AEL Limassol (basketball)
| Pallaris Developers AEL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Nickname |
Vasilissa (The Queen) (Greek: Βασίλισσα) | ||
| Leagues | Cyprus Basketball Division 2 | ||
| Founded | 1966 | ||
| Arena |
Nicos Solomonides (capacity: 2,500) | ||
| Location | Limassol, Cyprus | ||
| Team colors |
Yellow and Blue | ||
| President |
 Andreas Sofokleous Kostas Christodoulou | ||
| Head coach |
| ||
| Championships |
Cypriot Championships (13) Cypriot Cups (9) Cypriot Super Cups (8) FIBA Regional Challenge Cup (1) | ||
| Uniforms | |||
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Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou (Greek: Αθλητική Ένωση Λεμεσού), often abbreviated as AEL (Greek: ΑΕΛ), is a Cypriot professional basketball club based in Limassol. It is part of the multisport club Athlitiki Enosi Lemesou and competed in the Cyprus Basketball Division 1. AEL competes in the second division since the 2015-16 season.
AEL is the most successful basketball club in Cyprus and holds the record for the number of national championships and Super Cups won. It is the only basketball club in Cyprus to have ever clinched a European title (FIBA Regional Challenge Cup, 2003).
History
The club was founded in 1966 and it is one of the founding members of the Cyprus Basketball Federation.[1] AEL took part in the first official championship in 1967 with Michalaki Nikolaidi as coach and it managed early on to establish itself as the "Queen" of Cyprus basketball.[2]
AEL became the dominant team in Cyprus in the 1980s, a decade in which it won 13 titles in total (6 national championships, 5 Cups, and 2 Super Cups).[3]
The 1990s did not bring about much success as the club ended up winning only one title (in 1999), which however was to signal the beginning of another golden era.[4]
By winning 14 domestic competitions in the 2000s (5 national championships, 3 Cups, and 6 Super Cups), as well as a European crown (Regional Challenge Cup, South Conference 2003), AEL enjoyed the most successful period in its history and retained its title as the "Queen" of Cyprus basketball.[5]
To this day, no other basketball club from Cyprus can claim to have ever been crowned with a European title or to have won five consecutive national championships in a row.
In October 2014, the club announced the basketball section would be dissolved due to its economical trouble. In August 2015 AEL Limassol announced it would form a basketball team for the following season.[6]
European record
In 2003, the club was crowned with its first European title after winning the newly established Regional Challenge Cup (South Conference). AEL clinched the title with the astonishing record of 10 victories in 10 games. The victory signalled the beginning of the team's European success.
After winning the Regional Challenge Cup, AEL participated as Cypriot champions the following year in the new FIBA EuroCup and qualified from the group phase to the best of 16. In the group phase, AEL eliminated Peristeri and Paris Basket Racing. The club was eliminated in the round of 16 by Hapoel Tel Aviv.
AEL came close to repeat their achievement in the same competition in 2004-05.
In 2005-06 (when the competition changed format) AEL passed the first group round by finishing second, eliminating PAOK BC and Kallev Tallinn and reaching the second round (round of 16). The team finished last in the group.
The effort to reach the quarter finals was achieved in 2006-07 even though during this time AEL faced tougher opponents than the previous years. Being in a group (in the first round) with former European Champions Virtus Bologna, ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne and Astronauts Amsterdam, very few believed that AEL had a chance to qualify. However, the club achieved the unexpected and after the surprise victory against Virtus Bologna with a score 88-83 and the home win against the French giants Villeurbanne 84-58, AEL finished second in Group 2 and qualified to the second round with four wins and two losses.
Unlike the previous year when AEL finished with 0 points in the second round, being in the same group with CB Estudiantes, Liege Basket and BC Šiauliai, they finished second with 5 victories and 1 defeat - tied with the Estudiantes because of the matches between them. AEL beat Estudiantes 63-62 in order to reach the quarter finals. The club reached the quarter finals but the dream to reach the Final Four didn't become true after they were eliminated by the Ukrainian team Azovmash 2-1 in victories. AEL won at home 85-79 but was beaten away 88 - 63 and 97 - 69.
