Romain Sato
Encyclopedia
Romain Guessagba-Sato-Lebel, generally known as Romain Sato (born March 2, 1981, in Bimbo
), is a Central African
professional basketball player, who currently plays for Panathinaikos
. He plays as a swingman
.
in Dayton, Ohio
, in the United States
. He graduated from Xavier University
in 2004, having majored in French
, after playing college basketball
with the Xavier Musketeers
.
in the 2004 NBA Draft
, and was subsequently waived on February 24, 2005. After being drafted by the Spurs, Sato played in the Italian Second Division
with Sicc Cucine Jesi
. He was the league's second-leading scorer in the 2005–06 season, averaging 25.5 points per game, and also adding 7.5 rebounds per game.
In Romain's three playoff games that season, he averaged 35 points and 14.6 rebounds. From there, he went to FC Barcelona
to play in the 2006 Spanish ACB League playoffs. Sato then returned to Italy to play in the top Italian League with Montepaschi Siena for the 2006–07 season. In his first season with Siena, he helped Montepaschi to win the Scudetto (Italian Championship), and he then went on to win three more Scudetti with Siena. He was named the Italian League MVP in 2010.
In July 2010, he signed a three-year long contract with Panathinaikos
at the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship
. He averaged 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game at the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament First Team.
Bimbo, Central African Republic
Bimbo is the capital of Ombella-M'poko, one of the 14 prefectures of the Central African Republic. It has a population of 124,176 .-References:...
), is a Central African
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic , is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It borders Chad in the north, Sudan in the north east, South Sudan in the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo in the south, and Cameroon in the west. The CAR covers a land area of about ,...
professional basketball player, who currently plays for Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos is a multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece. It has the shamrock as its official emblem and green and white as its colours...
. He plays as a swingman
Swingman
A Swingman is a basketball term denoting a player who can play both the small forward and shooting guard positions, and, in essence, swing between the shooting guard and small forward positions." Swingmen males are often between 6'5" and 6'8" .John Havlicek, who played for the Boston Celtics in...
.
Amateur career
Sato played high school basketball at Dayton Christian High SchoolDayton Christian High School
Dayton Christian High School is a private, non-denominational Christian high school located in Miamisburg, Ohio, United States. It is one of two high schools run by the Dayton Christian School System, educating approximately 400 students...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He graduated from Xavier University
Xavier University (Cincinnati)
Xavier University is a co-educational Jesuit university in the United States located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The University is the sixth-oldest Catholic university in the nation and has an undergraduate enrollment of about 4,000 students and graduate enrollment of 2,600 students. Xavier is primarily...
in 2004, having majored in French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, after playing college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
with the Xavier Musketeers
Xavier Musketeers men's basketball
The Xavier Musketeers team is the basketball team that represents Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. The school's team currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
.
Pro career
Sato was selected by the San Antonio SpursSan Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
in the 2004 NBA Draft
2004 NBA Draft
The 2004 NBA Draft was held on June 24, 2004 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York and was broadcast live on ESPN at 7:00 pm . In this draft, National Basketball Association teams took turns selecting amateur college basketball players and other first-time eligible...
, and was subsequently waived on February 24, 2005. After being drafted by the Spurs, Sato played in the Italian Second Division
LegADue
Legadue or Lega2 is the second-highest division of professional club basketball in Italy since 2001-2002 season...
with Sicc Cucine Jesi
Aurora Basket Jesi
Aurora Basket Jesi, also known for sponsorship reasons as Fileni Jesi is an Italian professional basketball team from the town of Jesi.-History:...
. He was the league's second-leading scorer in the 2005–06 season, averaging 25.5 points per game, and also adding 7.5 rebounds per game.
In Romain's three playoff games that season, he averaged 35 points and 14.6 rebounds. From there, he went to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona Bàsquet
FC Barcelona Bàsquet, known as FC Barcelona Regal for sponsorship reasons, is a Spanish professional basketball club. It is part of the FC Barcelona sports club and was founded on August 24, 1926 which makes it the oldest club in Liga ACB. The club competes in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto...
to play in the 2006 Spanish ACB League playoffs. Sato then returned to Italy to play in the top Italian League with Montepaschi Siena for the 2006–07 season. In his first season with Siena, he helped Montepaschi to win the Scudetto (Italian Championship), and he then went on to win three more Scudetti with Siena. He was named the Italian League MVP in 2010.
In July 2010, he signed a three-year long contract with Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos
Panathinaikos Athlitikos Omilos is a multi-sport club based in Athens, Greece. It has the shamrock as its official emblem and green and white as its colours...
Central African Republic national team
Sato played with the senior men's Central African Republic national basketball teamCentral African Republic national basketball team
The Central African Republic national basketball team are the men's basketball side that represent Central African Republic in international competition and played in the 1974 FIBA World Championship in San Juan, Puerto Rico where they finished 14th in the completion out of fourteen...
at the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship
FIBA Africa Championship 2009
The 2009 FIBA Africa Championship was the 25th FIBA Africa Championship, played under the auspices of the Fédération Internationale de Basketball, the basketball sport governing body, and the African zone thereof. At stake were the three berths allocated to Africa in the 2010 FIBA World Championship...
. He averaged 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game at the tournament and was named to the All-Tournament First Team.