Euroleague 2011/12. Qualifying round (I). BC Khimki — Turow30 september 2011

On Friday, September 30, in Charleroi (Belgium) within the bounds of Euroleague 2011/2012 qualifying round our team will play with Polish vice-champion PGE Turow Zgorzelec. The beginning of the meeting is at 20.00 msk. Watch live at NTV-PLUS Basketball.

EXCHANGE OF OPINIONS

Thomas Kelati:

— The upcoming meeting with Turow certainly arouses in me only positive emotions. I look forward to meeting with my former team, where I spent two seasons. Nicely to meet with former partners and coaches. But I understand well that it's just emotions and wonderful memories. At the court there will be fight. I defend the colors of BC Khimki and will do everything for our victory and going further.

For sure, I expect only victory from the game. There is no right for a mistake, all guys understand it, so the mood is extremely serious. I think we have a great chance to overcome QR and access the group stage of Euroleague. Yes, we have recently gathered together, but in our team there are great players, all of them are excellent scorers, as well as a strong coach, so that all is in our hands. By the way, my European playing career I started in Belgium. I like this country, where I quickly adapted. Nice to be back there again.


VISITING CARD

PGE Turów Zgorzelec, Poland

Founded: in 1948
Arena: Centrum Sportowe (1500 seats)
Team colors: green and black
President: Jan Michalski (since November 2008)
Achievements: silver medalist of Polish Basketball League (2006-2007, 2007-2008, 2008-2009, 2010-2011), EuroCup ULEB quarter-finalist (2007-2008)
Official web-site: http://www.ksturow.eu/

In season 2010/2011 PGE Turow scored second place in the national championship. First place, seven year in a row, won Asseco Prokom Gdynia. This year extremely bitter struggle happened — the winner was determined only in the seventh game: Prokom won 76-71 and again became the golden medalist. In the regular championship Turow ranked second (22 games: 15 wind — 7 losses).

Turow on his ways to the final:
Quarterfinal
PGE Turow – PBG Basket Poznan – 3-2 (72-66, 73-72, 77-69, 47-69, 70-87)
Semifinal
PGE Turow – Trefl Sopot – 4-3 (62-76, 77-66, 69-82, 91-82, 78-77, 79-93, 77-67)
Final
PGE Turow – Asseco Prokom – 3-4 (79-88, 81-66, 56-81, 54-48, 84-79, 64-72, 71-76)

BC Khimki American guard with Polish passport Thomas Kelati played in Turow for two years (2006-2008). He considerably contributed to the success of the Polish bulls (in the logo of the club the bull is depicted). In season 2006/2007 he helped Turow for the first time in its history enter Polish Basketball League finals and became the best guard of his team.

ROSTER

In the off-season many players left Turow (only three guys stayed — Konrad Wysocki, Michal Gabinski and David Jackson):
guards: Bartosz Bochno (Slask Wroclaw — POL-PLK), Michael Kuebler (Asseco Prokom — POL-PLK), Torey Thomas (Spartak-Primorye — RUS-PBL), Oskar Bukowiecki
forwards: Robert Tomaszek (Wuerzburg — GER-1.Bundesliga), Marko Brkic (Igokea — BIH-D1)
centers: Ivan Zigeranovic (Borac — SRB-A League), Mateusz Jarmakowicz (AZS Koszalin — POL-PLK)

The following players singed contracts with the Polish club:
guards: Giedrus Gustas, Michal Chylinski, Michal Jankowski, Ronald Moore
forwards: Aaron Cel, Artur Mielczarek, Dallas Lauderdale
centers: Daniel Kickert, John Edwards

From September 4 to 21 took part in three tournaments and played in 11 games, scored five victories. Best results: Daniel Kickert (13.2 ppg) and David Jackson (12.4 ppg). They are the leaders of the team. David Jackson's average last season: 10.5 ppg, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Captain Konrad Wysocki (Beijing Olympics-2008 and EuroBasket-2009 participant in German team) is also one of the best players of Turow.



№  Player Position  Height  Birthday Nationality
5Aaron CelF2041987France/Poland
6Daniel KickertC2081983Australia
7Giedrus GustasG1901980Lithuania
8Michal ChylinskiG1981986Poland
9Artur MielczarekF1951983USA
10Konrad WysockiF2001982Germany/Poland
13Michal GabinskiF2011987Poland
14Michal JankowskiG1921984Poland
22David JacksonG1931986USA
25Ronald MooreG1831988USA
52Dallas LauderdaleF/C2031988USA
54John EdwardsC2131981USA


Head coach: Jacek Winnicki (Poland)