Achilleas

This article is about the basketball club. For the Greek hero, see Achilles.
Achilleas Kaimakli
Αχιλλέας Καϊμακλίου
Leagues Cypriot Division A
Founded 1943 (1943)
History 1943 - present
Arena Gymnasium Palouriotissas (1000)
Location Nicosia, Cyprus
Team colors blue and white
Head coach Takis Mirallais (men's head coach);
Championships 5 Cypriot Championships
7 Cypriot Cups
Website www.achilleas.com.cy
Uniforms
Home
Away

Achilleas (Αχιλλέας Καϊμακλίου) is a Cypriot basketball club founded in 1943, nowadays running basketball, volleyball and table tennis divisions. It has been a part of the community in the suburb of Kaimakli in Nicosia. The club is named after Achilles (Ἀχιλλεύς) a legendary figure of the Greek mythology.

Basketball

The Men's basketball division was one of the founding clubs of the Cyprus Basketball Federation. In terms of trophies Achilleas has won the Cyprus Basketball League five times, making it the 3rd most successful team on the island to date behind EKA AEL and APOEL. Through their domestic successes they have represented the island in several European competitions such as the Korać Cup (in 1999 and 2001), the Saporta Cup in 2000 and the Euroleague (historically The European Champions Cup).[1] Several of Achilleas' players have been selected for the men's Cyprus national basketball team.

The most successful season was in 1992/93 when 6'11 Spider (Stephan) Ledesma and 6'4 Joseph Hutt, Native American players from the United States, led Club Achilleas to its last league championship. On opening night of the preseason, Club Achilleas led by a 48-point haul from Ledesma, overwhelmed a Div.I Greek team at Apoel stadium by 22 points. No team from Cyprus had ever defeated a first division team from Greece before—or since. Ledesma and Hutt led Achilleas to a 10-0 preseason and then league-best record of 17-1, though Hutt missed almost half of the team's regular season games due to a calf injury. In the finals, they defeated Club Apoel and John Flowers of UNLV 4 games to 1. Club Achilleas went 12-1 in the post season for a total record of 39-2. Spider was named League MVP & Finals MVP and declared the 'greatest foreigner to ever play in Cyprus' as voted by the Cypriot sports media.

The Women's basketball division competes in the Cyprus Women's Basketball League - First division. It has also represented Cyprus in European competitions.[2]

Home games are played at the indoor Pallouriotisa Arena which only has a capacity for about 1,000 fans. The proximity of fans to the playing field has given it a reputation as an intimidating and tough home ground for away teams.

Roster

Achilleas Kaimakliou Roster
Players Coaches
Pos. Νο. Nat. Name Ht.
PG 4 Cyprus Giannas, Panayiotis 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
SG 5 United States Johnson, Anthony 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
SG 6 Cyprus Pantouris, Grigoris 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
C 7 Serbia Todic, Miroslav 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
PF 8 United States Biggs, Tyrell 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
SG 9 Cyprus Georgiou, Giorgos (C) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
SF 11 Cyprus Stylianou, Stratis 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
C 12 Montenegro Djikanovic, Savo 2.12 m (6 ft 11 in)
PF 13 Bulgaria Angelov, Dimitar 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
PG 14 United States Frasor, Bobby 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
PF 15 Cyprus Theocharidis, Giorgos 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
Head coach
  • Cyprus Kyriakos Giangoullis
Assistant coach(es)
  • Cyprus Alexis Lekisvili

Legend
  • (C) Team captain

Former players

  • United States Spider (Stephan) Ledesma
  • United States Joseph Hutt
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Marko Milisević
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Vladimir Radovanović
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Branko Zotović
  • Bulgaria Emil Jonov
  • Serbia Nikola Kuga
  • Serbia Andelko Mandić
  • Serbia United States Dejan Matić
  • Serbia Zivko Misiraca
  • Serbia Djordje Pantelić
  • Serbia Zoran Stevanović

Volleyball

The Men's volleyball division was one of the founding members of the Cyprus Volleyball Federation.[3] It currently competes in the Cyprus Men's Volleyball Second division.[4]

Honours

Men's Basketball

Women's Basketball

References

  1. "Achileeas European participation". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  2. "FIBA Europe Ronchetti Cup: 2001 teams". FIBA Europe. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  3. "History of the Cyprus Volleyball federation". CVF. Archived from the original on 16 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-16.
  4. "Second division standings 2006-7". CVF. Archived from the original on 8 February 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-16.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, August 03, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.