European victories
| Date | Competition | Match | Place | Score | Attendance |
| 19 November 1997 | Korac Cup 1998 Preliminary Round | AEL Limassol - Hapoel Galil Elyon | Limassol (CYP) | 88 - 83 | 500 |
| 17 October 2001 | Korac Cup 2002 Elimination Round II | AEL Limassol - Roseto Basket | Limassol (CYP) | 20 - 0 | - |
| 24 October 2001 | Korac Cup 2002 Elimination Round II | Roseto Basket - AEL Limassol | Roseto Degli Abruzzi (ITA) | 0 - 20 | - |
| 29 October 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
EKA AEL - Nikol Fert-G | Limassol (CYP) | 84 - 75 | 350 |
| 6 November 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
HKK Brotnjo - EKA AEL | Citluk (BIH) | 74 - 75 | 500 |
| 13 November 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
EKA AEL - BC Zrinjevac | Limassol (CYP) | 82 - 70 | 800 |
| 4 December 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
Nikol Fert - EKA AEL | Gostivar (MKD) | 67 - 87 | 300 |
| 11 December 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
EKA AEL - HKK Brotnjo | Limassol (CYP) | 94 - 83 | 1500 |
| 18 December 2002 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Qualifying Round |
BC Zrinjevac - EKA AEL | Zagreb (CRO) | 72 - 77 | 900 |
| 7 January 2003 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Quarter Final |
EKA AEL - HKK Brotnjo | Limassol (CYP) | 97 - 74 | 1500 |
| 9 January 2003 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Quarter Final |
EKA AEL - HKK Brotnjo | Limassol (CYP) | 95 - 78 | 1500 |
| 12 January 2003 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Semi Final |
Apollonas - EKA AEL | Limassol (CYP) | 52 - 73 | 2000 |
| 13 January 2003 | Regional Challenge Cup 2003 Final |
EKA AEL - KK Igokea | Limassol (CYP) | 92 - 82 | 3500 |
| 18 November 2003 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | KK Hemofarm - EKA AEL | Vrsac (SCG) | 68 - 75 | 1500 |
| 25 November 2003 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Dexia Mons-Hainaut | Limassol (CYP) | 69 - 68 | 1200 |
| 2 December 2003 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - BC Khimki | Limassol (CYP) | 87 - 68 | 2000 |
| 16 December 2003 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Paris Basket Racing | Limassol (CYP) | 72 - 67 | 2000 |
| 13 January 2004 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | ANWIL Wloclawek - EKA AEL | Wloclawek (POL) | 54 - 68 | 2500 |
| 20 January 2004 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - GS Peristeri | Limassol (CYP) | 63 - 57 | 2500 |
| 3 February 2004 | EuroCup 2004 Qualifying Round | Dexia Mons-Hainaut - EKA AEL | Mons (BEL) | 76 - 81 | 1700 |
| 2 November 2004 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - KK Belgrade | Limassol (CYP) | 81 - 79 | 1000 |
| 30 November 2004 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Hraklis Thessalonikis | Limassol (CYP) | 88 - 77 | 1200 |
| 7 December 2004 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Olympia Larissas | Limassol (CYP) | 89 - 80 | 1200 |
| 23 December 2005 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | KK Belgrade - EKA AEL | Belgrade (SRB) | 0 - 20 | - |
| 12 January 2005 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Khimik Yuzhny | Limassol (CYP) | 83 - 64 | 1800 |
| 18 January 2005 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | EKA AEL - Paris Basket Racing | Limassol (CYP) | 64 - 58 | 1800 |
| 1 February 2005 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | Hraklis Thessalonikis - EKA AEL | Thessaloniki (GRE) | 87 - 89 | 500 |
| 8 February 2005 | EuroCup 2005 Qualifying Round | Olympia Larissas - EKA AEL | Larissa (GRE) | 69 - 73 | 100 |
