Koà ¡arkaà ¡ki klub Cedevita Junior (), also known as Cedevita Junior, is a men's basketball club based in Zagreb, Croatia. The club is named after its main sponsor Cedevita, and competes in the Croatian HT Premijer liga.
Before its merger with Slovenian team Cedevita Olimpija in 2019, the club had won 5 National League consecutive championships, seven National Cup titles, three National Supercup titles, and one Adriatic Supercup title.
The club was established in Zagreb in 1991 as KK Botinec, later becoming KK Hiron Botinec for sponsorship reasons. From season to season, the club moved up from the lowest levels of competition until it reached the A-1 League in 2002. In its first season of elite competition, it took 5th place in Croatia, behind the well-known clubs KK Cibona, KK Zadar, KK Zagreb and KK Split.
A big step was taken in 2005 when Atlantic Grupa, a strong regional company, became the main sponsor of the club, after which the club was renamed to KK Cedevita. The young and modern board of directors raised the ambitions of the club, which achieved great success first in the 09âÂÂ10 Season when it finished at 3rd place in the Croatian league (in the semi-final playoffs Zadar-Cedevita 2âÂÂ1), played the semi-finals of the Croatian Cup along with taking 7th place in the strong regional Adriatic League as newcomer. Super Season, with the greatest success in Europe, is 10âÂÂ11 with 3rd place in EuroCup in very first appearance in the competition of that level. Cedevita played EuroCup Final Four after victorious trip near Dynamo Moscow, Aris, Azovmash, Hemofarm Stada, Gran Canaria and Asefa Estiudiantes in Zagreb and Azovmash, Hapoel Galil Gilboa, Unics, Gran Canaria, Estudiantes and Benetton on the road. After a regular 1st place in the Croatian league, Cedevita won Cibona in semi-final playoffs but lost The Finals against Zagreb CO. Also, Cedevita again took 7th place in Adriatic league. First trophies came in 11âÂÂ12 season with Cup Draà ¾en Petroviàand Croatian National Cup Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiÃÂ, also with the finals of the ABA league. First Croatian Champions title Croatian league came in the 13âÂÂ14 season, also with the second Cup Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàtitle and the second finals in the ABA league. Cedevita took two UâÂÂ18 and one Under-16 Croatian Championships titles.
But one of the best Season, with the greatest success, is 2011âÂÂ12, with first-ever Trophies for the team. After winning of the Cup Draà ¾en Petrovià(Croatian Supercup) against Zagreb, Cedevita took Croatian Cup Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàfor the first time in history, again against Zagreb in The Finals. After playing in Europe, beating French Champion Elan Chalon in qualifications, Cedevita finished the competition in the group, with strong Spartak St. Petersburg, Benetton Treviso, and Bayern. But the real success was 2nd place in the regular season of Adriatic league and crown came with great Finals in Tel Aviv, victory against Partizan in semi-finals and lose against Maccabi Tel Aviv in the finals. With that result, Cedevita had Euroleague place in her pocket. After 2nd place in the Croatian league, Cedevita won Split in semi-final playoffs but lost The Finals against Cibona.
Since 2005, the club has been led by great coaches such as the former coach of the Croatian National Team SreÃÂko Medvedec, former Olympic Silver Medalist from Seoul and best scorer of the Euroleague Zdravko RaduloviÃÂ, former Yugoslavian National Team player Slobodan SubotiÃÂ, former coach of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos and Aleksandar PetroviÃÂ, National Team player and later Croatian National Team coach (brother of the famous Draà ¾en PetroviÃÂ) who became the best Eurocup coach in the 2010âÂÂ11 season. Today, sitting on Cedevita's bench is current National Team of Croatia coach Jasmin Repeà ¡a who came in 13âÂÂ14 season and will lead the team in 14âÂÂ15 season.
Before Repeà ¡a coach was in 2012âÂÂ13 four-time European Champion with Jugoplastika Split, Limoges and Panathinaikos, great Boà ¾idar MaljkoviÃÂ, the successor of the former Croatian champion with Cibona and Belgian champion with Charleroi, Draà ¾en AnzuloviÃÂ, who led Cedevita in season, 2011âÂÂ12. Over the past few years, former Croatian and Bosnian National team members played for the team, including Slaven Rimac, Jurica à ½uà ¾a, Damir MilaÃÂiÃÂ, Kreà ¡imir Novosel, Mate Milià ¡a, Milan ParezanoviÃÂ, Pero DujmoviÃÂ, Stipe ModriÃÂ, Frano ÃÂolak, alongside several excellent American players such as A. J. Guyton, Marlon Garnett, Adam Harrington, God Shammgod, Vonteego Cummings or Ramel Bradley.
