KB Prishtina

Klubi i Basketbollit Prishtina (English: Basketball Club Prishtina), officially known as Sigal Prishtina due to sponsorship reasons, is a Kosovar professional basketball club based in Pristina.

KB Prishtina
LeaguesKosovo Basketball Superleague
Kosovo Cup
Balkan League
Founded1970 (1970)
HistoryKB Prishtina
1970–present
ArenaPalace of Youth and Sports
Capacity1,800
LocationPrishtina, Kosovo
Team colorsBlue, White
PresidentBurim Maraj
Head coachAnte Nazor
Team captainMuhamedali Janjeva
2020–21 positionKosovo Basketball Superleague, Quarterfinalist
Championships15 Kosovo Cup
14 Kosovo Basketball Superleague
2 Balkan League
7 Kosovo Supercup
WebsiteOfficial website

The team currently competes in the IP Superliga e Basketbollit, Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL) and the FIBA Europe Cup. They are the most successful club in Kosovo, having won 14 national championships, 15 national cups and 7 supercups in the last 14 years. Since 2013 the club has competed in the Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL), and they became the first Kosovar side to win the competition first in 2014–15 after defeating Bulgarian side BC Rilski Sportist in the finals. They would win the same competition the following season in 2015–16 in which they would beat Montenegrin side Mornar Bar in the final, to win this competition back to back as the only Kosovan Basketball club in the history at this competition. In 2015, Prishtina joined the newly formed European second tier competition, the FIBA Europe Cup. They became the first Kosovar Basketball club to reach the Round of 16 in the FIBA Europe Cup in the 2018–19 season, winning six matches in their 14 match long campaign. Prishtina has won 15 games in European basketball competitions so far.

History

The club was founded in 1970 but the club had racked up huge debt by 2004, which led to the original club being forced to fold and a new club under the name OJQ KB Prishtina was formed in its place. The debts were then inherited by the new club and they were not dealt with, which led to the club folding once again on 22 September 2011 and a new club was once again formed in its place.[1]

In the 2015–16 season, Prishtina made its debut in the FIBA Europe Cup and became the first Kosovo team to play in a European club competition. Since then, Prishtina competed in every season of the FIBA Europe Cup.

European competitions

In the 2013–14 season, Prishtina played its first season in Europe in Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL). In the first season KB Prishtina took the 2nd place during the Regular Season with 11 wins and 5 losses, qualifying for the Final Four. They were organizers of the Final Four 2013–14 of BIBL, but they lost to Galil Gilboa 74–86 in the semifinal, and to Balkan (BUL) 73–79 in the 3rd place game.

In the BIBL Season 2014–15, KB Prishtina won the Trophy of the for the first time Balkan International Basketball League, KB Prishtina faced in the Quarterfinals SCM Craiova they won first away in Romania 73−77 and then at home in Prishtina 70−98 to progress in the Semifinals off this Tournament. In the Semifinals KB Prishtina faced KK Kožuv from Macedonia yet again in this Tournament. At home Prishtina surprised Kožuv and beat them deservedly 85–61 at home in Prishtina especially Edin Bavčić scored 25 points in this Match and Dardan Berisha with six sssist points helped Prishtina massively at this stage. Away in Kožuv they lost 86-80 but it was enough to qualify for their first ever Finals in the Balkan International Basketball League. In the finals they meet BC Rilski Sportist they won both matches against BC Rilski Sportist first in Prishtina 74–72, and second in Bulgaria 80–71, to win the Trophy in this Campaign. Being the only Basketball Club from Kosovo to achieve this feet so far. In 20 matches KB Prishtina achieved 13 wins and only seven losses in the process.[2]

But in the next BIBL season 2015–16, KB Prishtina would compete again in the Balkan International Basketball League were they faced in the first round KK Kožuv KK Mornar Bar and BC Beroe. In this Round KB Prishtina won 4 Matches and progressed deservedly in the next Round.

In the 2015-16 season, KB Prishtina played in FIBA Europe Cup for the first time. They failed to qualify for the next round with two wins and sour losses in the Group Stage.

In the FIBA Europe Cup 2016–17 KB Prishtina faced in the first Round Enisey BC Rilski Sportist and Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece. KB Prishtina did improve in their performances, especially at home. Their only win was a 87–80 at home against Enisey—not enough for KB Prishtina to progress in the next round.

