Basketball team in Tiranë, Albania
KB Tirana are an Albanian professional basketball team based in Tiranë, which is the basketball branch of SK Tirana. They compete in the Albanian Basketball League, Liga Unike and the Balkan International Basketball League. The club plays its home domestic games at the Farie Hoti Sports Palace, and they play their international games at the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace.
Tirana are one of the two most successful teams in the history of Albanian basketball (men), having won the Albanian League 21 times, the Albanian Cup a record of 20 times and the Albanian Supercups a record of 9 times.[1] They have won a total of 50 trophies, which is the most in the country.
History
Early years (1920–43)
On 15 August 1920, shortly after Tirana became the capital city of Albania, patriot and football enthusiast Palokë Nika, who had already formed Vllaznia Shkodër built and trained a new team in Tirana, with A. Erebara, P. Jakova, A. Hoxha, Anastas Koja, P. Berisha, Avni Zajmi, H. Fortuzi, B. Pazari, L. Berisha, S. Frasheri, H. Alizoti, A. Gjitomi, and V. Fekeci. The name of the team was Gjurmuesit Republikanë, which a few months later was changed into Agimi Sports Association. The name Agimi (in English: Dawn), was taken from the building in the centre of Tirana near to where they would hold meetings.[2] In 1925 the association's governing council was elected and its members were Avni Zajmi, Selman Stërmasi, B. Toptani, Irfan Gjinali and Anastas Koja. On 16 August 1927, which was the seventh anniversary of the formation of the Agimi Sports Association, the club's name changed into Sportklub Tirana, which would be commonly referred to as SK Tirana.[3] On that day the president of the club was Teki Selenica.[4] Although SK Tirana's early history was dominated by its emphasis on its football department, basketball was experiencing a rise in popularity in Albania at the time and basketball clubs across the country were being set up and friendly games were occasionally being played between clubs from different cities.
Early history and trophies (1944–72)
After the end of World War II and the liberation of Albania in 1944 Albania fell in the hands of the socialist dictator Enver Hoxha, and soon after sport in the country became organised, with national teams and domestic competitions being set up by the communist regime, and this happened with basketball in 1946. In early March 1946 at the Nacional movie theatre in Tirana, the ruling Communist Politburo had instructed the club to change its name to 17 Nëntori in honour of the Liberation of Tirana which took place on 17 November 1944 and later that year 17 Nëntori became a founding member of the Albanian Basketball League and they won the inaugural National Championship that took place in 1946. They failed to retain the title the following season as local rivals Partizani won the National Championship, but 17 Nëntori were to win 3 consecutive titles between 1948 and 1950.
Recent dominance (1999 onwards)
After 11 years drought Tirana got the right roster and coach and started winning trophies yet again. From 1999 to 2018 they won 28 such, dominating in the country.
On 30 August 2016 it was announced that Tirana would compete in the 2016–17 Balkan International Basketball League, becoming only the second Albanian club to do so after BC Vllaznia.[5][6] Ahead of the 2016–17 season they appointed Macedonian Slobodan Petrovski as head coach,[7][8] and signed Albanian internationals Endrit Hysenagolli, Erkand Karaj as well as foreigners Nemanja Gavranić, Griffin Ramme and Manuel Johnson.[9][10] Tirana played fellow debutants KB Trepça from Kosovo on 10 October 2016 at the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace in front of around 1,100 spectators, and they won 78–66 to claim a victory in their first ever Balkan League game.[11][12]
Contrary to the domestic domination, even by approaching some quality new players and coach, KB Tirana in the Balkan League has failed to impress so far, despite 2017–18 season participation in play-off and some memorable wins. Playing, however only few seasons in this competition, team needs more experience and perhaps bringing more skillful players to seek success.
Home arenas
Tirana plays its domestic homes games at the Farie Hoti Sports Palace, which has a capacity of around 1,200. Before this arena was built they played their home games at the 2,800 seater Asllan Rusi Sports Palace, which is the main sports arena in Tirana and indeed all of Albania. As of 2016, they played their Balkan International Basketball League home games at the Asllan Rusi Sports Palace as the Farie Hoti Sports Palace does not meet the licensing requirements to stage such games.
However, in 2017 club moved to the Tirana Olympic Park, as a requirement for playing the Balkan League.[13]
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Asllan Rusi during Albania vs Slovakia.
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Asllan Rusi during a Tirana game.
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Asllan Rusi during a volleyball game.
Current roster
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| KB Tirana roster
|
| Players |
Coaches
|
| Pos. |
No. |
Nat. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Age |
|
| PG
|
0
|
|
Ramme, Griffin
|
1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
|
85 kg (187 lb)
|
34 – (1989-11-01)1 November 1989
|
|
| SG
|
5
|
|
Vogli, Redi
|
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
|
105 kg (231 lb)
|
36 – (1987-04-29)29 April 1987
|
|
| SG
|
7
|
|
Durrsi, Reldi
|
1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
|
83 kg (183 lb)
|
26 – (1997-05-07)7 May 1997
|
|
| PG
|
10
|
|
Karaj, Erkand
|
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
|
92 kg (203 lb)
|
41 – (1982-05-02)2 May 1982
|
|
| SG
|
11
|
|
Lasku, Genti
|
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
|
95 kg (209 lb)
|
38 – (1985-03-24)24 March 1985
|
|
| PF
|
12
|
|
Gjyzeli, Abdel
|
2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
|
92 kg (203 lb)
|
30 – (1993-02-24)24 February 1993
|
|
| PF
|
13
|
|
Gavranić, Nemanja
|
2.04 m (6 ft 8 in)
|
94 kg (207 lb)
|
30 – (1993-03-18)18 March 1993
|
|
| C
|
14
|
|
Hysenagolli, Endrit
|
2.10 m (6 ft 11 in)
|
110 kg (243 lb)
|
35 – (1988-07-05)5 July 1988
|
|
| PF
|
15
|
|
Shima, Gerti
|
2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
|
102 kg (225 lb)
|
37 – (1986-05-06)6 May 1986
|
|
| PF
|
20
|
|
Gjeci, Joans
|
2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)
|
78 kg (172 lb)
|
25 – (1998-05-14)14 May 1998
|
|
| PG
|
20
|
|
Pashaj, Kristian
|
1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
|
78 kg (172 lb)
|
24 – (1999-06-04)4 June 1999
|
|
| PF
|
21
|
|
Johnson, Manuel
|
2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)
|
109 kg (240 lb)
|
41 – (1983-02-01)1 February 1983
|
|
| G
|
23
|
|
Hasani, Erin
|
2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
|
118 kg (260 lb)
|
38 – (1985-08-03)3 August 1985
|
|
| PG
|
30
|
|
Hysa, Eldi
|
1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
|
81 kg (179 lb)
|
24 – (1999-08-30)30 August 1999
|
|
|
- Head coach
- Erkand Karaj
- Assistant coach(es)
- Erdal Borova
- Onaldo Ago
- Physiotherapist(s)
- Sabahat Kastrati
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
 Injured
|
2016–17 squad changes
KB Tirana (women)
For the women basketball team see KB Tirana (women)
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