BC Kalev/Cramo

Kalev/Cramo
Leagues Korvpalli Meistriliiga
VTB United League
Baltic Basketball League
Founded 1998 (1998)
History Canon ENM
(1998–1999)
Ehitustööriist
(1999–2005)
BC Kalev/Cramo
(2005–present)
Arena Saku Suurhall
Arena Capacity 7,200
Location Tallinn, Estonia
Team colors Blue, White
         
President Ivar Valdmaa
Head coach Alar Varrak
Championships 8 Estonian Championships
5 Estonian Cups
Website www.bckalev.ee
Uniforms
Home
Away

BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia. They play in the Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) and in the regional VTB United League. Their home arena is the Saku Suurhall.

Kalev/Cramo have won 8 Estonian Championships and 5 Estonian Cups.

History

Early years (1998–2005)

Founded in 1998, the club started out as Canon ENM. Coached by Allan Dorbek the team joined top-tier Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML) for the 1998–99 season. The club's first season was a disappointment, as the team finished in last place without winning a single game. In 1999, the team was renamed Ehitustööriist. The team's results improved slowly as Ehitustööriist finished the league in 7th place for four consecutive seasons. In 2003, the club merged with Audentes and became Ehitustööriist/Audentes, while the former Estonia national basketball team coach Maarten van Gent was hired as head coach. The team finished the 2003–04 season in 5th place. After the season, Ehitustööriist/Audentes dissolved and both clubs continued separately.[1]

In 2004, Ehitustööriist moved to the new 7,200-seat Saku Suurhall. The team finished the 2004–05 regular season with a 12–4 record and dominant in the playoffs. In the KML Finals, they faced TÜ/Rock. Ehitustööriist won the series and the team's first Estonian Championship 4 games to 3. Howard Frier was named Most Valuable Player of the season.[1] The team also competed in the regional Baltic Basketball League for the first time, finishing in 7th place with a 8–10 record.

BC Kalev/Cramo (2005–present)

Coming off their first Estonian Championship, Ehitustööriist leased the trademark "Kalev" from AS Kalev and became BC Kalev/Cramo.[1][2] Allan Dorbek was replaced as head coach by former Estonia national team shooting guard Aivar Kuusmaa for the 2005–06 season. On 2 October 2005, the team won their first Estonian Cup, defeating TÜ/Rock 70–64 in the final. Kalev/Cramo also made their debut in Europe, entering the 2005–06 season of the FIBA EuroCup but failed to advance past the group stage with just one victory in 6 games.[3] In the KML, Kalev/Cramo finished the regular season in first place with a 21–3 record and reached the finals in the playoffs. Led by Rait Keerles and James Williams, the team defended their title, defeating TÜ/Rock 4 games to 3, winning the deciding seventh game 69–68. Williams was named KML Finals MVP and Kuusmaa won the Coach of the Year award. Despite that, Kuusmaa was replaced by Veselin Matić for the 2006–07 season.

Valmo Kriisa (left), and Kristjan Kangur (right) have both been named Estonian Player of the Year while playing for Kalev/Cramo.

The team won their second Estonian Cup in 2006, but was unable to defend the title. Kalev/Cramo reached the finals but lost the series 2–4 to TÜ/Rock. Despite losing in the finals, Valmo Kriisa won the Estonian Player of the Year award, while Travis Reed was named KML and BBL MVP and Matić won the Coach of the Year award.[1] Kalev/Cramo saw limited success in Europe, reaching the second round in the 2006–07 FIBA EuroCup and competing in the European second tier 2007–08 ULEB Cup, but a record of 3–7 wasn't enough to advance past the group stage. The team won another Estonian Cup in 2007 and reached the KML Finals in the 2007–08 season, but were swept by TÜ/Rock.