Sponsorship naming

The club has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship:

  • MEB Prishtina (2002–2003)
  • BpB Prishtina (2003–2004)
  • Sigal Prishtina (2004–2011, 2012–2018, 2019–present)
  • Z-Mobile Prishtina (2018–2019)

Matches in European competitions
Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away
2015–16 FIBA Europe Cup RS Energia Târgu Jiu 66–62 87–72
AEK Larnaca 70–83 101–84
Astana 75–73 82–78
2016–17 FIBA Europe Cup RS Enisey 87–80 102–101
Rilski Sportist 100–104 100–98
Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece 71–81 100–58
2017–18 Champions League QR1 Tsmoki-Minsk 50–57 89–74
FIBA Europe Cup RS Khimik 76–65 59–78
Belfius Mons-Hainaut 69–75 72–74
Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece 66–84 86–59
2018–19 Champions League QR1 Donar 84–64 80–55
FIBA Europe Cup RS Bakken Bears 77–100 108–84
Cherkaski Mavpy 92–82 73–92
Steaua București 74–69 81–87
2R s.Oliver Würzburg 78–91 95–77
Szolnoki Olaj 81–76 89–76
Pınar Karşıyaka 82–78 107–85
R16 Varese 77–80 100–84
2019–20 Champions League QR1 Legia 79–81 85–83
FIBA Europe Cup RS APOEL 93–74 80–107
medi Bayreuth 68–93 97–89
Ventspils 72–122 104–84

Arena

The club play their home games at the smaller of the two arenas in the Pallati i Rinisë dhe Sporteve (Palace of Youth and Sports) which has a capacity of 2,800. The larger arena in the building had a capacity of around 8,000 but it was damaged by a fire on 25 February 2000 and has never been restored fully since.

Honours and titles

Domestic competitions

Kosovo Basketball Superleague

Kosovo Cup

  • Winners (15): 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021,

Kosovo Supercup

  • Winners (7): 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020

European and regional competitions

Balkan League

FIBA Europe Cup

FIBA Champions League

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

KB Prishtina roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 11 Burke, Dachon 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 24 – (1997-11-25)25 November 1997
PG 44 Polloshka, Don 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) 19 – (2002-06-07)7 June 2002
CG 5 Brown, Kenny 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) 82 kg (181 lb) 31 – (1991-04-25)25 April 1991
SG 1 Mitchell, Wendell 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 83 kg (183 lb) 25 – (1997-03-26)26 March 1997
SG 8 Thaci, Bledar (TW) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 19 – (2003-02-26)26 February 2003
G/F 12 Ismajli, Jon (TW) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 16 – (2005-12-23)23 December 2005
G/F 0 Palokaj, Jan 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 21 – (2000-11-05)5 November 2000
SF 10 Rexhepi, Donat 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 20 – (2002-03-11)11 March 2002
SF 22 Ismaili, Meriton 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 22 – (2000-04-03)3 April 2000
F 37 Zeqiri, Jetmir 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 98 kg (216 lb) 25 – (1996-08-18)18 August 1996
F 23 Janjeva, Muhamedali (C) 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 23 – (1998-12-29)29 December 1998
PF 3 Cook, Da'Quan 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 34 – (1987-10-27)27 October 1987
F/C 27 Zeqiri, Lejson 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 20 – (2001-09-17)17 September 2001
F/C 21 Berisha, Arbër  2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 92 kg (203 lb) 25 – (1997-01-19)19 January 1997
C 77 Faye, Biram 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 22 – (2000-03-10)10 March 2000
C 24 Dedushaj, Dren 2.18 m (7 ft 2 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 23 – (1998-05-27)27 May 1998
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Kujtim Shala
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (TW) – Two-way contract
  • Injured

Depth chart
Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Briam Faye Dren Dedushaj Arber Berisha
PF Lejson Zekiri Muhamedali Janjeva Donat Rexhepi
SF Jan Palokaj Jetmir Zeqiri Jon Ismajli
SG Wendell Mitchell Meriton Ismaili Bledar Thaci
PG Kenny Brown Dachon Burke Don Polloshka

Head coaches
Coach Years active
Ibrahim Karabegu 1999–2000
Bujar Shehu 2000–2001
Čedomir Perinčić 2001–2002
Enver Sllamniku 2002–2003
Josip Gjergja 2003–2004
Ekrem Memnun 2004–2005
Vëllaznim Perani 2005
Arben Krasniqi 2005–2013
Ahmet Kandemir 2013
Ceyhun Cabadak 2013
Marin Dokuzovski 2014
Marjan Ilievski 2015
Antonis Constantinides 2015–2016
Audrius Prakuraitis 2016–2017
Ahmet Kandemir 2017
Andin Rashica 2018
Matthias Zollner 2018
Damir Mulaomerović 2018–2019
Bujar Loci 2019
Teo Hojc 2020
Andin Rashica 2020
Ante Nazor 2021-present

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club.
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time.
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.

References
  1. "Shuhet KB Prishtina". Dardania.de (in Albanian). 20 September 2011.
  2. "Sigal Prishtina is the new champion of EUROHOLD Balkan League". BIBL. 29 April 2015.
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