Margus Metstak started his career at the age of 18 with Tallinn Pedagogical Institute for whom he played in Estonian SSR Championships until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. However, he improved and went on to play professionally for Soviet Union top-flight team Kalev Tallinn. In 1982, only his second year as a professional, the team reached the semi-finals of the Soviet Basketball Cup and took the bronze medal.
Soviet champion
The biggest breakthrough came in 1991, when Kalev won the Soviet Union Basketball League and became the last official champions of the collapsed empire (in fact, there was a league functioning with the same association the following year, but with only clubs from Commonwealth of Independent States competing). Kalev won the regular season with 18–4 record. In quarter-finals they beat ASK Kyiv 2–0 (90:75, 100:91) and went on to play in the semi-finals against Latvian BK VEF Rīga. The Latvian team won the first game 94–87, but Kalev managed to win two games in a row (107:90, 113:96) and the series overall 2–1. In the finals Estonians won both games against BC Spartak Saint Petersburg and won the first and last Soviet championship for Kalev.[2]
Foreign clubs
Metstak played briefly for Korisliiga team NMKY Lahti in late 1990, before returning to Estonia in January 1991. Following the big triumph, he went back to Finland for a season, before making a brief move to Luxembourg's team Amicale Basket. After being one of the main figures of Estonia national basketball team's successful EuroBasket 1993 in Germany, Margus Metstak received offers to play in Basketball Bundesliga for TSV Speyer and Paderborn Baskets, respectively. For the 2001–2002 season, at the age of 40, he earned his last contract from abroad, joining Polish side Czarni Słupsk.[3]
Last years
After the spell with the Polish team, the then 41-year-old center moved to TTÜ/A. Le Coq. Metstak played the last few years of his career with his hometown club, BC Pirita, as a semi-professional.[4] He has been working as a coach for TTÜ/Kalev and re-established BC Tallinna Kalev.
Margus Metstak was on the squad for both the EuroBasket 1993 and EuroBasket 2001 competitions, the only times Estonia has qualified for that tournament. In 1993, the Estonian team surprised all of Europe, winning group D ahead of eventual European champion Germany and strong ex-Yugoslavian side Slovenia. In the knock-out stages they lost to Russia, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina and were beaten in the 5th-place game by Spain. This meant that Estonia would not qualify to the 1994 FIBA World Championship.
2001 European Championships
In 2001, 40-year-old Metstak scored 8.3 points and took 6 rebounds per game, when Estonia finished in the disappointing last place.[5] Margus Metstak is to date the oldest basketballer to play at the EuroBasket.[6]
^Kalvet, Madis. "Metstaki ajalooline saavutus EMil on Euroopas unustatud". Postimees. (2009-09-18). Retrieved on 2012-04 (in Estonian)
External links
Profile at basket.ee
Books
Lään, Vello; Ibrus, Märt (2006). Eesti korvpall portreed. Eesti Korvpalliliit. pp. 289–297. ISBN9949-406-68-4.