In 2008, New Zealand national basketball team coach Nenad Vučinić replaced Matić as head coach. Kalev/Cramo won their fourth consecutive Estonian Cup in 2008. The team finished the 2008–09 regular season in second place. In the semifinals, Kalev/Cramo easily dispatched TTÜ in three games to reach the KML Finals. In the Finals, the team defeated TÜ/Rock 4 games to 2 and captured their third title. Forward Kristjan Kangur was named the KML Finals MVP and the Estonian Player of the Year. In 2009, the team joined the newly established VTB United League.[1] In December 2009, Vučinić left Kalev/Cramo. The team struggled in the 2009–10 season and finished the regular season in fourth place with a 19–9 record under the former assistant coach Alar Varrak. The team lost in the semifinals to TÜ/Rock but won the bronze medals in the third place games, winning the series in two games against TTÜ.

Gregor Arbet has been named to the All-KML Team a record 5 times, 4 while playing for Kalev/Cramo.

In July 2010, Aivar Kuusmaa returned to Kalev/Cramo. Led by Gregor Arbet and Armands Šķēle, the team finished the 2010–11 regular season in first place. In the playoffs, Kalev/Cramo swept Rakvere Tarvas in the semifinals 3–0 and TÜ/Rock in the finals 4–0. Šķēle was named Finals MVP and Kuusmaa won his second Coach of the Year award. Led by star players Gregor Arbet, Bamba Fall and Tanel Sokk, Kalev/Cramo defended their title in the 2011–12 season, defeating Tartu Ülikool in the KML Finals in a four-game sweep. Sokk was named Finals MVP and Kuusmaa once again won the Coach of the Year award.[1]

Kalev/Cramo struggled early in the 2012–13 season and after a 69–95 defeat to Rakvere Tarvas on 22 November 2012, Kuusmaa was sacked, with assistant coach Alar Varrak taking over the coaching reins.[4] Despite the poor start, Kalev/Cramo finished the regular season in first place and swept the playoffs. Kalev/Cramo won 6th Estonian Championship as Tanel Sokk claimed his second straight KML Finals MVP award. Alar Varrak was named Coach of the Year. The team also placed third in the 2012–13 Baltic Basketball League. With star players Gregor Arbet and Frank Elegar and the additions of Vlad Moldoveanu and Rain Veideman, the team's success continued in the 2013–14 season. Kalev/Cramo once again finished the regular season in first place and was undefeated in the playoffs. Kalev/Cramo won their fourth consecutive Estonian Championship, while Moldoveanu was named KML Finals MVP and Varrak won his second Coach of the Year award. The team finished the 2014–15 regular season in second place. Kalev/Cramo swept TTÜ in the quarterfinals and Rapla in the semifinals. In the Finals, Kalev/Cramo once again faced TÜ/Rock, but lost the series 1–4. On 20 December 2015, Kalev/Cramo won their fifth Estonian Cup, defeating TÜ/Rock 73–55 in the final. Kalev/Cramo finished the 2015–16 season regular season in first place and undefeated. The team extended their winning streak in the quarter- and semifinals. In the KML Finals, the team faced TÜ/Rock and won the series 4 games to 1, the single loss being the team's only defeat in the season. Rolands Freimanis was named Finals MVP.[5][6]

Sponsorship naming

Kalev/Cramo has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship. In 2005, the team leased the trademark "Kalev" from AS Kalev and became BC Kalev/Cramo.[1]

Home arenas

Saku Suurhall is the home arena of Kalev/Cramo since 2004.

Players

Current roster

Kalev/Cramo roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG 5 Estonia Sokk, Sten 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 27 – (1989-02-14)14 February 1989
SG 6 Estonia Veideman, Rain 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 25 – (1991-10-01)1 October 1991
PF 9 Estonia Tass, Matthias 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) 99 kg (218 lb) 17 – (1999-03-23)23 March 1999
SG 10 Belarus Liutych, Vitali 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 24 – (1992-05-09)9 May 1992
PG 11 Estonia Dorbek, Martin 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 85 kg (187 lb) 25 – (1991-01-21)21 January 1991
C 12 United States Simmons, Cedric 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 107 kg (236 lb) 30 – (1986-01-03)3 January 1986
SF 13 Estonia Arbet, Gregor (C) 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 33 – (1983-06-19)19 June 1983
PG 15 Russia Gavrilov, Aleksandr 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 20 – (1996-04-10)10 April 1996
SG 22 United States Harper, Demonte 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 88 kg (194 lb) 27 – (1989-06-21)21 June 1989
PF 23 United States Tollefsen, Mark 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 24 – (1992-11-21)21 November 1992
SG 25 Estonia Jurno, Silver 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 20 – (1996-04-13)13 April 1996
SF 31 Estonia Keedus, Erik 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 26 – (1990-04-27)27 April 1990
C 32 United States Gladness, Mickell 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) 104 kg (229 lb) 30 – (1986-07-26)26 July 1986
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured

