KB Prishtina

Last updated
KB Prishtina
KB Prishtina.svg
Leagues Kosovo Superleague
Kosovo Cup
BIBL
Liga Unike
Founded1970;55 years ago (1970)
HistoryKB Prishtina
1970–present
Arena Palace of Youth and Sports
Capacity2,800
Location Pristina, Kosovo
Team colorsBlue, White
President Blerand Stavileci
Head coach Michalis Kakiouzis
2022–23 positionKosovo Basketball Superleague, Semifinalist (3rd)
Championships15 Kosovo Cup
14 Kosovo Superleague
3 Balkan League
8 Kosovo Supercups
Website kbprishtina.com

Klubi i Basketbollit Prishtina (English: Basketball Club Prishtina), officially known as Sigal Prishtina due to sponsorship reasons, is a Kosovar professional basketball club based in Pristina.

Contents

The team currently competes in the Kosovo Superleague, Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL) and the FIBA Europe Cup. They are the most successful club in Kosovo, having won 14 national championships, 15 national cups and 7 supercups in the last 14 years. Since 2013 the club has competed in the Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL), and they became the first Kosovar side to win the competition first in 2014–15 after defeating Bulgarian side BC Rilski Sportist in the finals. They would win the same competition the following season in 2015–16 in which they would beat Montenegrin side Mornar Bar in the final, to win this competition back to back as the only Kosovan Basketball club in the history at this competition. In 2015, Prishtina joined the newly formed European second tier competition, the FIBA Europe Cup. They became the first Kosovar Basketball club to reach the round of 16 in the FIBA Europe Cup in the 2018–19 season, winning six matches in their 14 match long campaign. Prishtina has won 15 games in European basketball competitions so far.

History

The club was founded in 1970. By 2004, the club had racked up huge debt, which led to the original club being forced to fold and a new club under the name OJQ KB Prishtina was formed in its place. The debts were then inherited by the new club and they were not dealt with, which led to the club folding once again on 22 September 2011 and a new club was once again formed in its place. [1]

In the 2015–16 season, Prishtina made its debut in the FIBA Europe Cup and became the first Kosovo team to play in a European club competition. Since then, Prishtina competed in every season of the FIBA Europe Cup.

European competitions

In the 2013–14 season, Prishtina played its first season in Europe in Balkan International Basketball League (BIBL). In the first season KB Prishtina took the 2nd place during the Regular Season with 11 wins and 5 losses, qualifying for the Final Four. They were organizers of the Final Four 2013–14 of BIBL, but they lost to Galil Gilboa 74–86 in the semifinal, and to Balkan (BUL) 73–79 in the 3rd place game.

In the BIBL Season 2014–15, KB Prishtina won the Trophy of the for the first time Balkan International Basketball League, KB Prishtina faced in the Quarterfinals SCM Craiova they won first away in Romania 73−77 and then at home in Prishtina 70−98 to progress in the Semifinals off this Tournament. In the Semifinals KB Prishtina faced KK Kožuv from Macedonia yet again in this Tournament. At home Prishtina surprised Kožuv and beat them deservedly 85–61 at home in Pristina especially Edin Bavčić scored 25 points in this Match and Dardan Berisha with six assist points helped Prishtina massively at this stage. Away in Kožuv they lost 86-80 but it was enough to qualify for their first ever Finals in the Balkan International Basketball League. In the finals they meet BC Rilski Sportist they won both matches against BC Rilski Sportist first in Prishtina 74–72, and second in Bulgaria 80–71, to win the Trophy in this Campaign. Being the only Basketball Club from Kosovo to achieve this feet so far. In 20 matches KB Prishtina achieved 13 wins and only seven losses in the process. [2] But in the next BIBL season 2015–16, KB Prishtina would compete again in the Balkan International Basketball League where they faced in the first round KK Kožuv KK Mornar Bar and BC Beroe. In this round KB Prishtina won 4 Matches and progressed deservedly in the next Round.

