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KB Prishtina

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Sigal Prishtina
Sigal Prishtina logo
LeaguesKosovo Superleague
Kosovo Cup
BIBL
Liga Unike
Founded1970; 54 years ago (1970)
HistoryKB Prishtina
1970–present
ArenaPalace of Youth and Sports
Capacity1,800
LocationPristina, Kosovo
Team colorsBlue, White
PresidentBlerand Stavileci
Team managerN/A
Head coachMurat Bilge
Team captainFisnik Rugova
2022–23 positionKosovo Basketball Superleague, Semifinalist (3rd)
Championships15 Kosovo Cup
14 Kosovo Superleague
3 Balkan League
8 Kosovo Supercups
WebsiteOfficial website

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

The team currently competes in the Kosovo Superleague, 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

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The club was founded in 1970. By 2004, the club had racked up huge debt, 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

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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 assist 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 where 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

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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, 2019-2024)
  • Z-Mobile Prishtina (2018–2019)
  • Sigal Prishtina Mercure (2024)
  • Sigal Prishtina (2024-present)

Matches in European competitions

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Season Competition Round Opponent Home Away
2015–16 FIBA Europe Cup RS Romania Energia Târgu Jiu 66–62 87–72
Cyprus AEK Larnaca 70–83 101–84
Kazakhstan Astana 75–73 82–78
2016–17 FIBA Europe Cup RS Russia Enisey 87–80 102–101
Bulgaria Rilski Sportist 100–104 100–98
Turkey Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece 71–81 100–58
2017–18 Champions League QR1 Belarus Tsmoki-Minsk 50–57 89–74
FIBA Europe Cup RS Ukraine Khimik 76–65 59–78
Belgium Belfius Mons-Hainaut 69–75 72–74
Turkey Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece 66–84 86–59
2018–19 Champions League QR1 Netherlands Donar 84–64 80–55
FIBA Europe Cup RS Denmark Bakken Bears 77–100 108–84
Ukraine Cherkaski Mavpy 92–82 73–92
Romania Steaua București 74–69 81–87
2R Germany s.Oliver Würzburg 78–91 95–77
Hungary Szolnoki Olaj 81–76 89–76
Turkey Pınar Karşıyaka 82–78 107–85
R16 Italy Varese 77–80 100–84
2019–20 Champions League QR1 Poland Legia 79–81 85–83
FIBA Europe Cup RS Cyprus APOEL 93–74 80–107
Germany medi Bayreuth 68–93 97–89
Latvia Ventspils 72–122 104–84
2022–23 FIBA Europe Cup QR2 Estonia Kalev N/A 61-98
ENBL GS Ukraine Budivelnyk N/A 85-62
Estonia Kalev 50-61 N/A
Poland Stelmet Zielona Gora N/A 89-76
Poland Start Lublin 69-89 N/A
Lithuania Šiauliai N/A 67-91
Estonia Tal Tech 73-91 N/A
QF Poland King Szczecin 64-64 78-85

Arena

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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

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Domestic competitions

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Kosovo Basketball Superleague

  • Winners (14): 1991, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Runners-up (6): 1997, 2001, 2004, 2012, 2013, 2018

Kosovo Cup

  • Winners (15): 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021,
  • Runners-up (4): 2011, 2015, 2023, 2024

Kosovo Supercup

  • Winners (8): 2005, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022

European and regional competitions

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Balkan League

European North Basketball League

FIBA Europe Cup

FIBA Champions League

Players

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Current roster

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

KB Prishtina roster
Players Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Ht. Wt. Age
PG United States Moore, Jalen 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) 77 kg (170 lb) 25 – (1999-08-07)7 August 1999
PG Kosovo Peci, Eliot (U20) 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 20 – (2004-04-27)27 April 2004
CG Kosovo Shatri, Orges (U20) 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 19 – (2005-05-24)24 May 2005
SG United States Williams, Rashad 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) 84 kg (185 lb) 24 – (2000-01-17)17 January 2000
G/F 3 Kosovo Ismajli, Jon (U20) 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 18 – (2005-12-23)23 December 2005
G/F Kosovo Alijaj, Adhurim (U20) 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) 80 kg (176 lb) 21 – (2003-10-10)10 October 2003
G/F 13 Albania Kosovo Lekndreaj, Daniel 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) 86 kg (190 lb) 26 – (1997-11-16)16 November 1997
F United States Burns, Damiree 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) 100 kg (220 lb) 23 – (2001-05-16)16 May 2001
PF 34 Kosovo Istrefi, Bardh (U20) 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2004-01-25)25 January 2004
PF 23 Kosovo Janjeva, Muhamedali 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 25 – (1998-12-28)28 December 1998
PF 31 Croatia Širko, Henrik 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) 94 kg (207 lb) 31 – (1993-01-23)23 January 1993
PF/C 7 Kosovo Rugova, Fisnik (C) 2.09 m (6 ft 10 in) 102 kg (225 lb) 35 – (1989-08-26)26 August 1989
C Kosovo Ibishi, Adrian (U20) 2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) 90 kg (198 lb) 20 – (2004-10-24)24 October 2004
Head coach
  • Turkey Murat Bilge
Assistant coach(es)
  • Kosovo Albert Sylejmani
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Kosovo Kujtim Shala
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (TW) – Two-way contract
    (U20) – Obligatory Under 20 years old player
  • Injured Injured
Updated: June 23, 2023

Depth chart

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench 1 Bench 2
C Fisnik Rugova Adrian Ibishi
PF Henrik Širko Bardh Istrefi
SF Damiree Burns Muhamedali Janjeva Adhurim Alijaj
SG Daniel Lekndreaj Jon Ismajli Orges Shatri
PG Jalen Moore Rashad Williams Eliot Peci

Head coaches

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Coach Years active
Kosovo Ibrahim Karabegu 1999–2000
Kosovo Bujar Shehu 2000–2001
Croatia Čedomir Perinčić 2001–2002
North Macedonia Enver Sllamniku 2002–2003
Croatia Josip Gjergja 2003–2004
Turkey Ekrem Memnun 2004–2005
Kosovo Vëllaznim Perani 2005
Kosovo Arben Krasniqi 2005–2013
Turkey Ahmet Kandemir 2013
Turkey Ceyhun Cabadak 2013
North Macedonia Marin Dokuzovski 2014
North Macedonia Marjan Ilievski 2015
Cyprus Antonis Constantinides 2015–2016
Lithuania Audrius Prakuraitis 2016–2017
Turkey Ahmet Kandemir 2017
Kosovo Andin Rashica 2018
Germany Matthias Zollner 2018
CroatiaBosnia and Herzegovina Damir Mulaomerović 2018–2019
Kosovo Bujar Loci 2019
Slovenia Teo Hojc 2020
Kosovo Andin Rashica 2020
Croatia Ante Nazor 2021–2022
Turkey Ekrem Memnun 2022
Turkey Murat Bilge 2022
Turkey Ahmet Kandemir 2022–2023
Lithuania Žydrūnas Urbonas 2023–2024
Croatia Jakša Vulić 2024
Kosovo Albert Sylejmani 2024
Turkey Murat Bilge 2024–present

Notable players

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Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities 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.
Kosovo & Albania
Europe
United States
Africa
Asia

References

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  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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