Estonia national basketball team
Encyclopedia
The Estonian National Basketball Team is the basketball team that represents Estonia
in international competitions.
held by the International Basketball Federation
's FIBA Europe
continental federation. They finished third in their four-team preliminary group after winning one game and losing two. This relegated the team to the classification matches, where they defeated Czechoslovakia
and then Latvia
to earn the fifth place finish.
. This put them in a tie with France
, which the Estonians lost because they had been defeated by France in head-to-head play.
. The first official match was played between Estonia and France
, which Estonia won 34–29.
| valign="top" |
Head coach
Assistant coaches
----
Legend:
|}
!width="40"|Pos.
!width="165"|Starter
!width="165"|Bench
!width="165"|Bench
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | C
| Joosep Toome || Janar Talts
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | PF
| Kristjan Kangur
|| Rait Keerles
|| Kaido Saks
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | SF
| Gregor Arbet
|| Siim-Sander Vene
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | SG
| Valmo Kriisa
|| Rain Veideman
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | PG
| Tanel Sokk
|| Silver Leppik
|| Reimo Tamm
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
|}
: finished 12th among 21 teams
Heino Veskila, Evald Mahl, Leonid Saar, Vladimir Kärk, Robert Keres, Aleksander Illi, Georg Vinogradov, Aleksander Margiste, Bernhard Nooni, Erich Altosaar, Artur Amon (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1937 EuroBasket
: finished 5th among 8 teams
Heino Veskila, Oskar Erikson, Evald Mahl, Vladimir Kärk, Robert Keres, Aleksander Illi, Alfred Zimmermann, Albert Suurna, Ralf Viksten (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1939 EuroBasket
: finished 5th among 8 teams
Heino Veskila, Evald Mahl, Oskar Erikson, Ralf Viksten, Georg Vinogradov, Erich Altosaar, Artur Amon, Hans Juurup, Valdeko Valdmäe, Herbert Tillemann (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1993 EuroBasket
: finished 6th among 16 teams
Aivar Kuusmaa
, Sergei Babenko, Gert Kullamäe
, Rauno Pehka, Margus Metstak, Ivo Saksakulm, Marek Noormets, Aleksandr Karavajev, Andrus Nagel, Indrek Rumma, Toomas Kandimaa, Erki Kivinukk (Coach: Jaak Salumets)
2001 EuroBasket
: finished 13–16 among 16 teams
Martin Müürsepp
, Tanel Tein
, Rauno Pehka, Margus Metstak, Toomas Kandimaa, Marek Noormets, Valmo Kriisa
, Tarmo Kikerpill
, Toomas Liivak, Andre Pärn, Indrek Rumma, Indrek Varblane (Coach: Üllar Kerde)
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
in international competitions.
Eurobasket 1937
The Estonians took fifth place, with an overall record of 3–2, at the second European basketball championship, the Eurobasket 1937Eurobasket 1937
The 1937 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1937, was the second regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition. Defending champions Latvia hosted the tournament, held...
held by the International Basketball Federation
International Basketball Federation
The International Basketball Federation, more commonly known as FIBA , from its French name Fédération Internationale de Basketball, is an association of national organizations which governs international competition in basketball...
's FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe
FIBA Europe is a zone within the International Basketball Federation which includes all 49 national European basketball federations.-Division A:-Division B: -Division C:...
continental federation. They finished third in their four-team preliminary group after winning one game and losing two. This relegated the team to the classification matches, where they defeated Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national basketball team
The Czechoslovakian national basketball team was the basketball side that represented Czechoslovakia in international competitions. After the Dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993, the Czech Republic and Slovakia set up their own national teams.- Medals :...
and then Latvia
Latvia national basketball team
The Latvian national basketball team is the basketball side that represents Latvia in international competitions.-EuroBasket 1935:The Latvians won the first European basketball championship, the EuroBasket 1935 held by the International Basketball Federation's FIBA Europe continental federation...
to earn the fifth place finish.
Eurobasket 1939
Estonia managed a 4–3 record in the eight-team round robin of the Eurobasket 1939Eurobasket 1939
The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
. This put them in a tie with France
France national basketball team
The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...
, which the Estonians lost because they had been defeated by France in head-to-head play.
Olympic Games record
Basketball first appeared as an official sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
. The first official match was played between Estonia and France
France national basketball team
The French national basketball team is the national basketball team representing France. It is administrated by the Fédération Française de Basket-Ball . The team has been competitive, but has yet to win a major international tournament...
, which Estonia won 34–29.
- 1936: 9.-14. place
Roster
|}| valign="top" |
Head coach
Assistant coaches
----
Legend:
- (C) Team captain
- Club field describes current pro club
|}
Depth chart
{| style="text-align: center; background:#3A75C4; color:#000000"!width="40"|Pos.
