2008-09 club profile: Cajasol
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 It took Cajasol seven years to return to European club competitions, but the team is ready to show it is not an average Eurocup newcomer. Founded in 1987, Cajasol, named under the savings bank that owns the club, needed just two years to reach the Spanish League first division (ACB) behind an outstanding Abdul Jeelani and is about to enter its 20th consecutive season among its domestic elite. Head coach Jose Alberto Pesquera and players like Javier Lafuente, Dan Bingenheimer or Darrell Lockhart consolidated the club in the ACB, while the arrival of Brian Jackson and Darryl Middleton allowed the then-called Caja San Fernando to finish fifth overall in the 1992-93 season. Caja San Fernando made its European club competitions with back-to-back Korac Cup appearances in 1994 and 1995. The club went one step higher with Michael Anderson, Richard Scott, homegrown bomber Raul Perez or head coach Aleksandar Petrovic. Caja San Fernando reached the 1996 ACB finals, losing against FC Barcelona, and earned a ticket to the 1996-97 Euroleague.
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Cajasol Roster 2008-09
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| Name |
Pos.
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Height
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| Elmer Bennett |
G
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1.83
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| Andrea Pecile |
G
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1.87
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| Pedro Rivero |
G
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1.86
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| Tyrone Ellis |
G
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1.93
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| Andres Miso |
F
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1.96
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| Michal Ignerski |
F
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2.05
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| Warren Carter |
F
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2.06
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| Dusko Savanovic |
F
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2.04
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| Iñaki de Miguel |
C
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2.05
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| Juanjo Triguero |
C
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2.08
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| Mile Ilic |
C
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2.15
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| Manel Comas |
Head Coach |
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The club reached the Euroleague eighthfinals in 1997, losing against Fortitudo Bologna, registering prestigious wins against Partizan, Virtus Bologna or Union Olimpija. After a couple of slow years, the arrival of head coach Javier Imbroda and playmaker Andre Turner turned Caja San Fernando into an ACB contender again. The club reached the Spanish King's Cup final and the ACB title series, losing against Tau Ceramica and Barcelona, respectively. Caja San Fernando earned the right to play in the 2000 Euroleague, missing the playoffs by a single win. Its last ACB playoff appearance came that season, losing against Tau in the quarterfinals. The club has ranked from 10th to 13th in each of the last eight ACB seasons despite having players like Donatas Slanina, Lou Roe, Antonio Granger, Corey Brewer, Francisco Elson or Hollis Price. A new era started when Caja San Fernando merged with El Monte to become Cajasol in 2007. Even when the team had a 4-13 record at some point, the arrival of legendary head coach Manel Comas helped Cajasol to rank 10th in the ACB regular season last season, winning eight of its last 13 games. Cajasol now looks to a brighter future with an improved roster and the chance to play in the 2008-09 Eurocup.
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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