BC Kalev
| Kalev/Cramo | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Leagues |
Korvpalli Meistriliiga VTB United League Baltic Basketball League |
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| Founded | 1998 | ||
| History |
Canon ENM (1998–1999) Ehitustööriist (1999–2005) BC Kalev/Cramo (2005–present) |
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| Arena | Saku Suurhall | ||
| Capacity | 7,200 | ||
| Location | Tallinn, Estonia | ||
| Team colors | Blue, White |
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| President | Ivar Valdmaa | ||
| Head coach | Alar Varrak | ||
| Championships |
8 Estonian Championships 6 Estonian Cups |
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| Website | www |
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| Uniforms | |||
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BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia. They play in the Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML), Baltic Basketball League (BBL) and VTB United League. Their home arena is the Saku Suurhall.
Kalev/Cramo have won 8 Estonian Championships and 6 Estonian Cups.
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 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.
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. The team also competed in the regional Baltic Basketball League for the first time, finishing in 7th place with a 8–10 record.
Coming off their first Estonian Championship, Ehitustööriist leased the trademark "Kalev" from AS Kalev and became BC Kalev/Cramo. 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. In the KML, Kalev/Cramo finished the regular season in first place with a 21–3 record and reached the finals in the playoffs. The team defended their title, defeating TÜ/Rock 4 games to 3, winning the deciding seventh game 69–68. James 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.
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