2010-11 Results

Euroleague

Regular Season: 4-6

French League: Finalist

French Cup: Quarterfinalist

In the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Qualifying Rounds, French power Cholet Basket has the opportunity to make some club history by reaching the continent’s top competition for a second consecutive season. Even though basketball has existed in the city since 1926, Cholet Basket was not founded until 1975. Just a dozen seasons after its creation, Cholet reached the French elite, in 1987-88, and qualified for a European competition the very next year. Cholet continued to reach new heights with the outstanding Antoine Rigaudeau. Even though he left in 1998, the team won the French Cup and reached the Korac Cup and the French League semifinals that season. After defending its French Cup title in 1999, Cholet qualified to the Euroleague for the first time. Although unable to survive the group stages, it managed to defeat that season’s eventual champion, Panathinaikos. Cholet played in the ULEB Cup in its first three seasons and made it to the elimination rounds in 2004-05 before losing to PAOK of Greece. In 2008, following a couple of quiet seasons, Cholet returned to win the Semaine des As title. With Nando De Colo and Rodrigue Beaubois as the stars, Cholet overwhelmed Vichy 40-67 in the final for its first domestic title in almost a decade. In 2008-09, Cholet missed the Eurocup when it lost in the qualifying rounds, but subsequently marched to the FIBA EuroChallenge title game, ultimately losing by one basket to Virtus Bologna. In 2009-10, with Mickael Gelabale, Antywane Robinson and Sammy Mejia leading a very deep roster, Cholet won the French League regular season and marched all the way to win its first French League title, downing Le Mans 81-65 in the final to return to the Euroleague for the first time since 2000. Last season, Cholet won three of its first five Euroleague games, but could not survive the regular season. The team returned to the French League final, but this time suffered a narrow 74-76 loss against Sluc Nancy.

Despite some significant roster turnover, Cholet comes into the qualifying rounds with a few key pieces back and plenty of confidence under head coach Erman Kunter. The fact that blue-collar worker Randal Falker anchors the defense alongside athletic rebounder Luc-Arthur Vebobe is an excellent starting point for Cholet. Newcomer Robert Dozier will be handed an important role inside, as well. The tandem of playmaker Carl Ona-Embo and scorer Robert Hite gives Cholet and explosive guard set, while Derrick Byars compliments them well at small forward. Rookie Talor Battle could provide instant offense off the bench, while veteran playmaker Fabien Causeur and forward William Gradit bring important experience for clutch situations. Two players with plenty potential inside are 2.17-meter Romain Duport and Rudy Gobert. Speed, scoring, athleticism and tenacity figure to be the calling cards for Cholet as it looks to make history by getting back to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague for the second straight season.

Luc-Arthur Vebobe

ROSTER

Carl Ona-Embo G Robert Hite G Robert Dozier C Talor Battle G 5 - Fabien Causeur G 7 - Luc-Arthur Vebobe F 13 - Romain Duport C 14 - Randal Falker F 20 - William Gradit G Derrick Byars F Vafessa Fofana F Rudy Gobert F Head Coach: Erman Kunter