2012-13 Club Profile: Elan Chalon

Jun 19, 2012 by Euroleague.net Print
Elan Chalon
2011-12 Results
French League: Champion
Semaine des As: Champion
French Cup trophy: Champion
Blake Schlib - Elan Chalon (Photo: FIBAEurope.com)
Blake Schlib
PROVISIONAL ROSTER
2012-13
DENMON, MARCUS
G
ADJAGBA, ULYSSE
G
LANG, NICOLAS
G
ABOUDOU, JORDAN
F
SCHILB, BLAKE
F
EVTIMOV, ILIAN
F
TCHICAMBOUD, STEED
G
JEAN BAPTISTE ADOLPHE, MICHEL
C
LAUVERGNE, JOFFREY
C
GAILLARD, VINCENT
F
Head Coach: BEUGNOT, GREGOR
A dream season has catapulted Elan sportif chalonnais into the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for the first time in club history. Chalon simply won it all in France by lifting three trophies. The club won its first Semaine des As title by beating BCM Gravelines 66-73 in the final. It went on to lift the French Cup after beating Limoges 83-75 in the title game. Chalon then became the first team to conquer the French triple crown since 2002 by thrashing Le Mans 95-76 in the French League final. Blake Schilb was its leader along the way and earned French League, Semaine des As and French League final MVP honors, while players like Steed Tchicamboud, Alade Aminu and Ilian Evtimov were also very important in the rock-solid team built by Coach Gregor Beugnot. All that success came after a disappointing start to the campaign in which Chalon lost to Cedevita in the Eurocup Qualifying Round. Chalon bounced back with a great Eurochallenge season, in which it reached the final four and downed Triumph Lyubertsy in the semifinals to get to the final before losing to Besiktas Milangaz. All told, it was clearly the greatest season at the club, which dates back to 1970. Chalon started to compete in France's National 4 League before its professional division was established in 1994. By 1996, the club reached the country's first division. In 1998-99, it finished fourth and earned the right to play in the Saporta Cup. By 2000-01 with Stephane Ostrowski and Robert Gulyas as its big men, Chalon had an amazing run in that competition. Chalon downed FC Porto, Anwil Wloclawek and Pamesa Valencia in the elimination rounds to reach the final against Maroussi in Warsaw, Poland. Ultimately, Maroussi prevailed 74-72 to conquer the title. In 2001-02, Chalon made the French playoffs for a fourth consecutive season and placed fourth. Chalon did even better in 2003-04 by ranking third and losing against Pau-Orthez in the semifinals. In three Eurocup appearances, Chalon never got past the regular season, but registered a respectable 5-5 record in 2005 and 2008, by beating teams like FMP and again, Pamesa Valencia. Despite several quiet seasons, Chalon bounced back in 2010-11 to win its first domestic title – the French Cup. Behind its big guns – Schlib, Marquez Haynes and Ilian Evtimov – Chalon downed CSP Limoges 79-71 in the title game. They also reached the Semaine des As final and came in third at the end of the French regular season, but lost against Asvel Basket in the quarterfinals. Behind Schlib, Chalon built a powerful team with really well-defined roles. It paid off beautifully, as the team reached bigger heights by winning the Semaine des As and the French League titles for the first time. Now the challenge is even bigger, as Chalon will have a target on its back in France all while trying to prove its worth on the brightest stage possible – the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague!