Korvpalli Meistriliiga Explained

Korvpalli Meistriliiga
Country:Estonia
Confed:FIBA Europe
First:1925
Teams:8
Levels:1
Domest Cup:Estonian Cup
Relegation:I liiga
Confed Cup:Champions League
FIBA Europe Cup
Champions:BC Kalev/Cramo (14th title)
Season:2023–24
Most Champs:Tartu Ülikool (26 titles)
Tv:Delfi TV, Inspira
Website:basket.ee
Current:2023–24

The Korvpalli Meistriliiga (KML), known as the PAF Korvpalli Meistriliiga for sponsorship reasons, is the top-tier men's basketball league in Estonia. The league is organized by the Estonian Basketball Association.

The competition was founded in 1925. From the 1998–99 season until the end of the 2001–02 season the league was organized by the Eesti Korvpalliklubide Assotsiatsioon (English: Estonian Basketball Clubs' Association). As of the 2018–19 season, Estonian-Latvian Basketball League regular season games count towards the KML standings. The games are played under FIBA rules. The most successful team in the competition is Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu), with 26 titles.[1] BC Kalev/Cramo are the defending league champions.

History

Names of the competition

Title sponsorship

Current teams

Team Home city Arena Capacity
AVIS UTILITAS RaplaRaplaSadolin Sports Hall[2]
BC Kalev/CramoTallinnTondiraba Sports Center[3]
Kalev Sports Hall[4]
Keila CoolbetKeilaKeila Health Center[5]
Pärnu SadamPärnuPärnu Sports Hall[6]
Tallinn KalevTallinnTalTech Sports Hall[7]
Nord Cramo Sports Hall[8]
TalTech/OPTIBETTalTech Sports Hall
Tartu Ülikool Maks & MooritsTartuUniversity of Tartu Sports Hall[9]
ViimsiHaabneemeForus Sports Center[10]

Title holders

Estonian champions

Estonian SSR champions

Estonian champions

Finals

Season Champion Series Runner-up Champion's coach
1990–91AstoBaltika Jaanus Levkoirowspan=15
1991–92Kalev TallinnaAsto Jaanus Levkoi
1992–93BC Rafter2–0Asto Riho Soonik
1993–94Asto2–1Baltika Jaanus Levkoi
1994–95BC Kalev/Auma3–1BC Tallinn Jaak Salumets
1995–96BC Kalev3–0KK Tartu Jaak Salumets
1996–97BC Tallinn3–1Baltika Üllar Kerde
1997–98BC Kalev3–1BC Tallinn Maarten van Gent
1998–99BC Tallinn3–0Nybit Üllar Kerde
1999–00Tartu Ülikool-Delta3–0Tallinna Kalev Teet Laur
2000–01Tartu Ülikool-Delta3–0Tallinna Ülikoolid-A. Le Coq Jüri Neissaar
2001–02Tallinna Kalev3–2Tartu Rock Üllar Kerde
2002–03Tallinna Kalev4–2TTÜ/A. Le Coq Andres Sõber
2003–04TÜ/Rock4–2 Tõnu Lust
2004–05Ehitustööriist4–3TÜ/Rock Allan Dorbek
2005–06BC Kalev/Cramo4–3TÜ/Rock Aivar Kuusmaa James Williams
2006–07TÜ/Rock4–2Tallinna BC Kalev/Cramo Algirdas Brazys Tanel Tein
2007–08TÜ/Rock4–0Tallinna BC Kalev/Cramo Üllar Kerde Brian Cusworth
2008–09BC Kalev/Cramo4–2TÜ/Rock Nenad Vučinić Kristjan Kangur
2009–10TÜ/Rock4–2BC Rakvere Tarvas Janar Talts
2010–11BC Kalev/Cramo4–0TÜ/Rock Armands Šķēle
2011–12BC Kalev/Cramo4–0Tartu Ülikool Tanel Sokk
2012–13BC Kalev/Cramo4–0TÜ/Rock
2013–14BC Kalev/Cramo4–0TÜ/Rock
2014–15TÜ/Rock4–1BC Kalev/Cramo
2015–16BC Kalev/Cramo4–1TÜ/Rock Rolands Freimanis
2016–17BC Kalev/Cramo4–0AVIS UTILITAS Rapla Alar Varrak Branko Mirković
2017–18BC Kalev/Cramo4–0Tartu Ülikool
2018–19BC Kalev/Cramo3–0Tallinna Kalev/TLÜ Donaldas Kairys Branko Mirković
2019–20Not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2020–21BC Kalev/Cramo3–1Pärnu Sadam
2021–22Pärnu Sadam3–0Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits Heiko Rannula Andris Misters
2022–23BC Kalev/Cramo3–0Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits Heiko Rannula Oleksandr Kovliar
2023–24BC Kalev/Cramo3–0Tartu Ülikool Maks & Moorits Heiko Rannula Ben Shungu

Titles by team

TeamTitlesChampion years
Tartu Ülikool261938, 1939, 1940, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1958, 1959, 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015
Tallinna Kalev201927, 1930, 1931, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003
142005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
TPI81961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1984, 1985
Standard81980, 1982, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
Tallinna Russ41928, 1929, 1932, 1933
TTÜ-A. Le Coq41991, 1994, 1997, 1999
Tartu NMKÜ31934, 1936, 1937
Tartu Kalev21942, 1944
EMÜ21957, 1960
Harju KEK21974, 1979
Tallinna Sport11925
Tallinna NMKÜ11935
Tallinna Dünamo11941
Metallist11981
Pärnu Sadam12022

All–time national champions

Total number of national champions won by Estonian clubs. Table includes titles won during the Estonian Championships (1925–1941) and (1990–present) and the USSR Premier Basketball League (1942–1991).

ClubTrophiesYears won
BC Kalev2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024
KK Kalev1927, 1930, 1931, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2003
Tartu Ülikool1938, 1939, 1940, 1949, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2015
Tallinna Russ1928, 1929, 1932, 1933
TTÜ-A. Le Coq1991, 1994, 1997, 1999
Tartu NMKÜ1934, 1936, 1937
Tallinna Sport1925
Tallinna NMKÜ1935
Tallinna Dünamo1941
Pärnu2022

Awards

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Kullaklubi. Basket.ut.ee. 1 July 2023. et.
  2. Web site: Sadolin Spordihoone. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  3. Web site: Tondiraba Jäähall. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  4. Web site: Kalevi Spordihall. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Keila Tervisekeskus. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  6. Web site: Pärnu Spordihall. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli spordihoone. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  8. Web site: Nord Cramo spordihoone. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  9. Web site: Tartu Ülikooli Spordihoone. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.
  10. Web site: FORUS Spordikeskus Viimsi. et. spordiregister.ee. 31 August 2023.