Zoltán Horváth (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Zoltán Horváth was a Hungarian
basketball player. He had been part of the Hungary national basketball team
from 2005 to 2009, and briefly played for PAOK Thessaloniki in the A1 Ethniki
of Greece
.
Horváth began his career on senior level in 2003 with the team of the PVSK Panthers from Pécs
. He soon became the leading rebounder
of the team, and in 2005 moved to the Hungarian league's defending champion, Atomerőmű SE. There, Horváth won the domestic championship and reached the national cup's final in his first year, and played in the FIBA EuroCup
the following season. In 2007, he was signed by PAOK Thessaloniki, but played just four games for them before returning to Atomerőmű. Horváth then again became part of the defending domestic champion's roster, in that case Falco KC Szombathely
. He reached the domestic cup's final in 2009, and developed into one of the league's dominating players during his last months, scoring more than 20 points in the first five matches of the season.
As part of his country's national team
, Horváth took part in one match of the EuroBasket 2005 qualification, in six matches of the EuroBasket 2007 qualification
, and in all six matches of the EuroBasket 2009 qualification
's relegation. Although the Hungarian team eventually did not qualify for any of these tournaments, they at least avoided relegation from the Division A.
On 28 December 2009, Horváth was killed in a traffic accident on his way to Szombathely
. He had crashed head-on into a truck after losing control of his car on the road's icy surface.
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
basketball player. He had been part of the Hungary national basketball team
Hungary national basketball team
The Hungarian national basketball team is the basketball team that represents Hungary in international competitions.-Medals:*Eurobasket 1946 - Bronze medal*Eurobasket 1953 - Silver medal*Eurobasket 1955 - Champions-Eurobasket 1935:...
from 2005 to 2009, and briefly played for PAOK Thessaloniki in the A1 Ethniki
A1 Ethniki
The Greek Basket League , commonly referred to as the Greek Basketball League or Greek Basketball Championship, is the highest professional basketball league in Greece. It is run by HEBA...
of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
.
Horváth began his career on senior level in 2003 with the team of the PVSK Panthers from Pécs
Pécs
Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. It is the administrative and economical centre of Baranya county...
. He soon became the leading rebounder
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
of the team, and in 2005 moved to the Hungarian league's defending champion, Atomerőmű SE. There, Horváth won the domestic championship and reached the national cup's final in his first year, and played in the FIBA EuroCup
EuroChallenge
The EuroChallenge is the 3rd tier level transnational men's professional club basketball competition in Europe. It is organized and run by FIBA Europe...
the following season. In 2007, he was signed by PAOK Thessaloniki, but played just four games for them before returning to Atomerőmű. Horváth then again became part of the defending domestic champion's roster, in that case Falco KC Szombathely
Falco KC Szombathely
-Trophies:*Hungarian National Championship:** Winners : 2007/08** Runners-up : 1998/99** Third placed : 1999/00, 2001/02*Hungarian Cup :** Runners-up : 1997/98, 2007/08, 2008/09, 2009/10** Third placed : 1996/97- References :...
. He reached the domestic cup's final in 2009, and developed into one of the league's dominating players during his last months, scoring more than 20 points in the first five matches of the season.
As part of his country's national team
Hungary national basketball team
The Hungarian national basketball team is the basketball team that represents Hungary in international competitions.-Medals:*Eurobasket 1946 - Bronze medal*Eurobasket 1953 - Silver medal*Eurobasket 1955 - Champions-Eurobasket 1935:...
, Horváth took part in one match of the EuroBasket 2005 qualification, in six matches of the EuroBasket 2007 qualification
EuroBasket 2007 qualification
- Qualifying Games :-Group A:Bulgaria 80 77 Ukraine Sweden 75 81 Poland Poland 75 68 Bulgaria Ukraine 66 61 Sweden Bulgaria 82 90 Sweden Poland 74 58 Ukraine Poland 88 67 Sweden Ukraine 92 61 Bulgaria Bulgaria 99 65 Poland...
, and in all six matches of the EuroBasket 2009 qualification
EuroBasket 2009 qualification
-Qualified teams:Eight teams have secured their places at the EuroBasket 2009 before the qualifications. Seven teams have qualified through the Qualifying Round, and one more team has qualified through the Additional Qualifying Round....
's relegation. Although the Hungarian team eventually did not qualify for any of these tournaments, they at least avoided relegation from the Division A.
On 28 December 2009, Horváth was killed in a traffic accident on his way to Szombathely
Szombathely
Szombathely is the 10th largest city in Hungary. It is the administrative centre of Vas county in the west of the country, located near the border with Austria...
. He had crashed head-on into a truck after losing control of his car on the road's icy surface.