Estonian basketball

[Demarr]

TU/Rock and Kalev/Cramo have both almost completed their rosters for the upcoming season.

EuroChallenge participant TU/Rock announced the signings of Vincent Simpson, Augustas Peciukevicius and Serbian center Uros Lukovic, who shined with impressive performances in last years Balkan League. They also signed deals with Janar Talts (last year in Varese Cimberio) and Gert Dorbek (Kalev/Cramo).

VTB and EuroCup participant Kalev/Cramo have extended the contracts of Frank Elegar, Armands Škele and Tyshawn Abbott. In addition to that, they also signed with Romanian PF Vlad Moldoveanu and PG Devin Gibson (last year in Frankfurt). As for major Estonian players, they managed to keep Tanel Sokk and add promising Rain Veideman. They are still hoping that Gregor Arbet will sign also.

[Demarr]

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

[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

[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.

Annika.jpg

[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.

[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]

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.

[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]

Tartu added Egidijus Dimša and Ivan Nelyubov.

[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

[rikhardur]

[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]

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

[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]

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