Achilleas
Encyclopedia
Achilleas is a Cypriot basketball club founded in 1943, nowadays running basketball, volleyball and table tennis divisions. It has been an integral part of the community in the suburb of Kaimakli
in Nicosia
. The club is named after Achilles
(Ἀχιλλεύς) a legendary figure of the Greek mythology
.
. In terms of trophies Achilleas has won the Cyprus Basketball League
five times, making it the third most successful team on the island to date behind EKA AEL and APOEL
. Through their domestic successes they have represented the island in several European competitions such as the Korać Cup
(in 1999 and 2001), the Saporta Cup
in 2000 and the Euroleague
(historically The European Champions Cup). Several of Achilleas' players have been selected for the men's Cyprus national basketball team
.
The most successful season in recent history was in 1992/93 when 6'11 Spider (Stephan) Ledesma
and 6'4 Joseph Hutt, Native American players from the United States, led Club Achilleas to its last league championship. On opening night of the preseason Club Achilleas, led by a 48-point explosion from Ledesma, overwhelmed a Div.I Greek team at Apoel stadium by 22 points. No team from Cyprus had ever defeated a first division team from Greece before—or since. Ledesma and Hutt led Achilleas to a 10-0 preseason and then league-best record of 17-1. though Hutt missed almost half of the team's regular season games due to a calf injury. In the finals, they defeated Club Apoel and John Flowers of UNLV 4 games to 1. Club Achilleas went 12-1 in the post season for a total record of 39-2. Spider was named League MVP & Finals MVP and declared the 'greatest foreigner to ever play in Cyprus' as voted on by the Cypriot sports media.
The Women's basketball division competes in the Cyprus Women's Basketball League - First division. It has also represented Cyprus in European competitions.
Home games are played at the indoor Pallouriotisa Arena which only has a capacity for about 1,000 fans. The proximity of fans to the playing field has given it a reputation as an intimidating and tough home ground for away teams.
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
----
Legend:
. It currently competes in the Cyprus Men's Volleyball Second division.
Women's Basketball
Kaimakli
Kaimakli is a large North Eastern suburb located within the Municipality of Nicosia since 1968. The population of the area was 10864 inhabitants in 2001.-History:...
in Nicosia
Nicosia
Nicosia from , known locally as Lefkosia , is the capital and largest city in Cyprus, as well as its main business center. Nicosia is the only divided capital in the world, with the southern and the northern portions divided by a Green Line...
. The club is named after Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
(Ἀχιλλεύς) a legendary figure of the Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
.
Basketball
The Men's basketball division was one of the founding clubs of the Cyprus Basketball FederationCyprus Basketball Federation
The Cyprus Basketball Federation is the governing body for basketball on the island of Cyprus and is a division of the Cyprus Sport Organisation...
. In terms of trophies Achilleas has won the Cyprus Basketball League
Cyprus Basketball Division 1
The Cypriot First Division A of the Men’s Basketball League is currently the top competition on the Cyprus Basketball calendar. It is run and governed by the Cyprus Basketball Federation...
five times, making it the third most successful team on the island to date behind EKA AEL and APOEL
APOEL B.C.
APOEL is a professional basketball team from Nicosia, Cyprus. APOEL is one of the most successful basketball clubs in Cyprus by winning 10 Championships, 11 Cups and 10 Supercups. APOEL B.C. is part of the APOEL multisport club.-History:...
. Through their domestic successes they have represented the island in several European competitions such as the Korać Cup
Korac Cup
The Korać Cup was an annual basketball club competition held by FIBA between the 1971-72 and 2001-02 seasons. It was the third-tier level club competition in European basketball, after the European Champions' Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup...
(in 1999 and 2001), the Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup
Saporta Cup was the name of the second-tier level European professional club basketball competition, where the National Cup winners from all over Europe played against each other. The competition was organized by FIBA Europe...
in 2000 and the Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
(historically The European Champions Cup). Several of Achilleas' players have been selected for the men's Cyprus national basketball team
Cyprus national basketball team
The Cypriot national basketball team is the national team of Cyprus. It is run by the Cyprus Basketball Federation. It is affiliated to FIBA, in the FIBA Europe zone.- History :The team participates at international and European tournaments...
.
