Estonia/basketball.asp?NewsID=257239

[rikhardur]

99BuRhj29HY

[rikhardur]

Kalev/Cramo Clinch Title

BC Kalev/Cramo Tallinn have captured their third Estonian league title in the last four years after winning all four of their games in the play-off championship against Tartu Ulikool.

Having finished second during the regular season with a 23-5 record behind first-place Tartu (25-3), Kalev/Cramo marched through the post-season unbeaten.

Aivar Kuusimaa's team claimed a 3-0 sweep of Tarvas in the semi-finals and then rolled to 75-63 and 84-66 triumphs in the first two games of the title series at Tartu.

In front of the home fans, Kalev/Cramo trailed by three at half-time of Game 3 but fought back in the second half and won 87-76 in overtime to take a firm grip on the series.

They captured the crown with a 72-65 Game 4 victory, and the players brought out the champagne on the court in the post-game party.

The coach of Tartu, Gert Kullamae, shrugged his shoulders after watching the trophy go to Kalev/Cramo.

"The first two meetings in the final series got out of hand, and with it everything else," he said.

Bamba Fall was sensational at the start and end of the series for the winners.

He poured in 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the opener and finished with 18 points and 19 rebounds in Game 4.
http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_,J-ddtQbJ4Mlg6Kt3GyM90.articleMode_on.html

[Demarr]

Tartu added Egidijus Dimša and Ivan Nelyubov.

[Mindozas]

Tartu added Egidijus Dimša and Ivan Nelyubov.

Maybe you or someone else knows what's current Kalev roster? Somehow not much info on their site. Thnx

[Demarr]

Kalev looks pretty much like this at the moment:

Tanel Sokk PG 188cm
Martin Dorbek PG 194cm
Armands Škele SG/SF 192cm
Gert Dorbek SG/SF 193cm
Gregor Arbet SG/SF 195cm (?)
Rait Keerles SF/PF 201cm
Toomas Raadik SF/PF 202cm
Kristjan Kitsing PF/C 205cm
Gary Wilkinson PF/C 204cm
Bamba Fall C 217cm

So far they've signed American Gary Wilkinson, who had a great season in Australian NBL, and also managed to keep Bamba Fall (he had interest from Samara last season for example) and Armands Škele. Although Škele recently had severe health problems during Latvian NT camp and was hospitalized, so it's hard to predict how things will go for him. As for domestic players, they signed Rait Keerles who came back from Germany and also added Martin Dorbek and Toomas Raadik, who are both pretty young and don't have much experience at international level. Don't know much about Arbet - I can only guess he'll wait until the national team matches are over and see what offers he would get from abroad.

They are still looking to add a point guard and a back-up center, both of whom would be foreigners.

[Demarr]

Some news from local teams:

Tartu signed with Justin Ingram. What is more, the team will return to its former name - ''Rock''.

Tarvas added Raitis Grafs.

BC Kalev signed with PG Derek Glasser. They almost had Ashton Gibbs for that position, but he finally decided to opt for Panionios. They are still looking for a center as one of their candidates joined with unnamed Euroleague club this morning..

[Demarr]

Lithuanians might found this interesting: KK Pärnu signed Augustas Peciukevicius and Osvaldas Matulionis. The headcoach will be Priit Vene, who worked in Lithuania before.

[Khalid80]

Annika Koster (185-PF/C-1992, Estonian senior NT member) representing Estonia in the FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Athens.

I watched Estonia's game against the U.S and she seemed to be the best player on the team.

4572

[Demarr]

VTB League participant BC Kalev/Cramo pretty much closed their roster now after adding Ty Abbott and Frank Elegar. Škele still hasn't got permission from the doctors to start training again and no-one really knows when and if he will be back. At the moment, things are looking like this:

C- Bamba Fall, Frank Elegar
PF- Gary Wilkinson, Rait Keerles, Kristjan Kitsing
SF- Gregor Arbet, Toomas Raadik, Kristo Mangelsoo
SG- Ty Abbott, Gert Dorbek
PG - Derek Glasser, Tanel Sokk, Martin Dorbek

[Demarr]

BC Kalev/Cramo signed with Keith McLeod, who'll replace Derek Glasser (didn't pass the trial period).