In the 2015–16 season, KB Prishtina played in FIBA Europe Cup for the first time. They failed to qualify for the next round with two wins and sour losses in the Group Stage.

In the FIBA Europe Cup 2016–17 KB Prishtina faced in the first round Enisey BC Rilski Sportist and Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece. KB Prishtina did improve in their performances, especially at home. Their only win was a 87–80 at home against Enisey—not enough for KB Prishtina to progress in the next round.

Sponsorship naming

The club has had several denominations through the years due to its sponsorship:

Matches in European competitions

SeasonCompetitionRoundOpponentHomeAway
2015–16 FIBA Europe Cup RS Flag of Romania.svg Energia Târgu Jiu 66–6287–72
Flag of Cyprus.svg AEK Larnaca 70–83101–84
Flag of Kazakhstan.svg Astana 75–7382–78
2016–17 FIBA Europe Cup RS Flag of Russia.svg Enisey 87–80102–101
Flag of Bulgaria.svg Rilski Sportist 100–104100–98
Flag of Turkey.svg Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece 71–81100–58
2017–18 Champions League QR1 Flag of Belarus.svg Tsmoki-Minsk 50–5789–74
FIBA Europe Cup RS Flag of Ukraine.svg Khimik 76–6559–78
Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Belfius Mons-Hainaut 69–7572–74
Flag of Turkey.svg Demir İnşaat Büyükçekmece66–8486–59
2018–19 Champions League QR1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Donar 84–6480–55
FIBA Europe Cup RS Flag of Denmark.svg Bakken Bears 77–100108–84
Flag of Ukraine.svg Cherkaski Mavpy 92–8273–92
Flag of Romania.svg Steaua București 74–6981–87
2R Flag of Germany.svg s.Oliver Würzburg 78–9195–77
Flag of Hungary.svg Szolnoki Olaj 81–7689–76
Flag of Turkey.svg Pınar Karşıyaka 82–78107–85
R16 Flag of Italy.svg Varese 77–80100–84
2019–20 Champions League QR1 Flag of Poland.svg Legia 79–8185–83
FIBA Europe Cup RS Flag of Cyprus.svg APOEL 93–7480–107
Flag of Germany.svg medi Bayreuth 68–9397–89
Flag of Latvia.svg Ventspils 72–122104–84
2022–23 FIBA Europe Cup QR2 Flag of Estonia.svg Kalev N/A61-98
ENBL GS Flag of Ukraine.svg Budivelnyk N/A85-62
Flag of Estonia.svg Kalev 50-61N/A
Flag of Poland.svg Stelmet Zielona Gora N/A89-76
Flag of Poland.svg Start Lublin 69-89N/A
Flag of Lithuania.svg Šiauliai N/A67-91
Flag of Estonia.svg Tal Tech 73-91N/A
QF Flag of Poland.svg King Szczecin 64-6478-85

Arena

The club play their home games at the smaller of the two arenas in the Pallati i Rinisë dhe Sporteve (Palace of Youth and Sports) which has a capacity of 2,800. The larger arena in the building had a capacity of around 8,000 but it was damaged by a fire on 25 February 2000 and has never been restored fully since.