!width="165"|Starter
!width="165"|Bench
!width="165"|Bench
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | C
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
| Joosep Toome || Janar Talts
Janar Talts
Janar Talts is an Estonian professional basketball player.-Career:Talts' professional career started in 2001, when he signed with KML team TTÜ-A.Le Coq. The following season he signed with the reigning Estonian champion Tallinna Kalev and won the national title in 2003. In 2004 Talts signed with...
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | PF
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
| Kristjan Kangur
Kristjan Kangur
Kristjan Kangur is an Estonian professional basketball player currently playing for Italian Lega Basket Serie A club Pallacanestro Varese. He plays the Power forward position.-Estonia and Germany:...
|| Rait Keerles
Rait Keerles
Rait Keerles is an Estonian professional basketball player. Keerles started his professional career in 1997, when he signed with BC Kalev. He has also played for Canon ENM and Tallinna Kalev before signing with BC Kalev/Cramo . With the team he won four Estonian Cups and four Estonian Championship...
|| Kaido Saks
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | SF
Small forward
The small forward, or colloquially known as three, is one of the five positions in a regulation basketball game. Small forwards are typically somewhat shorter, quicker, and leaner than power forwards and centers, but on occasion are just as tall...
| Gregor Arbet
Gregor Arbet
Gregor Arbet is an Estonian professional basketball player. He started his professional career in hometown club Ehitustööriist . After two seasons he moved to Tallinna Kalev and won the Estonian national league in 2003. In 2004 he signed with German Bundesliga team TSK Würzburg and played there...
|| Siim-Sander Vene
Siim-Sander Vene
Siim-Sander Vene is an Estonian professional basketballer. Vene started his senior club career in 2005 at the age of 14 in TTÜ KK. In 2006 he went to play in the Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school in Lithuania. From there he moved to Kaunas TRIOBET and eventually to Lithuanian powerhouse Žalgiris...
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | SG
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
| Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa is an Estonian professional basketballer. He is currently playing for TTÜ/Kalev at the point guard/shooting guard position....
|| Rain Veideman
Rain Veideman
Rain Veideman is an Estonian professional basketball guard, who plays for University of Tartu.-Pro career:He is a member of the Estonian national basketball team.-Achievements:* Baltic Basketball League Cup: 2010-11...
||
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
! style="background:#b9e3ca" | PG
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
| Tanel Sokk
Tanel Sokk
Tanel Sokk is an Estonian professional basketball player. He is a point guard like his father Tiit Sokk and younger brother Sten-Timmu Sokk. Tanel Sokk has played most of his career in Estonian League team Nybit. In 2006 he signed with Estonian top team BC Kalev/Cramo...
|| Silver Leppik
Silver Leppik
Silver Leppik is an Estonian professional basketball player. He played one season in Estonian second league team Camofex...
|| Reimo Tamm
|-style="height:40px; background:white; color:black"
|}
Notable players
- Kristjan KangurKristjan KangurKristjan Kangur is an Estonian professional basketball player currently playing for Italian Lega Basket Serie A club Pallacanestro Varese. He plays the Power forward position.-Estonia and Germany:...
- Tarmo KikerpillTarmo KikerpillTarmo Kikerpill is a retired Estonian professional basketball player. He is 2.00 m in height and he played at the small forward position.-Pro career:...
- Gert KullamäeGert KullamäeGert Kullamäe is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who mostly played in a shooting guard position and was a great 3-point shooter. Gert Kullamäe is seven-time Estonian Champion and USSR, Lithuanian, Belgian and Dutch champion...
- Aivar KuusmaaAivar KuusmaaAivar Kuusmaa is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the shooting guard position.He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team. Kuusmaa mostly played in Estonia, but he also spent three seasons in Greece,...
- Valmo KriisaValmo KriisaValmo Kriisa is an Estonian professional basketballer. He is currently playing for TTÜ/Kalev at the point guard/shooting guard position....
- Margus Metstak
- Tiit SokkTiit SokkTiit Sokk is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the point guard position....
- Martin MüürseppMartin MüürseppMartin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
- Rauno Pehka
- Janar TaltsJanar TaltsJanar Talts is an Estonian professional basketball player.-Career:Talts' professional career started in 2001, when he signed with KML team TTÜ-A.Le Coq. The following season he signed with the reigning Estonian champion Tallinna Kalev and won the national title in 2003. In 2004 Talts signed with...