Roster
Updated: 1 December 2016

Depth Chart

Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2 Bench 3
C Mickell Gladness Cedric Simmons
PF Mark Tollefsen Erik Keedus Matthias Tass
SF Gregor Arbet Vitali Liutych
SG Demonte Harper Rain Veideman Silver Jurno
PG Sten Sokk Martin Dorbek Aleksandr Gavrilov

In

Out

Coaches

Season by season

Season Tier Division Pos. Postseason RS PO Estonian Cup VTB United League Baltic Basketball League European competitions
1998–99 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 6 0–25 N/A
1999–00 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 7 2–28 N/A
2000–01 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 7 10–25 N/A
2001–02 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 7 3–27 N/A
2002–03 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 7 14–25 Quarterfinalist
2003–04 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 5 15–27 Semifinalist
2004–05 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Champion 14–4 9–3 Quarterfinalist Baltic Basketball League 7th 8–10
2005–06 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 1 Champion 21–3 7–3 Champion Baltic Basketball League 9th 15–17 3 EuroCup RS 1–5
2006–07 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Runner-up 31–5 7–4 Champion Baltic Basketball League QF 17–13 3 EuroCup T16 2–8
2007–08 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Runner-up 33–3 5–4 Champion Baltic Basketball League QF 8–14 2 ULEB Cup RS 3–7
2008–09 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Champion 23–5 7–2 Champion Baltic Basketball League QF 13–8 3 EuroChallenge RS 2–4
2009–10 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 4 Third place 19–9 6–4 Runner-up VTB United League RS 0–6 Baltic Basketball League 7th 7–11
2010–11 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 1 Champion 29–3 7–0 Third place VTB United League RS 1–9 Baltic Basketball League 9th 12–10
2011–12 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Champion 23–5 7–0 Runner-up VTB United League RS 2–14 Baltic Basketball League QF 13–10
2012–13 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 1 Champion 28–4 10–0 Third place VTB United League RS 3–15 Baltic Basketball League 3rd 14–6
2013–14 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Champion 29–2 10–0 Runner-up VTB United League RS 2–16 2 Eurocup RS 3–7
2014–15 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 2 Runner-up 26–6 7–4 Third place VTB United League 9th 13–17 Baltic Basketball League T16 8–4
2015–16 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga 1 Champion 32–0 10–1 Champion VTB United League 14th 8–22 3 Europe Cup RS 0–6
2016–17 1 Korvpalli Meistriliiga N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A VTB United League N/A N/A Baltic Basketball League N/A N/A

Trophies and awards

Trophies

Estonian Championship

Estonian Cup

Individual awards

Estonian Player of the Year

KML MVP

KML Finals MVP

KML Best Defender

KML Coach of the Year

BBL MVP

All-KML Team

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Klubist" (in Estonian). BC Kalev.
  2. "Kalev on surnud? Elagu Kalev!" (in Estonian). Delfi. 30 June 2005.
  3. "BC Kalev trash PAOK for first victory.". FIBA Europe. 29 November 2005.
  4. "AMETLIK: Kalev/Cramo lõpetas Kuusmaaga koostöö, peatreenerina jätkab Varrak" (in Estonian). Delfi. 24 November 2012.
  5. "Kalev/Cramo kindlustas meistritiitli koguni 27-punktise võiduga!" (in Estonian). Delfi. 27 May 2016.
  6. "Kalev/Cramo purustas Tartu Rocki ja tuli Eesti meistriks" (in Estonian). Postimees. 27 May 2016.

External links

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