Wikipedia - Apollo Amsterdam

Apollo Amsterdam is a Dutch basketball team based in Amsterdam. The club plays its games in the Promotiedivisie, the Dutch second-level league.

The club was founded in 2011 and has played in the highest national level for 12 years, from 2012 to 2023. They qualified for the national playoffs four times. The amateur section of the club is known as BC Apollo.

Apollo Amsterdam is known for their focus on developing the Dutch basketball players and giving them growth perspective in a foreign player dominated league.

History

Apollo playing its first home game ever in the Dutch Basketball League in October 2012
Apollo celebrating after winning the Promotiedivisie in 2012

The club was founded in 2011, as a result of a merger between BV Lely and Mosquitos, both clubs from Amsterdam. Its name is derived from its home venue the Apollohal. Apollo took over the license of the old ABC Amsterdam second team. In the first season of the club, Apollo played as an amateur team in the Promotiedivisie. They immediately won the Dutch amateur championship after defeating CBV Binnenland in the league final.

In 2012, Apollo club decided to enter the professional Dutch Basketball League (DBL) for the 2012–13 season. In its first season, led by coach Tyrone Marioneaux and All-Star Aron Royé, Apollo finished in ninth place in the DBL.

In 2013–14, Apollo managed to reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. The club lost in the quarterfinals to GasTerra Flames, 0–2.

During Apollo's most successful season since their establishment, the club had financial problems which made it close to withdrawing from the DBL. However, in August 2014 it was announced Apollo would continue playing in the DBL.

In the 2015–16 season, Apollo made its second appearance in the DBL playoffs where it lost to Den Bosch 0–2 in the quarterfinals.

Apollo won its first playoff game in 2016, defeating ZZ Leiden in Game 1 of the quarterfinals. However, in a packed Apollohal, Leiden retrieved home advantage and went on to beat Apollo 1–2 and advance to the semifinals.

On 1 May 2020, Apollo announced it will not play in the 2020–21 DBL season because of uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apollo also announced Laki Lakner was replacing Patrick Faijdherbe as head coach. Lakner resigned after three games, and Edwin van der Hart took over for the remainder of the season. Apollo finished in ninth place for a second season in a row.

The Apollohal during a game in 2023

Since the 2021–22 season, Apollo plays in the BNXT League, in which the national leagues of Belgium and the Netherlands have been merged. In June 2021, Wierd Goedee was signed as new head coach.

In June 2023, following the 2022–23 season, Apollo was forced to withdraw from the BNXT League as it was unable to come up with the necessary budget for participation. The BNXT organisation required a minimum budget of €350,000 which Apollo was unable to bring together with its sponsorships. Apollo entered the second-level Promotiedivisie for the 2023–24 season.

Apollo Amsterdam is a professional basketball team based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The team was founded in 1946 and has a rich history of success in Dutch basketball. Apollo Amsterdam competes in the Dutch Basketball League, which is the highest level of professional basketball in the Netherlands.

The team is known for its fast-paced and exciting style of play, with a focus on aggressive defense and high-scoring offense. Apollo Amsterdam has a talented roster of players from around the world, including the Netherlands, the United States, and other countries.

The team plays its home games at the Apollohal, a state-of-the-art arena in Amsterdam that can seat up to 2,000 fans. The arena is known for its lively atmosphere and passionate fans, who come out in force to support the team.

Apollo Amsterdam has won multiple championships in the Dutch Basketball League, including the national championship in 2014. The team is also a regular participant in European competitions, where it has faced off against some of the top teams in the continent.

Overall, Apollo Amsterdam is a dynamic and exciting basketball team that is beloved by fans in Amsterdam and beyond. With a talented roster and a commitment to excellence, the team is poised for continued success in the years to come.