Last year, Nymburk got a victory at the same stage, but it was not enough to keep dreaming the dream of joining the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Regular Season. Nonetheless, the team fought bravely into the Last 16 of the Eurocup while also playing in two domestic leagues. Nymburk finished a respectable eighth in the Adriatic League during the winter, then rejoined the Czech League to win its eighth consecutive title despite a stiff challenge in the finals. There is no doubt about Nymburk's dominance even at a time when Czech basketball keeps getting stronger. Founded in 1930, Nymburk is the oldest basketball club in the Czech Republic, but its finest moment is now. The current management, featuring former coaches and players, gave the club its latest and biggest impulse starting in 1995. Nymburk climbed to the third division by 1997 and by 2000 had won the second and advanced to the top Czech league. Nymburk quickly established itself there, too, ranking third at the end of the 2001-02 season, in which the club also played the Northern European Basketball League. Nymburk made it to the 2003 Czech League finals, but lost against Opava 4-3. Its fans would not wait long after to taste ultimate victory, however. Nymburk lifted the Czech League trophy the next year and has successfully defended it every season since. CEZ, the largest Czech utility company, soon became a general partner, allowing the club to sign even better players and to see increased success in European competitions, too. Nymburk made its ULEB Cup debut in the 2006-07 season and managed to battle its way to the elimination rounds. Soon, its efforts were rewarded even more. In 2009-10, Nymburk advanced to the Eurocup eighthfinals for the first time in club history, losing against Bizkaia Bilbao Basket on points differential. Looking for more challenges to satisfy a broad and dedicated fan base, the Czech champs added both the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds and the Adriatic League to its ambitions last season. Both ventures gave Nymburk valuable experience. With the trio of Tre Simmons, Afik Nissim and Pavel Pumprla leading the way, Nymburk won a tough Eurocup Regular Season group, before faltering in the Last 16. That left the team to concentrate on another Czech League title. And all its concentration was required to survive a six-game playoff final before earning the domestic trophy again.

The goal of reaching new heights and representing Czech basketball in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague is one that CEZ Nymburk and head coach Ronen Ginzburg have dedicated themselves to this season by building a strong roster for the Qualifying Rounds. Their recipe for success includes keeping the best homegrown players – six Czech players return from last year and two promising talents have joined from the junior ranks – and supplementing them with proven players at other positions. Accordingly, go-to star Simmons is back and ready to lead. Likewise, defensive ace Pumprla, who comes off a breakout season, and forward Radek Necas, the team’s assists leaders in the Eurocup last season, look to guide the team alongside veteran center Petr Benda, trusty shooter Ladislav Sokolovsky and Michal Kremen. Playmaker Eugene Lawrence, shot-blocking ace Drew Naymick and Lamayne Wilson, who is a former double-digit Euroleague scorer, are among the key additions. When the ball goes up for the Qualifying Rounds in Charleroi at the end of the month, there is no doubt that CEZ Nymburk will be ready.