The 2009âÂÂ10 roster was strong with former Croatian National Team players Andrija à ½ià ¾iÃÂ, team captain Marino Baà ¾dariàand Damjan Rudeà ¾, B National Team player Tomislav PetroviÃÂ, Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team players Barià ¡a Krasiàand Ivan OpaÃÂak, Canadian National Team playmaker Jermaine Anderson and Americans Ricardo Marsh and Thomas Mobley, as well as the Under-20 Croatian National Team player Dino Butorac. In younger selections cadets became Champions of Croatia.
The 2010âÂÂ11 roster was especially strong with à ½ià ¾iÃÂ, Baà ¾dariÃÂ, Rudeà ¾, PetroviÃÂ, Butorac, and newcomers as former Croatian National Team players Vedran Vukuà ¡iàand Vladimir KrstiÃÂ, ex Cibona player Robert Troha and ex BIH National Team player Vedran Princ. EuroCup MVP was American Dontaye Draper, new Croatian National Team member, EuroCup second team member Bracey Wright and center Corsley Edwards. In younger selections, juniors and cadets became vice Champions of Croatia.
Cedevita started 11âÂÂ12 season's roster was especially strong with the best foreign player ever in Croatia, three times European Champion with CSKA and Bologna, Slovenian National Team player Matjaà ¾ Smodià ¡, fine Americans Chris Owens and Chris Warren, ex NBA and National Team player Dalibor BagariÃÂ, new NT players Miro Bilan and Marko Car, along with Draper, Baà ¾dariÃÂ, Princ, Vukuà ¡iÃÂ, PetroviÃÂ, OpaÃÂak. In younger selections, juniors became Champions and cadets vice Champions of Croatia.
The 2012âÂÂ13 season was marked by the arrival of the four times European Champion, coach Boà ¾idar Maljkoviàfor the first time ever participation of the club in the EuroLeague. Three Croatian National Team members, Marko Tomas, Lukà ¡a Andriàand Luka Babiàjoined the club, as well as stars like Mickaël Gelabale or Vlado Ilievski. Cedevita achieved its first victories at the highest level in Europe, but without passing to the TOP 16. After Maljkoviàleft the club, Aleksandar Petroviàbecame the new coach but he also left the club before the end of the season in the Adriatic League in which Cedevita won the 6th place, enough for the participation in the EuroCup's next season. Before leaving, coach Petroviàplayed the Cup finals, and interim coach Jakà ¡a Vuliàreach the semifinals of the Croatian A-1 League play off. In younger selections juniors became vice Champions of Croatia and cadets, young cadets and Under-12 team played in Final fours.
The 2013âÂÂ14 season started with big change on the bench, with the arrival of Jasmin Repeà ¡a, Croatian National Team coach who led Croatia to the semifinals of European Championships in Slovenia. Repeà ¡a had young but strong defense roster with one of the best young players in Europe, 19-year-old Jusuf Nurkiàand 16-year-old Lovro Mazalin. With Bilan, Suton, Tomas, captain Baà ¾dariàand Babiàfrom season before, team roster was stronger for occasional NT players Ante Delaà ¡, Tomislav ZubÃÂiàand Ivan Ramljak and two strong Americans Nolan Smith and Allan Ray. BC Cedevita has won Cup Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiÃÂ, against BC Zagreb in the finals 86:68. In EuroCup passed by Elan Chalon, Charleroi and Oldenburg in the second stage, with Bilbao and Dynamo Sassari from a group, and stayed in Top 32 level regardless victories in Zaragoza or Istanbul over Beà ¡iktaà ¡. The club lost two games against Lietuvos Rytas, 83:84 and 75:74. But the best came latter. In great Final four tournament of ABA league in Belgrade, Cedevita defeat Partizan in front of 15,000 home supporters but lost in the finals from Cibona. This final is important because it ensured EuroLeague ticket for 14âÂÂ15 season. The best came at the end of the season, with the first Croatian Champions title and great 3âÂÂ0 victory in the series against Cibona. In 13âÂÂ14 season Cedevita has won the new title in junior competition and became UâÂÂ18 Croatian Champions.
