Andres Sõber
Encyclopedia
Andres Sõber is a former Estonia
n professional basketball
player and basketball coach. He is the current head coach and chairman of the BC Rakvere Tarvas
.
He started his senior club career with "Tallinn Kalev" team (BC Kalev/Cramo
) in 1978 and after 1982–83 season he became a basketball coach.
district of Tallinn. With the team, which was frequently represented as Estonian SSR youth team, they won everything possible in their country, but also achieved valuable results over the Soviet Union. During the time, he was the first coach of the only Estonian to play in the NBA, Martin Müürsepp
.
teams. Eventually Sõber came back to Estonia, having been in Finland for 10 years, to coach TTÜ A. Le Coq
. With the Tallinn University of Technology
based team he did not achieve anything remarkable for two seasons and he moved to Estonian powerhouse Tallinna Kalev, with whom they became Estonian champions.
announced their bankrupcy and Andres Sõber was looking for new challenges. He considered coaching youth again, but then decided to establish new brand in Estonian basketball, BC Rakvere Tarvas. Despite financial problems and struggling to reach play-offs in the domestic league, they managed to get decent results and put bigger teams under pressure. The most important idea of the team was the symbiosis of the best local players, young players and some support from abroad.
The breakthrough season was 2009-10, when Andres Sõber managed to form a team, which consisted of experienced players, such as former Dutch champion Valmo Kriisa
, NBA player Martin Müürsepp
, young prospect Rain Veideman
, member of the Canada men's national basketball team Richard Elias Anderson and Kristo Saage
. They reached the finals, where they lost the series 4-2 to TÜ/Rock, despite leading 2-0 after two away games. The following year most of the team changed, as key players earned better contracts to bigger clubs.
Andres Sõber has formed a brand which is nowadays very popular in Estonia and known in the Baltic basketball scene also.
. Andres Sõber is also popular Soviet-Estonian singer Anne Veski
's high-school classmate.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and basketball coach. He is the current head coach and chairman of the BC Rakvere Tarvas
BC Rakvere Tarvas
BC Rakvere Tarvas is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Rakvere which is participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga and Baltic Basketball League...
.
He started his senior club career with "Tallinn Kalev" team (BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo
BC Kalev/Cramo is a professional basketball club based in Tallinn, Estonia participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga, Baltic Basketball League and VTB United League. Kalev/Cramo plays their home games at Saku Suurhall and Kalevi Spordihall. The club was previously known under the name Ehitustööriist,...
) in 1978 and after 1982–83 season he became a basketball coach.
Youth coach
Andres Sõber has been noted as one of the most successful youth coaches in Estonia. After retiring from professional basketball, he became to held basketball trainings for boys in MustamäeMustamäe
Mustamäe is one of the 8 administrative districts of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. The smallest by area , it is at the same time the second largest district by population with 64,450 inhabitants ....
district of Tallinn. With the team, which was frequently represented as Estonian SSR youth team, they won everything possible in their country, but also achieved valuable results over the Soviet Union. During the time, he was the first coach of the only Estonian to play in the NBA, Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
.
Finland and Estonia
After 8 years of working with youngsters, Andres Sõber spent 2 years making a living at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute. He then moved to Finland, where he first serverd as a youth coach again, but soon became to conduct several KorisliigaKorisliiga
Korisliiga is the top league of basketball in Finland, comprising the top 12 teams of the country. In current format each team plays all other teams twice in the regular season, both at home and away...
teams. Eventually Sõber came back to Estonia, having been in Finland for 10 years, to coach TTÜ A. Le Coq
TTÜ KK
TTÜ KK is an Estonian professional basketball club, which belongs to Tallinn Technical University. The club participates in Korvpalli Meistriliiga and in the Baltic Basketball League Challenge Cup. So far the club has won no titles. In 2010 TTÜ/KK and Tallinna Kalev joined and made a new...
. With the Tallinn University of Technology
Tallinn University of Technology
Tallinn University of Technology is the only university of technology in Estonia, and one of the three most important institutions of higher education in Estonia generally. It is located in the capital city of Tallinn, Estonia...
based team he did not achieve anything remarkable for two seasons and he moved to Estonian powerhouse Tallinna Kalev, with whom they became Estonian champions.
BC Rakvere Tarvas
In 2005 Tallinna Kalev and another minor Estonian team, KK RakvereBC Rakvere Tarvas
BC Rakvere Tarvas is an Estonian professional basketball club, based in Rakvere which is participating in Korvpalli Meistriliiga and Baltic Basketball League...
announced their bankrupcy and Andres Sõber was looking for new challenges. He considered coaching youth again, but then decided to establish new brand in Estonian basketball, BC Rakvere Tarvas. Despite financial problems and struggling to reach play-offs in the domestic league, they managed to get decent results and put bigger teams under pressure. The most important idea of the team was the symbiosis of the best local players, young players and some support from abroad.
The breakthrough season was 2009-10, when Andres Sõber managed to form a team, which consisted of experienced players, such as former Dutch champion Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa
Valmo Kriisa is an Estonian professional basketballer. He is currently playing for TTÜ/Kalev at the point guard/shooting guard position....
, NBA player Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp
Martin Müürsepp is an Estonian retired professional basketball player and basketball coach.-Club career:...
, young prospect Rain Veideman
Rain Veideman
Rain Veideman is an Estonian professional basketball guard, who plays for University of Tartu.-Pro career:He is a member of the Estonian national basketball team.-Achievements:* Baltic Basketball League Cup: 2010-11...
, member of the Canada men's national basketball team Richard Elias Anderson and Kristo Saage
Kristo Saage
Kristo Saage is an Estonian basketball player. Currently he is a member of the University of Tartu playing in Korvpalli Meistriliiga in Estonia and Baltic Basketball League....
. They reached the finals, where they lost the series 4-2 to TÜ/Rock, despite leading 2-0 after two away games. The following year most of the team changed, as key players earned better contracts to bigger clubs.
Andres Sõber has formed a brand which is nowadays very popular in Estonia and known in the Baltic basketball scene also.
Personal
He is the father-of-law to former NFL football player Dave RagoneDave Ragone
David Patrick Ragone is an American football coach and former professional quarterback. He is currently the wide receivers coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-Early years:...
. Andres Sõber is also popular Soviet-Estonian singer Anne Veski
Anne Veski
Anne Veski is an Estonian pop singer who has recorded music in both her native language as well as Russian, and Polish.- Biography :...
's high-school classmate.
External links
- Profile at basket.ee
- Profile at bbl.net
- Andres Sõber: We are willing to take part of the EuroChallenge Eesti Ekspress, in Estonian
- Andres Sõber: If I were the head coach of team Estonia Õhtuleht, in Estonian