Honours and titles

Domestic competitions

Kosovo Basketball Superleague

Kosovo Cup

Kosovo Supercup

European and regional competitions

Liga Unike

Balkan League

European North Basketball League

FIBA Europe Cup

FIBA Champions League

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

KB Prishtina roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.Wt.Age
PG 44 Flag of Kosovo.svg Polloshka, Don 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)23 – (2002-06-07)7 June 2002
CG 1 Flag of the United States.svg Flag of Kosovo.svg Azemi, Arian 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)77 kg (170 lb)26 – (1999-03-03)3 March 1999
SF 17 Flag of Kosovo.svg Binqe, Norik  (U20)1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)80 kg (176 lb)19 – (2005-10-25)25 October 2005
G/F 3 Flag of Kosovo.svg Ismajli, Jon  (U20)1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)80 kg (176 lb)19 – (2005-12-23)23 December 2005
G/F 13 Flag of Albania.svg Flag of Kosovo.svg Lekndreaj, Daniel 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)86 kg (190 lb)27 – (1997-11-16)16 November 1997
F 34 Flag of Kosovo.svg Istrefi, Bardh 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)90 kg (198 lb)21 – (2004-01-25)25 January 2004
PF 23 Flag of Kosovo.svg Janjeva, Muhamedali 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in)90 kg (198 lb)26 – (1998-12-28)28 December 1998
PF/C 12 Flag of Kosovo.svg Haxhosaj, Dion 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)90 kg (198 lb)26 – (1998-09-07)7 September 1998
C 6 Flag of North Macedonia.svg Flag of Kosovo.svg Kakruki, Valmir 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)90 kg (198 lb)24 – (2000-09-20)20 September 2000
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Physiotherapist(s)
  • Flag of Kosovo.svg Kujtim Shala
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (TW) – Two-way contract
    (U20) – Obligatory Under 20 years old player
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Updated: June 23, 2023

Depth chart

Pos.Starting 5Bench 1Bench 2
C Valmir Kakruki Dion Haxhosaj
PF Muhamedali Janjeva Bardh Istrefi
SF Daniel Lekndreaj Norik Binqe
SG Arian Azemi Jon Ismajli
PG Don Polloshka

Head coaches

CoachYears active
Flag of the United Nations.svg Ibrahim Karabegu1999–2000
Flag of the United Nations.svg Bujar Shehu 2000–2001
Flag of Croatia.svg Čedomir Perinčić2001–2002
Flag of North Macedonia.svg Enver Sllamniku2002–2003
Flag of Croatia.svg Josip Gjergja 2003–2004
Flag of Turkey.svg Ekrem Memnun 2004–2005
Flag of Kosovo.svg Vllaznim Perani 2005
Flag of Kosovo.svg Arben Krasniqi 2005–2013
Flag of Turkey.svg Ahmet Kandemir2013
Flag of Turkey.svg Ceyhun Cabadak2013
Flag of North Macedonia.svg Marin Dokuzovski 2014
Flag of North Macedonia.svg Marjan Ilievski 2015
Flag of Cyprus.svg Antonis Constantinides 2015–2016
Flag of Lithuania.svg Audrius Prakuraitis2016–2017
Flag of Turkey.svg Ahmet Kandemir2017
Flag of Kosovo.svg Andin Rashica 2018
Flag of Germany.svg Matthias Zollner 2018
Flag of Croatia.svg Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Damir Mulaomerović 2018–2019
Flag of Kosovo.svg Bujar Loci 2019
Flag of Slovenia.svg Teo Hojc2020
Flag of Kosovo.svg Andin Rashica 2020
Flag of Croatia.svg Ante Nazor 2021–2022
Flag of Turkey.svg Ekrem Memnun 2022
Flag of Turkey.svg Murat Bilge 2022
Flag of Turkey.svg Ahmet Kandemir2022–2023
Flag of Lithuania.svg Žydrūnas Urbonas 2023–2024
Flag of Croatia.svg Jakša Vulić 2024
Flag of Kosovo.svg Albert Sylejmani 2024
Flag of Turkey.svg Murat Bilge2024–present

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationalities not displayed.

Criteria

To appear in this section a player must have either:

  • Set a club record or won an individual award while at the club
  • Played at least one official international match for their national team at any time
  • Played at least one official NBA match at any time.
Kosovo & Albania
Europe
United States
Africa
Asia

References

  1. ↑ "Shuhet KB Prishtina". Dardania.de (in Albanian). 20 September 2011.
  2. ↑ "Sigal Prishtina is the new champion of EUROHOLD Balkan League". BIBL. 29 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Vëllaznimi kampion i Ligës Unike". Liga Unike (in Albanian). 28 March 2025.
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