No stopping Stelmet in Poland, as 32-year-old coach Gronek makes history

ZIELONA GORA (Polish Basketball League) – Basketball Champions League and FIBA Europe Cup competitors Stelmet Zielona Gora topped the field in Poland for the third year in a row, but it was the 32-year-old playcaller Artur Gronek who made history by becoming the youngest head coach ever to win the Polish Basketball League.

In command of the series, Zielona Gora had to work hard to close it out in Game 5 against Polski Cukier Torun, turning around an 18-point halftime deficit to come away 88-82 victors and wrap up the best-of-seven series with a 4-1 scoreline in the Finals. 

Stelmet had reduced the 47-29 gap to just 11 points before the fourth quarter and ultimately managed to avoid a trip back to Torun with a 32-15 performance against the visitors in the final frame of the game.

Thomas Kelati led the game in scoring with 19 points, Armani Moore added 15 points and 7 rebounds, but it was James Florence, who picked up the Finals MVP honors.

"The award is a little bit heavy," Florence smiled in the post-game interview after collecting 10 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds in the final game of the series. "But it feels so good. To be down by 18 points at the half and show the fight to be able to come back, I think that shows our season."

Stelmet finished the Regular Season in second place with a 23-9 record, but became odds-on favorites for the championship after first-seeded Anwil Wloclawek were eliminated in the Quarter-Finals on the other side of the bracket.

"The game summarized the whole season. I've always told the players that with this kind of effort, we can beat anyone," said coach Gronek after his maiden triumph with the club at the head coach position after previously serving as an assistant coach.

Stelmet have been enjoying the most successful stretch in club history over the past five seasons. Having won their first Polish title in 2013, Zielona Gora have won four national championships and two cups over the five-year period.

The club had lofty expectations for the European campaign, but they couldn't transfer their domestic success to international waters.

After finishing 7th in Group E of the Basketball Champions League, coach Gronek's side transferred to the FIBA Europe Cup for the Round of 16, where they were eventually knocked out by Cibona Zagreb.

FIBA