Saski-Baskonia S.A.D., known as Laboral Kutxa for sponsorship reasons, is a
Spanish professional basketball club from the Basque city of Vitoria-Gasteiz,
Spain. The club's name sponsor is the Basque credit union Laboral Kutxa.
Well-known players who have played with the club have included Velimir
Perasović, José Calderón, Arvydas Macijauskas, Andrés Nocioni, Fabricio
Oberto, Pablo Prigioni, Igor Rakočević, Luis Scola, Goran Dragić, Tiago
Splitter, Mirza Teletović, Thomas Heurtel, and Fernando San Emeterio.
Sponsorship naming Outside of Spain, the club was often
referred to for years as TAU Cerámica, a Spanish brand name of ceramics
manufacturer TAULELL, which name sponsored the club from 1987–2009.
Originally, TAULELL used another of its brand names, Taugrés, as the name of the
team, before changing the name to TAU Cerámica in 1997. TAU, Taugrés and TAU
Vitoria were also frequently used to refer to the team. Baskonia, Saski
Baskonia, and Saski Baskonia, S.A.D. refer to the name of the actual sports
club itself. In 2009, the Spanish credit union Caja Laboral became the new name
sponsor of the club and increased the amount of money that the name sponsor
contributes to the sports club's budget. Schweppes
Sallkon Embutidos Celedón
Caja Álava Taugrés / TAU Cerámica
Caja Laboral / Laboral Kutxa History
The club was founded in 1959 as the basketball section of Club Deportivo
Vasconia. It first played at Spain's highest level in 1971, and emerged as a
major force in Spanish basketball in the 1990s. Most recently, Baskonia advanced
to the Euroleague Final Four in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, losing to Maccabi
Tel Aviv in the 2005 final and 2006 semifinals, to Panathinaikos in the 2007
semifinals, and to CSKA Moscow in the 2008 semifinals.
Through outstanding scouting and shrewd management, Baskonia has built a squad
that has been to four straight Final Fours and now is looking to take the
last step to becoming a Euroleague champion. Baskonia's first trophy of any
kind came in 1995, the Spanish King's Cup, when Pablo Laso and Velimir
Perasović led the team to an historical win. The club was already making noise
internationally too, reaching the Saporta Cup final in both 1994 and 1995.
When it hosted the same title game in 1996, Baskonia pleased its many fans by
downing PAOK behind 31 points from Ramón Rivas. Baskonia made its first Spanish
Championship playoff final in 1998 and added a second Spanish King's Cup title
in 1999. They then found quick success in the
newborn Euroleague. With a deep roster featuring Elmer Bennett, Saulius
Štombergas, Victor Alexander, Fabricio Oberto and a young Luis Scola, Baskonia
reached the 2001 Euroleague Finals before losing to Kinder Bologna in the
fifth and final game on the road. With winning momentum and the additions of
Dejan Tomašević and Andrés Nocioni, Baskonia celebrated the next season with
another Spanish King's Cup trophy and its first Spanish League title ever.
Trophy lifting became a habit now. Baskonia snatched two more Spanish
King's Cups, in 2004 and 2006, as Luis Scola and Pablo Prigioni played decisive
roles, and success followed the team in the Euroleague. Baskonia's arrival to
its first Final Four in 2005 couldn’t have been louder, as the team upset
favored host CSKA Moscow in the semifinals, but couldn’t overcome
defending champ Maccabi in the title game.
Back home, Baskonia again reached the Spanish League finals, only to lose in
dramatic fashion. Baskonia returned to the Final Four in 2006 but once again
Maccabi stood in its way, this time in the semifinal. The team also made it to
the Spanish League finals, but was swept there.
The next season, Baskonia won its Euroleague regular season and Top 16
groups before sweeping Olympiacos in the Quarterfinal Playoffs as Scola became
the Euroleague's top all-time scorer. Nonetheless, eventual champion
Panathinaikos downed Baskonia in the semifinals and once home again in Spain,
Baskonia lost in the playoff semifinals. Coming so close, but walking away
without any trophies is sure to make Baskonia as hungry as ever going
forward. With a solid track record for building
some of the most competitive teams in the world, it is safe to say that
Baskonia is always a top candidate for Euroleague greatness.
Players = Current roster=
= Depth chart= = From the Youth Squad=
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events.
Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
Head coaches Logos
Season by season Honours
= Domestic competitions= Spanish Championship
Winners: 2001–02, 2007–08, 2009–10 Spanish Cup
Winners: 1995, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009
Spanish Supercup Winners: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.
Copa Asociación Winners: 1985
2nd Division Winners: 1971–72
Basque Cup Winners: 2011, 2012
= European competitions= Euroleague
Runners-up: 2000–01, 2004–05 FIBA Saporta Cup
Winners: 1995–96 Runners-up: 1993–94, 1994–95
Individual awards Notable players
To appear in this section a player must have either:
Played at least one season for the club. 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.
To perform very successfully during period in the club or at later/previous
stages of his career. Matches against NBA teams
Fundación 5+11 Fundación 5+11 is the reserve team of
Baskonia. Formerly called Fundación Baskonia, its current name becomes from
the agreement between the club and Deportivo Alavés, the main football club
in Vitoria. It currently plays in Primera División, fifth tier of Spanish
basketball. In the 2000–01 season, it played in Liga
EBA with Tiago Splitter as its most important player.
Notes and references External links
Official website Saski Baskonia at ACB.com
Saski Baskonia at Euroleague.net