2008-09 Club Profile: Lukoil Academic
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 One of European basketball's storied clubs, Lukoil Academic Sofia of Bulgaria, joins the new Eurocup for 2008-09 with plenty of vigor and experience to face a new challenge with eyes wide open.
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Lukoil Academic Roster 2008-09
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| Name |
Pos.
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Height
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| Todor Stoykov |
F
|
1.98
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| Riste Stefanov |
G
|
1.98
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| Nenad Canak |
F
|
2.04
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| Tencho Banev |
C
|
2.07
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| Antonio Burks |
G
|
1.83
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| Hristo Nikolov |
F
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2.00
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| Kalin Hristov |
G
|
1.87
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| Tim Pickett |
G
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1.93
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| Blagovest Spasov |
C
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2.06
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| Yovcho Atanasov |
F
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2.02
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| Chavdar Kostov |
G
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1.96
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| Dimitar Filipov |
G
|
1.85
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| Vladislav Shuranov |
G
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1.88
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| Kalin Hristov |
G
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1.87
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| Dimitar Anguelov |
F
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2.02
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| Veselin Veselinov |
F
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2.01
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| Kenny Adeleke |
C
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2.05
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| Lubomir Minchev |
Head Coach
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Last season, Lukoil celebrated the 50th anniversary of its place in the first European club championship game by recording an amazing 44-0 domestic record en route to its sixth straight Bulgarian League title, the third in a row to come with the Bulgarian Cup. That remarkable season honored a great tradition. Academic Basketball Club was founded back in 1947 and soon became a superpower not only in Bulgaria, but all around Europe, reaching back-to-back European Cup finals in 1958 and 1959. Academic remained the dominant force in Bulgaria, winning 12 titles between 1957 and 1976 period. After years of obscurity, the club returned to the elite when Lukoil became the main sponsor and the team started developing some of Bulgaria's best young players. The team's first trophy in 26 years was the 2001-02 Bulgarian Cup, and since that moment, Lukoil has dominated Bulgarian basketball. Its success has not been limited to home, either, as Lukoil also reached the ULEB Cup elimination rounds four times this decade, last season advancing as far as the Last 16. Along the way, Lukoil fans had not only team success to cheer, but also unique individual performances from players like the ULEB Cup's all-time leading scorer Todor Stoykov, 2003-04 ULEB Cup MVP Priest Lauderdale and 2005-06 ULEB Cup assists champ Lamont Jones. For the new Eurocup, Lukoil maintains reliable contributors like Stoykov, guard Riste Stefanov, forward Nenad Canak and center Tencho Banev while also bringing in Antonio Burks at point and Hristo Nikolov on the wing. With a proud history, both old and recent, Lukoil is ready to represent Bulgaria to the fullest in the 2008-09 Eurocup, just as it has throughout the decades.
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Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Eurocupbasketball.com
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