Anadolu Efes Spor Kulübü (English: Anadolu Efes Sports Club) also known simply as Anadolu Efes or Efes, formerly known as Efes Pilsen is a professional basketball team based in the city of Istanbul in Turkey. As of 2011[update], it is the most successful club in the history of the Turkish Basketball League, having won the league's championship 13 times.
Their home arena is the Sinan Erdem Dome with a capacity of 16,000 seats, which was opened in 2010. The team competes in the Turkish Basketball League and Euroleague.
[edit] History
The club was founded in 1976 as Efes Pilsen S.K. by taking over the Turkish second-division club Kadıköyspor which had failed due to financial problems.[1] Its initial sponsor was its namesake Efes Pilsen, a subsidiary of Anadolu Group. It won the 1978 second division championship undefeated, earning promotion to the Turkish first division, where it has continuously competed since. In its first top-flight season (1978–79), Efes Pilsen won the league title, immediately establishing itself as one of the country's top clubs.
Runner-up in European Cup 1993, the club's main claim to fame was winning the Korać Cup in 1996, marking the first-ever European title in a team sport by a Turkish club. It has also become a fixture in the Euroleague, making it to the competition's Final Four in 2000, finishing 3rd.[2]
In 2011, the club changed its name to Anadolu Efes S.K. after TAPDK (Tobacco and Alcohol Market Regulatory Authority) prohibited the advertisement of tobacco and alcohol products in sports organizations.[3]
Anadolu Efes is notable for its youth program. Among its products are current NBA player Hidayet Türkoğlu, former NBA player and Euroleague greatest rebounder of all time Mirsad Türkcan as well as 2005 NBA draftee Cenk Akyol.
The old logo of Efes Pilsen SK
[edit] Current roster
|
|
| Players |
Coaches |
| Pos. |
# |
Nat. |
Name |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Age |
| 1.0 !PG |
4 |
Turkey ! |
Balbay, Doğuş |
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) |
85 kg (187 lb) |
&1000000000000002300000023 |
| 2.5 !G/F |
8 |
USA ! |
Kinsey, Tarence |
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
95 kg (209 lb) |
&1000000000000002700000027 |
| 1.0 !PG |
10 |
Turkey ! |
Tunçeri, Kerem |
1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) |
86 kg (190 lb) |
&1000000000000003200000032 |
| 2.5 !G/F |
11 |
Turkey ! |
Akyol, Cenk |
1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) |
96 kg (212 lb) |
&1000000000000002400000024 |
| 5.5 !F/C |
12 |
Turkey ! |
Gönlüm, Kerem |
2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) |
102 kg (225 lb) |
&1000000000000003400000034 |
| 6.0 !C |
15 |
Uruguay ! |
Batista, Esteban |
2.08 m (6 ft 10 in) |
122 kg (269 lb) |
&1000000000000002800000028 |
| 2.0 !SG |
19 |
Slovenia ! |
Vujačić, Sasha |
2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) |
93 kg (205 lb) |
&1000000000000002700000027 |
| 4.5 !PF |
20 |
Serbia ! |
Savanović, Duško |
2.04 m (6 ft 8 in) |
102 kg (225 lb) |
&1000000000000002800000028 |
| 5.5 !F/C |
23 |
Albania ! |
Kuqo, Ermal |
2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) |
118 kg (260 lb) |
&1000000000000003200000032 |
| 2.0 !SG |
32 |
Turkey ! |
Güler, Sinan |
1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |
95 kg (209 lb) |
&1000000000000002800000028 |
| 1.0 !PG |
33 |
USA ! |
Lafayette, Oliver |
1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) |
86 kg (190 lb) |
&1000000000000002700000027 |
| 4.5 !PF |
34 |
Turkey ! |
Şirin, Gökhan |
2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) |
91 kg (201 lb) |
&1000000000000002100000021 |
| 6.0 !C |
42 |
Croatia ! |
Barać, Stanko |
2.17 m (7 ft 1 in) |
111 kg (245 lb) |
&1000000000000002500000025 |
|
- Head coach
- Legend
 Injured
Roster
Updated: 2012-02-27
|
[edit] Depth chart
[edit] Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
[edit] Notable players
[edit] Season by season
[edit] Against NBA teams
In 2006, Efes Pilsen became the first Turkish basketball club to be invited to play NBA teams. They competed against the Denver Nuggets in Denver, Colorado on October 11, and against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland, California on October 13.[4] In 2007, Efes Pilsen played against Minnesota Timberwolves in İstanbul, Abdi İpekçi Arena.[5]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Tuncay Özilhan
Ilias Zouros