The most successful season in recent history was in 1992/93 when 6'11 Spider (Stephan) Ledesma
Spider Ledesma
William Stephan Spider Ledesma II is an American professional basketball player and the current CEO of the Native American National Team and Buyorsellnetwork.com.- Biography :...
and 6'4 Joseph Hutt, Native American players from the United States, led Club Achilleas to its last league championship. On opening night of the preseason Club Achilleas, led by a 48-point explosion from Ledesma, overwhelmed a Div.I Greek team at Apoel stadium by 22 points. No team from Cyprus had ever defeated a first division team from Greece before—or since. Ledesma and Hutt led Achilleas to a 10-0 preseason and then league-best record of 17-1. though Hutt missed almost half of the team's regular season games due to a calf injury. In the finals, they defeated Club Apoel and John Flowers of UNLV 4 games to 1. Club Achilleas went 12-1 in the post season for a total record of 39-2. Spider was named League MVP & Finals MVP and declared the 'greatest foreigner to ever play in Cyprus' as voted on by the Cypriot sports media.
The Women's basketball division competes in the Cyprus Women's Basketball League - First division. It has also represented Cyprus in European competitions.
Home games are played at the indoor Pallouriotisa Arena which only has a capacity for about 1,000 fans. The proximity of fans to the playing field has given it a reputation as an intimidating and tough home ground for away teams.
Roster
| Achilleas Kaimakliou Roster | |||||
| Players | Coaches | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Νο. | Nat. | Name | ||
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
----
Legend:
- (C) Team captain
Former players
| Spider (Stephan) Ledesma Spider Ledesma William Stephan Spider Ledesma II is an American professional basketball player and the current CEO of the Native American National Team and Buyorsellnetwork.com.- Biography :... Joseph Hutt Marko Milisević Vladimir Radovanović Branko Zotović Emil Jonov Nikola Kuga Andelko Mandić  Dejan Matić Zivko Misiraca Djordje Pantelić Zoran StevanovićZoran Stevanović Zoran Stevanović is a award winning journalist and television producer. Zoran is the recipient of numerous awards, including a "Accolade Turner-CNN" award in 2004, Emmy for "Best News Coverage - Afghanistan" in 2002, and the Alfred I... |
Cornelius Ausborne Cory Bradford Isaac Burton David Butler David Butler (basketball) David Butler is a retired American basketball player. He won an NCAA championship as a senior at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and played professionally in several countries, including a stint with Liga ACB in Spain.... Jason Carter-Wallace Mark Clark Darrin Fowlkes Chris Garner Chris Garner (basketball) Christopher Winslow Garner is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA. He played collegiately at the University of Memphis....  Clayton Johnson Joseph JonesJoseph Jones (basketball player) Joseph CostelloReshawn Jones is an American basketball player. He played college basketball at Texas A&M University during college years . From the season 2008-09 plays at Oyak Renaul Bursa in the Turkish Basketball League.-Early years:Jones was born March 21, 1986 to D.C... |
Danny Jones Tony Lane Malcolm Leak Marquis Melton Jenny Reynolds Carlos Smith Everick Sullivan  Adam Waleskowski Nate Wilbourne Michael Williams |
Volleyball
The Men's volleyball division was one of the founding members of the Cyprus Volleyball FederationCyprus Volleyball Federation
Cyprus Volleyball Federation is the governing body of volleyball in Cyprus...
. It currently competes in the Cyprus Men's Volleyball Second division.
Honours
Men's Basketball- Cyprus Basketball Division 1Cyprus Basketball Division 1The Cypriot First Division A of the Men’s Basketball League is currently the top competition on the Cyprus Basketball calendar. It is run and governed by the Cyprus Basketball Federation...
- Winner (5): 1974-75, 1976–77, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1992–93
- Runner Up (6): 1986-87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1996–97, 1998–99
- Cyprus Men's Basketball CupCypriot Basketball CupThe Cypriot Basketball Cup is an annual cup competition, organized by the Cyprus Basketball Federation since 1969. From 2007 the cup competition format changed, and in the cup participate only the teams of the Cypriot 1st Division. The cup employs a knock-out format...
:- Winner (7): 1973-74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1999–2000
- Runner-up (4): 1980-81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 2009–10
- Cyprus Men's Basketball Supercup
- Winner (4): 1990, 1992, 1993, 1996
Women's Basketball
- Cyprus Basketball Women's League – Division 1
- Winner (1): 1986-87
- Runner Up (1): 2000-01, 2009–10
- Cyprus Women's Basketball Cup:
- Winner (1): 2006-07
- Runner-up (4): 1999-00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2008–09