Ilysiakos B.C.


Ilysiakos B.C. is a Greek professional basketball team that is located in the Ilisia neighborhood of Zografou, Athens, Greece. The club's name is said to be a reference to Elysium, which is why the club's name and logo beings with a Greek alphabet Η, instead of an Ι, even though the name of Ilissia, where the club is based, begins with an Ι in Greek. However, when the name is translated into the English alphabet, the H becomes an I.
The club is known for being based mostly on Greek players and Greek coaches, and for developing young players.

History

The parent athletic sports club, Ilysiakos Athlitikos Omilos, was founded in 1927. The basketball team of Ilysiakos was established in 1968. In the 1986–87 season, Ilysiakos participated for the first time in the top Greek Basket League, and stayed there for two straight seasons. Following the 1987–88 season, the team got relegated to the Greek 2nd Division.
From 1988 to 2003, the club was competing in the Greek second and third divisions. However, the club had its biggest success with its participation in the final four of the Greek Cup in 1995, where the team finished in 4th place. In the year 2003, the club got promoted to the first division again, but was once again relegated to the second division after the 2003–04 season.
The club's second return to the first division, in the 2009–10 season, was much more successful, as Ilysiakos played in the top division for 5 consecutive seasons. During that time, players like Vonteego Cummings, Brent Petway, Terrell Stoglin, and Aloysius Anagonye played with the club. In this same era of the club, Nikos Chatzis, who was a member of the senior men's Greek national team, and won several titles in his playing career: 2 Greek Cups, the FIBA Saporta Cup, and the Greek League championship, became the captain of the team. In this same time, Panagiotis Kafkis and Georgios Apostolidis, who also represented Greece, were also members of the team.

Arena

Ilysaiakos plays its home games at the 1,700 seat Antonis Fotsis Indoor Hall. The arena is named in honor of Ilysiakos player Antonis Fotsis.

Club titles and honors

Notable players