Okapi Aalst

Okapi Aalst is a Belgian professional basketball club from Aalst, Belgium. The club competes in the top tier Pro Basketball League (PBL) and plays its home games in the Okapi Forum, which has a seating capacity of 2,800 people.

Okapi Aalst
LeaguesPro Basketball League
Founded1949 (1949)
History
ArenaOkapi Forum
Capacity2,800
LocationAalst, Belgium
Team colorsBlue, White, Green
              
CEOPeter Venneman
PresidentPatrick Boterbergh
Championships1 Belgian Cup
2 Belgian Supercups
Websiteokapiaalstar.be

Okapi is a long-time participant of the Belgian first division, is the owner of one Belgian Cup and two Supercups. As well, Aalst was a regular participant in European competitions in the past.

In its history the team has included many quality players who would be named Belgian League MVP or have played for top Euroleague and NBA teams, such as Chris Copeland and Matt Lojeski.

History

In the 2011–12 season, Aalstar won its first trophy ever with its Belgian Basketball Cup victory. Okapi defeated Antwerp Giants 96–89 after overtime.[1] By winning the Cup, Okapi qualified for the Belgian Supercup the next season, which it also won after defeating BC Oostende.[2] In 2013, Okapi won the Supercup for the second consecutive year by beating Oostende once again.[3]

In the 2013–14 season, Okapi reached the Finals of the Belgian League for the first time. In the Finals, the team was swept by Oostende, which went on to win its third straight title.

In June 2020, the team changed its name from Okapi Aalstar back to Okapi Aalst.[4]

Honours and titles

Belgian League:

  • Runners-up (1): 2013–14

Belgian Cup

  • Winners (1): 2011–12[1]
    • Runners-up (3): 1963–64, 1997–98, 2012–13

Belgian Supercup

  • Winners (2): 2012, 2013[3]

Belgian Second Division

  • Winners (1): 2005–06

Season by season
Season Tier League Pos. Belgian Cup European competitions Other competitions
2011–121BLB 5th Champion 3 EuroChallengeT16
2012–131BLB 4th Runner–up 3 EuroChallengeT16 SupercupC
2013–141BLB 2nd Semifinalist 3 EuroChallengeRS SupercupC
2014–151BLB 3rd Semifinalist 3 EuroChallengeT16
2015–161BLB 2nd Semifinalist
2016–171BLB 5th Semifinalist
2017–181BLB 4th Quarterfinalist
2018–191BLB 7th Quarterfinalist
2019–20[lower-alpha 1]1BLB 6th
  1. The 2019–20 season was cancelled early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Logos
  • The official Okapi Aalstar crest
  • Crelan Okapi Aalstar
    (2015–present)

Players

Current roster

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

Okapi Aalst roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHt.
G 1 Mihailović, Vladimir 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
SF 2 Mann, J. J. 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F/C 3 Maraš, Ivan 2.08 m (6 ft 10 in)
PG 5 Buytaert, Matz 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
PG 8 Casero-Ortiz, Sigfredo 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
G/F 11 Geukens, Senne (C) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)
F 12 De Paepe, Wout 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
G 13 LaChance, Riley 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
G/F 15 Marchant, Dorian 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)
F 22 Mark, Tom 1.97 m (6 ft 6 in)
PF 34 Vette, Clayton 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in)
C –– Kuta, Nathan 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
PF –– Badji, Abdou 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)
SF –– McGriff, Cameron 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
PG –– Vujošević, Bogić 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in)
Head coach
  • Yves Defraigne
Assistant coach(es)
  • Trevor Huffman
  • Kevin Verhulst
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • Injured
Updated: 15 June 2020

Notable players

Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.

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References
  1. "Aalstar wint knotsgekke bekerfinale". sport.be. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  2. "Okapi Aalst wint Supercup basket". Het Nieuwsblad. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  3. "Okapi Aalstar wint Supercup". sport.be. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  4. "Basketbalclub Aalstar wordt opnieuw Okapi Aalst". sporza.be. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
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