- Heino Veskila
Head Coaches
| Coach | Year |
|---|---|
 Herbert Niiler |
1929–1940 |
| Soviet Union | 1940–1991 |
| Jaak Salumets |
1993–1997 |
 Maarten Van GentMaarten Van Gent Maarten Herman van Gent is a dutch basketball coach, manager, scout and businessman.Van Gent started playing basketball at the age of 17. He also played korfball and soccer in college. After serving in the Royal Netherlands Army in 1968 he became a physical education teacher... |
1997–1999 |
| Üllar Kerde Üllar Kerde Üllar Kerde is an Estonian basketball coach. Currently he is the coach of TTÜ/Kalev. He has also been the coach of Estonia national basketball team leading it to the EuroBasket 2001 which Estonia finished 16th. In club career, he has coached Estonia's top team Tartu Ülikool/Rock... |
1999–2001 |
| Heino Enden Heino Enden Heino Enden is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the power forward position.... |
2001–2004 |
| Tiit Sokk Tiit Sokk Tiit Sokk is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the point guard position.... |
2004–2007 |
| Üllar Kerde |
2007–2009 |
| Tiit Sokk |
2009–present |
Past rosters
1936 Olympic GamesBasketball at the 1936 Summer Olympics
-Fifth-place classification:-First round:Winners advanced to the second round. Losers competed in the first consolation round for another chance to move on.* Estonia def. France, 34-29* Chile def. Turkey, 30-16* Switzerland def. Germany, 25-18...
: finished 12th among 21 teams
Heino Veskila, Evald Mahl, Leonid Saar, Vladimir Kärk, Robert Keres, Aleksander Illi, Georg Vinogradov, Aleksander Margiste, Bernhard Nooni, Erich Altosaar, Artur Amon (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1937 EuroBasket
Eurobasket 1937
The 1937 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1937, was the second regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition. Defending champions Latvia hosted the tournament, held...
: finished 5th among 8 teams
Heino Veskila, Oskar Erikson, Evald Mahl, Vladimir Kärk, Robert Keres, Aleksander Illi, Alfred Zimmermann, Albert Suurna, Ralf Viksten (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1939 EuroBasket
Eurobasket 1939
The 1939 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1939, was the third regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Eight national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation took part in the competition...
: finished 5th among 8 teams
Heino Veskila, Evald Mahl, Oskar Erikson, Ralf Viksten, Georg Vinogradov, Erich Altosaar, Artur Amon, Hans Juurup, Valdeko Valdmäe, Herbert Tillemann (Coach: Herbert Niiler)
1993 EuroBasket
EuroBasket 1993
-Venues:-First round:-A - Karlsruhe:-B - Berlin:-C - Karlsruhe:-D - Berlin:-Second round:-E - Karlsruhe:-F - Berlin:-Finals in Munich:-Places 5-8 in Munich:-Finals in Munich:-Final rankings:# # #...
: finished 6th among 16 teams
Aivar Kuusmaa
Aivar Kuusmaa
Aivar Kuusmaa is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the shooting guard position.He won the Soviet Union league championship in 1991 as a member of the Tallinn Kalev basketball team. Kuusmaa mostly played in Estonia, but he also spent three seasons in Greece,...
, Sergei Babenko, Gert Kullamäe
Gert Kullamäe
Gert Kullamäe is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who mostly played in a shooting guard position and was a great 3-point shooter. Gert Kullamäe is seven-time Estonian Champion and USSR, Lithuanian, Belgian and Dutch champion...
, Rauno Pehka, Margus Metstak, Ivo Saksakulm, Marek Noormets, Aleksandr Karavajev, Andrus Nagel, Indrek Rumma, Toomas Kandimaa, Erki Kivinukk (Coach: Jaak Salumets)
2001 EuroBasket
EuroBasket 2001
The EuroBasket 2001 was the 32nd EuroBasket, the biennial regional basketball championship contested by European nations and held by FIBA Europe. The tournament, which was hosted by Turkey, began on 31 August 2001 and concluded with the final on 9 September 2001. Yugoslavia won the gold medal,...
: finished 13–16 among 16 teams
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
, Tanel Tein
Tanel Tein
Tanel Tein is an Estonian retired professional basketball player.Tein's professional career started at the Estonian team KK Tartu in the 1993–94 season, when he joined at age of 15. He has been a member of the Estonia national basketball team since 1998 and was a member of the Estonian team in...
, Rauno Pehka, Margus Metstak, Toomas Kandimaa, Marek Noormets, Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa is an Estonian professional basketballer. He is currently playing for TTÜ/Kalev at the point guard/shooting guard position....
, Tarmo Kikerpill
Tarmo Kikerpill
Tarmo Kikerpill is a retired Estonian professional basketball player. He is 2.00 m in height and he played at the small forward position.-Pro career:...
, Toomas Liivak, Andre Pärn, Indrek Rumma, Indrek Varblane (Coach: Üllar Kerde)