CHOLET BASKET (Cholet, France)

The French club is not a Eurocup rookie, vivid Euroleague 2010/2011 performance makes respect and fear this team. The team debuted in the first division in the 1987–88 season and after managing to get to the premier league in only 12 years. After winning the National Cup in 1999, Cholet automatically qualified for its first participation to the Euroleague (3 victories – 13 defeats). During the 2004–05 season 10 of the 12 players in the first team derrived from the youth system. Some of the most illustrious players who had their debut in the team are Antoine Rigaudeau, Jim Bilba and Mickaël Gelabale.

During the 2008–2009 season, Cholet was defeated by Virtus Bologna in the EuroChallenge's Final (75–77). In 2010, Cholet finished first of the 2009–2010 Pro A League regular season and won the championship after defeating Le Mans in the Play-Offs Final (81–65). Thanks to its national champion title, Cholet was automatically qualified for the 2010–2011 Euroleague season. Cholet was eliminated during the first round (4 victories – 6 defeats) of the 2010–2011 Euroleague after defeating prestigious (and at the time unbeaten) Fenerbahçe Ülker (82–78).

In 2011, Cholet, defending its title finished 1st again of the 2011-12 Pro A League regular season and was only defeated during the finals by SLUC Nancy (74-76).

CITY OF CHOLET

Cholet is a commune of western France in the Maine-et-Loire department. It was the capital of military Vendée. Its population is about 55000 people (census 2006). Cholet stands on an eminence on the right bank of the Moine, which used to be crossed by a bridge from the fifteenth century. It is about 50 km southeast of Nantes.

During the early years of the French revolutionary wars, the town found itself at the heart of the counter-revolutionary struggle in the Vendée, culminating in October 1793 with the Battle of Cholet which was won by the republicans and followed by a period of brutal government repression.

HOME COURT

La Meilleraie is an indoor sporting arena located in Cholet, France. The capacity of the arena is 5,191 people. It is currently home to the Cholet Basket basketball. Cholet Basket fan-club names les C’BULLS.

EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS

Rimas Kurtinaitis, BC Khimki head coach:

— Even when we have already qualified to the Eurocup Last 16, the game against Cholet will be tough. Khimki will play only with the only goal of beating Cholet and will try to do it with all of our strength. Cholet has a last chance to go to the Last 16 and I am sure they will do their best to beat us. The first game in France was very tough – we made the crucial run only in the third quarter. I would like to highlight Fabien Causeur who scored more than 30 points, and they American players. We should forget a brilliant recent victory over CSKA Moscow, it’s already history. We play at home, which is an important factor, and don’t have a right to disappoint our fans..

Thomas Kelati:

— It is a very important game for us. If we win we will clinch first place in our Eurocup group but it will be difficult. Cholet is a good team and they also need luck to survive if they want to qualify to the Last 16. I suppose they will play aggressively. We are taking this game very seriously. Our first game in France was tough, it was our first match, the most difficult – we played well and managed to win on the road – a good start for us. Now that we know how Cholet plays, I think Khimki is the favourite to win tomorrow. As for Fabien Causeur, he is a good player, a top scorer, a leader in this team. I think we need to focus on him and try to stop him.

VISITING CARD

CHOLET BASKET (Cholet, France)

Achievements:

French League (1) — 2010, French Cup (2) — 1998, 1999, La Semaine des As Cup (1) — 2008, Eurocup finalist (1) — 2010

Team colors: Red and White
President: Patrick Chiron
Official website: www.cholet-basket.com

ROSTER

№	Player	Position	Height	Birthday	Nationality
5	Fabien Causeur	G	193	1987	France
6	Vafessa Fofana	F	200	1992	France
7	Luc-Arthur Vebobe	F	202	1980	France
9	Robert Dozier	F	206	1985	USA
11	Robert Hite	G	188	1984	USA
13	Romain Duport	C	217	1986	France
14	Randal Falker	C	201	1985	USA
15	Rudy Gobert	C	213	1992	France
16	Carl Ona Embo	G	185	1989	France
17	William Gradit	F	197	1982	France
19	Demetris Nichols	F	205	1984	USA
20	Donnie McGrath	G	193	1984	Ireland

Head coach: Erman Kunter (Turkey)