| 26 October 2005 | EuroCup 2006 Round 1 | Privatbank EKA AEL - BC Kalev | Limassol (CYP) | 67 - 49 | 1500 |
| 2 November 2005 | EuroCup 2006 Round 1 | PAOK - Privatbank EKA AEL | Thessaloniki (GRE) | 74 - 75 | 500 |
| 9 November 2005 | EuroCup 2006 Round 1 | Privatbank EKA AEL - Fenerbahçe | Limassol (CYP) | 82 - 81 | 3000 |
| 15 November 2005 | EuroCup 2006 Round 1 | BC Kalev - Privatbank EKA AEL | Tallinn (EST) | 65 - 71 | 1500 |
| 23 November 2005 | EuroCup 2006 Round 1 | Privatbank EKA AEL - PAOK | Limassol (CYP) | 84 - 67 | 1500 |
| 14 November 2006 | EuroCup 2007 Round 1 | DTL EKA AEL - Amsterdam Astronauts | Limassol (CYP) | 82 - 49 | 1200 |
| 21 November 2006 | EuroCup 2007 Round 1 | DTL EKA AEL - Virtus Europonteggi Bologna | Limassol (CYP) | 88 - 83 | 3100 |
| 29 November 2006 | EuroCup 2007 Round 1 | DTL EKA AEL - Adecco ASVEL Villeurbanne | Limassol (CYP) | 84 - 58 | 3500 |
| 4 December 2006 | EuroCup 2007 Round 1 | Amsterdam Astronauts - DTL EKA AEL | Amsterdam (NED) | 79 - 95 | 350 |
| 16 January 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Round 2 | DTL EKA AEL - Liege Basket | Limassol (CYP) | 70 - 64 | 2500 |
| 23 January 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Round 2 | BC Siauliai - DTL EKA AEL | Siauliai (LTU) | 79 - 85 | 850 |
| 30 January 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Round 2 | DTL EKA AEL - Club Estudiantes | Limassol (CYP) | 63 - 62 | 3500 |
| 13 February 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Round 2 | Liege Basket - DTL EKA AEL | Liege (BEL) | 58 - 77 | 1000 |
| 20 February 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Round 2 | DTL EKA AEL - BC Siauliai | Limassol (CYP) | 94 - 85 | 2100 |
| 9 March 2007 | EuroCup 2007 Quarter-Final | DTL EKA AEL - Azovmash Mariupol | Limassol (CYP) | 85 - 79 | 3450 |
| 20 November 2007 | EuroCup 2008 Elimination Round 2 | BC Dnipro - Proteas EKA AEL | Dnepropetrovsk (UKR) | 53 - 64 | 5000 |
| 27 November 2007 | EuroCup 2008 Elimination Round 2 | Proteas EKA AEL – BC Dnipro | Limassol (CYP) | 104 - 69 | 600 |
| 19 December 2007 | EuroCup 2008 Qualifying Round | Proteas EKA AEL – KK Zagreb | Limassol (CYP) | 103 - 80 | 1100 |
| 15 January 2008 | EuroCup 2008 Qualifying Round | Proteas EKA AEL – Olympia Larissas | Limassol (CYP) | 91 - 71 | 800 |
| 22 January 2008 | EuroCup 2008 Qualifying Round | Spartak St. Petersburg - Proteas EKA AEL | St. Petersburg (RUS) | 77 - 81 | 800 |
| 29 January 2008 | EuroCup 2008 Qualifying Round | Proteas EKA AEL – Spartak St. Petersburg | Limassol (CYP) | 72 - 71 | 2500 |
| 19 February 2008 | EuroCup 2008 Quarter Final Round | Proteas EKA AEL – Khimik | Limassol (CYP) | 70 - 65 | 2000 |
| 26 February 2008 | EuroCup 2008 Quarter Final Round | Khimik - Proteas EKA AEL | Yuzhny (UKR) | 76 - 87 | 1700 |
Home arena
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AEL plays its home games at the Nicos Solomonides indoor arena which was built in 2005 and which has a capacity of 2,500 seats.[7]
It features the club's offices, official club shop, a cafe-restaurant, workout area and 12 VIP boxes.
The name was given after a former president of the club.[8]
Supporters
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The SY.F.AEL (Greek: ΣΥ.Φ.ΑΕΛ – Σύνδεσμος Φιλάθλων ΑΕΛ), οtherwise known as Gate 3, are the supporters of AEL basketball club.
They also support other clubs within the AEL sports association, particularly the football and volleyball clubs.
Gate 3 are well known for their amazing atmosphere in the Nicos Solomonides arena, particularly against arch-rivals Apollon Limassol.
