2011-12 Results Eurocup: Quarterfinal Czech League: Champion

Petr Benda

PROVISIONAL ROSTER 2011-12 BENDA, PETR F SOKOLOVSKY, LADISLAV G COLEMAN, AUBREY G HRUBAN, VOJTECH F ABRAMS, ADRIAN G HOUSKA, PAVEL F PALYZA, LUKAS F NECAS, RADEK F TAYLOR, MIKE G TAPOUTOS, CHRISTOS F NAYMICK, DREW C PAVKOVIC, MILJAN G POMIKALEK, TOMAS F Head Coach: GINZBURG, RONEN

For the third year in a row, CEZ Nymburk will try to put Czech basketball on the Turkish Airlines Euroleague map by taking on the challenge of the Qualifying Rounds to start the 2012-13 season. Last year, Nymburk knocked off heavy favorite BC Khimki, but lost the Qualifying Rounds final against Spirou Basket. Nymburk also reached the Eurocup quarterfinals for the second time in club history and won the Czech League championship for the ninth consecutive year. Founded in 1930, Nymburk is the oldest basketball club in the Czech Republic and has been enjoying its finest moments now. The current management, featuring former coaches and players, provided the spark for the current golden era back in 1995. Nymburk climbed to the third division by 1997 and within three years had won the second division and advanced to the top Czech league. Nymburk quickly established itself there too by ranking third at the end of the 2001-02 season, in which the club also played the Northern European Basketball League. Nymburk made it to the 2003 Czech League finals, but lost against Opava 4-3. Its fans would not wait long after to taste ultimate victory, however. Nymburk lifted the Czech League trophy the next year and has successfully defended it every season since. CEZ, the largest Czech utility company, soon became a general partner, which helped the club sign even better players and see increased success in European competitions. Nymburk made its ULEB Cup debut in the 2006-07 season and managed to battle its way to the elimination rounds. Soon, its efforts were rewarded even more. In 2009-10, Nymburk advanced to the Eurocup eighthfinals for the first time in club history. Looking for more challenges to satisfy a broad and dedicated fan base, the Czech champion added both the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds and the Adriatic League to its ambitions in 2010-11. Both ventures gave Nymburk valuable experience. With the trio of Tre Simmons, Afik Nissim and Pavel Pumprla leading the way, Nymburk won a tough Eurocup Regular Season group, before faltering in the Last 16. Last season, Nymburk joined the VTB League looking to be even more competitive and came close to the Eurocup Finals without losing competitiveness at home. Nymburk will now try to go one step higher in this season's Euroleague Qualifying Rounds to try to lift Czech basketball back to the brightest spotlight.