January 21, 2023
margus, metstak, born, june, 1961, retired, estonian, professional, basketball, player, played, mostly, center, position, 1999, personal, informationborn, 1961, june, 1961, kallavere, estonialisted, height6, listed, weight242, career, informationplaying, caree. Margus Metstak born June 16 1961 is a retired Estonian professional basketball player who played mostly at the center position 1 Margus MetstakMargus Metstak 1999 Personal informationBorn 1961 06 16 June 16 1961 age 61 Kallavere EstoniaListed height6 ft 9 in 2 06 m Listed weight242 lb 110 kg Career informationPlaying career1979 2007PositionCenterCareer history1981 1989TPI1989 1991Kalev1991 1992Namika Lahti1992 1993Amicale1993 1994Speyer1994 1995Paderborn Baskets1995 1996Kalev1996 2001Tallinna Ulikoolid A Le Coq2001 2002Czarni Slupsk2002 2003TTU A Le Coq2003 2007BC Tallinna KalevCareer highlights and awardsUSSR Champion 1991 5 Estonian Champion 1984 1985 1996 1997 1999 5 Estonian Cup Winner 1992 1996 2001 3x Estonian Basketball Player of the Year 1995 1997 1998 Contents 1 Club career 1 1 Early career 1 2 Soviet champion 1 3 Foreign clubs 1 4 Last years 2 National team 2 1 1993 European Championships 2 2 2001 European Championships 3 References 4 External links 5 BooksClub career EditEarly career Edit Margus Metstak started his career at the age of 18 with Tallinn Pedagogical Institute for whom he played in Estonian SSR Championships until the dissolution of the Soviet Union However he improved and went on to play professionally for Soviet Union top flight team Kalev Tallinn In 1982 only his second year as a professional the team reached the semi finals of the Soviet Basketball Cup and took the bronze medal Soviet champion Edit The biggest breakthrough came in 1991 when Kalev won the Soviet Union Basketball League and became the last official champions of the collapsed empire in fact there was a league functioning with the same association the following year but with only clubs from Commonwealth of Independent States competing Kalev won the regular season with 18 4 record In quarter finals they beat ASK Kyiv 2 0 90 75 100 91 and went on to play in the semi finals against Latvian BK VEF Riga The Latvian team won the first game 94 87 but Kalev managed to win two games in a row 107 90 113 96 and the series overall 2 1 In the finals Estonians won both games against BC Spartak Saint Petersburg and won the first and last Soviet championship for Kalev 2 Foreign clubs Edit Metstak played briefly for Korisliiga team NMKY Lahti in late 1990 before returning to Estonia in January 1991 Following the big triumph he went back to Finland for a season before making a brief move to Luxembourg s team Amicale Basket After being one of the main figures of Estonia national basketball team s successful EuroBasket 1993 in Germany Margus Metstak received offers to play in Basketball Bundesliga for TSV Speyer and Paderborn Baskets respectively For the 2001 2002 season at the age of 40 he earned his last contract from abroad joining Polish side Czarni Slupsk 3 Last years Edit After the spell with the Polish team the then 41 year old center moved to TTU A Le Coq Metstak played the last few years of his career with his hometown club BC Pirita as a semi professional 4 He has been working as a coach for TTU Kalev and re established BC Tallinna Kalev National team EditMetstak s national career started in 1981 when he represented Estonian SSR national team In 1991 when Estonia regained their independence from Soviet Union he was a regular center for the Estonia national basketball team 1993 European Championships Edit Margus Metstak was on the squad for both the EuroBasket 1993 and EuroBasket 2001 competitions the only times Estonia has qualified for that tournament In 1993 the Estonian team surprised all of Europe winning group D ahead of eventual European champion Germany and strong ex Yugoslavian side Slovenia In the knock out stages they lost to Russia beat Bosnia and Herzegovina and were beaten in the 5th place game by Spain This meant that Estonia would not qualify to the 1994 FIBA World Championship 2001 European Championships Edit In 2001 40 year old Metstak scored 8 3 points and took 6 rebounds per game when Estonia finished in the disappointing last place 5 Margus Metstak is to date the oldest basketballer to play at the EuroBasket 6 References Edit Margus Metstak at basket ee Paju Tarmo Salumets Hea too oli Ohtuleht 2001 05 05 Retrieved on 2012 04 11 in Estonian Margus Metstak at ESBL Paju Tarmo Hammastav Metstak ei leia endas midagi hammastavat Ohtuleht 2007 02 05 Retrieved on 2012 04 11 in Estonian Margus Metstak at FIBAeurope com Kalvet Madis Metstaki ajalooline saavutus EMil on Euroopas unustatud Postimees 2009 09 18 Retrieved on 2012 04 in Estonian External links EditProfile at basket eeBooks EditLaan Vello Ibrus Mart 2006 Eesti korvpall portreed Eesti Korvpalliliit pp 289 297 ISBN 9949 406 68 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Margus Metstak amp oldid 1017760673, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