In the 2014âÂÂ15 season Cedevita became Croatian Champion again, with a win 3âÂÂ1 in the playoffs finals vs Cibona, won Croatian Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàCup again and with an ABA league Finals (1âÂÂ3 against Crvena Zvezda) will play in EuroLeague 15âÂÂ16. Under-16 team is Croatian Champion, Under-18 team played in the Finals. Dà ¾anan Musa is MVP Under-16 European Championship with gold for Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marko Arapoviàis a captain silver Under-19 Croatian Team at World Under-19 Cup with a position in best 5 of the tournament.
The new 2015âÂÂ16 season with a new coach, Veljko Mrà ¡iàand Gianmarco Pozzecco as assistant coach brings in some of the best seasons ever in 2015âÂÂ16. Championships title again also Croatian Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàCup with semifinals in ABA league and Top 16 EuroLeague. In the 2016âÂÂ17 again 4th-time champions with 5th time Croatian Cup, finals of Adriatic ABA League with Top 16 EuroCup. Miro Bilan, Marko ArapoviÃÂ, Filip Kruà ¡lin and Luka Babiàplayed at the Olympic Games in Rio and Dà ¾anan Musa became the best scorer of FIBA Under-17 World Cup with Bosnia and Herzegovina National Team. In 2017âÂÂ18 season the club started with legend player on coach position Jure Zdovc and assistant Slaven Rimac on the bench and first trophy, first ever ABA League Supercup in Bar. This season is a record in Croatia because Cedevita was first in Croatian League (5-th in a row) 2017âÂÂ18 A-1 League as the senior team, also U-19, U-17 and U-11 team and U-15 vice champions. It was time for a 6-th Croatian Cup Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàCup. After TOP-16 in Eurocup Cedevita reaches semifinals of 2017âÂÂ18 ABA League. Dà ¾anan Musa was EuroCup Basketball Rising Star 2017âÂÂ18 EuroCup Basketball and ABA League Top Prospect 2017âÂÂ18 ABA League First Division. In 2018-2019 season first coach will be Sito Alonso. The season was one of the worst in club history - poor results in the ABA League and the EuroCup lead to Alonso's firing and the hiring of former player Slaven Rimac. While the results improved, Cedevita was eliminated in the Top16 of the EuroCup, and the semifinals of the ABA League. Cedevita won Kreà ¡imir ÃÂosiàCup, but suffered a complete fiasco in the 2018âÂÂ19 A-1 League, barely qualifying to the finals and getting swept by KK Cibona.
On June 4, 2019, it was announced that Cedevita is about to merge with Slovenian team Olimpija Ljubljana and form Cedevita Olimpija. Some departments of the club, such as the Youth Academy, are planned to stay in Zagreb and continue as KK Cedevita Junior. In June 2019, Cedevita had applied for a change of headquarters from Zagreb to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Upon the decision of resettlement, and followed by the confirmation of both assemblies, Cedevita Zagreb and Olimpija Ljubljana made the association of clubs. KK Cedevita Olimpija was established at the meeting on July 8 in Arena Stoà ¾ice.
The club was a founding member of the Adriatic Basketball Association in 2015. In December 2020, the club's shares were transferred to Cedevita Olimpija.
Cedevita Junior was established as a new legal entity on May 31, 2019, and registered on June 11 by a local government authority. On June 18, the Croatian Basketball Federation issued a statement where they declined participation of the club in the 2019âÂÂ20 Croatian League season. In July 2019, Marino Baà ¾dariàwas named a sports director. The club was initially set to play in the bottom division of croatian basketball league by Croatian Basketball Federation, because it was considered as newly formed club. However, after merging with KK Agrodalm and taking its licence, Cedevita Junior began to compete in Prva liga (the second division of croatian basketball league).
The club soon promoted to the HT Premijer liga after winning the second division title in 2021 and reached the Croatian Cup Final twice, in 2022 and 2023, but lost to fellow rivals Cibona Zagreb on both occasions.
Since the summer of 2019, the club has been playing their home games at the Cedevita Basketball Dome, which is located in the Zagreb Fair in Zagreb.
Total titles: 16
After the company Cedevita changed its brand colors from red to orange in 2015, the basketball club also re-branded and adopted orange as its main color for the 2016âÂÂ17 season.
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