Honours
| Honour | No. | Years |
| Cyprus Basketball DIVISION A: | 13 | 1974, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1988, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Cyprus Basketball DIVISION B: | 1 | 2016 |
| Cyprus Cups: | 9 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2004, 2008, 2009 |
| Super Cups: | 9 | 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 2004, 2008, 2009 |
| European Titles: Regional Challenge Cup | 1 | 2003 |
Milestones
| Year | Milestone |
| 1966: | The Cyprus Basketball Association is formed with AEL among its founding members. |
| 1974: | AEL wins its first national championship. |
| 1977: | AEL becomes the first Cypriot basketball club to participate in a European competition. |
| 1983: | AEL beat Ethnikos with 177-39 and set a new Cyprus league record of best offense and biggest difference in a game. The record remains to this day. |
| 1994: | AEL are relegated to the 2nd division for the first time in its history. |
| 2003: | The basketball team of AEL writes a golden page in the history of Cypriot sport after it conquers the European Regional Challenge Cup, undefeatable. |
| 2007: | AEL becomes the only team in Cyprus to win five consecutive championships in a row. |
Team records
| Record | For | From - Until |
| Most Championships in Row | 5 Years | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
| Most Cups in Row | 4 Years | 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 |
| Most Super Cups in Row | 5 Years | 2005, 2006, 2007,2008, 2009 |
| Most Wins in a Row (European League) | 10 Games | 30.10.2002 - 13.02.2003 |
| Most Home Wins in a Row at Nikos Solomonides (European league) | 15 Games | 01.02.2006–present |
Accumulated historical results
| Season | Competition | Place | Games | Won/Lost |
| 2009 | FIBA EuroChallenge | |||
| 2008 | FIBA EuroCup | 3rd | 12 | 9/3 |
| 2007 | FIBA EuroCup | 5th | 15 | 10/5 |
| 2006 | FIBA EuroCup | 12 | 5/7 | |
| 2005 | FIBA Europe League Men | 14 | 8/6 | |
| 2004 | FIBA Europe League | 14 | 7/7 | |
| 2003 | FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup (South Conference) | Champion | 10 | 10/0 |
| 2002 | Korac Cup | 8 | 2/6 | |
| 2001 | Korac Cup | 2 | 0/2 | |
| 2000 | Korac Cup | 2 | 0/2 | |
| 1999 | Korac Cup | 2 | 0/2 | |
| 1998 | Korac Cup | 6 | 1/5 | |
| 1995 | Korac Cup | |||
| 1992 | European Cup Radivoj Korac | 2 | 0/2 |
Current roster
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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See also
Former players
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Women's basketball club
AEL also maintains a women's basketball club. It competes in the Cyprus Women's Basketball Division 1 and is one of the most successful clubs in Cyprus. The club holds the record for the most national championships (14) and most Cypriot Cups won (13).[11]
It participates regularly in European competitions such as the Eurocup Women.
Honours (Women's basketball club)
| Honour | No. | Years |
| Championship titles: | 15 | 1993, 1997, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Cup titles: | 14 | 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| Super Cup titles: | 9 | 1998, 2006, 2007,2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
References
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/baskethistory/
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/baskethistory/
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/titloibasket/
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/titloibasket/
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/titloibasket/
- ↑ "Ανακοίνωση Καλαθοσφαιρικής ΑΕΛ" (in Greek). Lions-radio.com. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2015.
- ↑ http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_hVe7XloZHmQvcBxvZ-gFw0.coid_jcGmKDiSJasdtNi-1,CV00.articleMode_on.html
- ↑ http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_hVe7XloZHmQvcBxvZ-gFw0.coid_jcGmKDiSJasdtNi-1,CV00.articleMode_on.html
- ↑ http://www.basketball.org.cy/kok/el/common/PreviewDocument.ashx?itemId=10001110&refItemId=T449BASKETGAMES&refTableId=449&language=EL
- ↑ http://www.all4basketball.com/team-detail.php?tm=14
- ↑ http://www.lions-radio.com/titloibasket/
External links
Fans and supporters:
- Lions Radio (Greek)
- Yellow City 3 (Greek)
| Champions | |
|---|---|
| Runners-up | |
| Third place | |
| Four place | |
| Eliminated in quarter-finals | |
| Eliminated in Group Stage | |
| Eliminated in Round 2 | |
| Eliminated in Round 1 | |
