Siim-Sander Vene

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Siim-Sander Vene

| image = Siim-Sander Vene - Penya GC2019 by unniks-3.jpg

| width =

| caption = Vene with Gran Canaria in 2019

| position = Small forward / power forward

| height_m = 2.03

| weight_kg = 97

| league = PLK

| team = Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski

| number = 9

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|11|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tartu, Estonia

| draft_year = 2012

| career_start = 2005

| career_end =

| years1 = 2005–2006

| team1 = TTÜ

| years2 = 2006–2016

| team2 = Žalgiris

| years3 = 2006–2008

| team3 = →Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school

| years4 = 2008–2009

| team4 = →Kaunas Triobet

| years5 = 2010

| team5 = →Kaunas

| years6 = 2010–2011

| team6 = →Ludwigsburg

| years7 = 2011–2012

| team7 = →Baltai

| years8 = 2012

| team8 = →VEF Rīga

| years9 = 2012–2013

| team9 = →Prienai

| years10 = 2016–2017

| team10 = Nizhny Novgorod

| years11 = 2017

| team11 = Reggiana

| years12 = 2018

| team12 = Varese

| years13 = 2018

| team13 = Manresa

| years14 = 2018

| team14 = Fuenlabrada

| years15 = 2018–2019

| team15 = Gran Canaria

| years16 = 2019–2020

| team16 = Varese

| years17 = 2020–2021

| team17 = Fuenlabrada

| years18 = 2021–2022

| team18 = Limoges CSP

| years19 = 2022

| team19 = Varese

| years20 = 2022–2023

| team20 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years21 = 2023–2024

| team21 = San Pablo Burgos

| years22= 2024–present

| team22 = Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski

| highlights = * 3× Lithuanian League champion (2014–2016)

2× Lithuanian Cup winner (2013, 2015)
Latvian League champion (2012)
Baltic League champion (2010)
NKL champion (2008)
NIJT champion (2007)
3× Estonian Player of the Year (2017–2019)

}}

Siim-Sander Vene (born 12 November 1990) is an Estonian professional basketball player for Stal Ostrów Wielkopolski of the Polish Basketball League (PLK). Standing at 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in), he plays both the small forward and power forward positions. Vene represents the Estonian national basketball team internationally, and was named Estonian Basketball Player of the Year in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Professional career

Vene began playing basketball with Siili Palliklubi and TTÜ. In 2006, Vene moved to Lithuania and joined Žalgiris' junior team Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school. With Žalgiris, Vene won the Nike International Junior Tournament in 2007 and the Nacionalinė krepšinio lyga (NKL) in 2008. Vene was loaned to Kaunas Triobet of the Lietuvos krepšinio lyga (LKL) for the 2008–09 season.

In the 2009–10 Euroleague, Vene averaged 2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game.

In October 2010, Vene was loaned to Kaunas, and in December 2010, to Ludwigsburg of the Basketball Bundesliga (BBL).{{cite web|title=Siim-Sander Vene Saksamaa liigasse|url=http://www.ohtuleht.ee/407322/siim-sander-vene-saksamaa-liigasse|language=Estonian|website=Õhtuleht|date=20 December 2010}}

In 2011, Vene joined Baltai (former Kaunas) on loan from Žalgiris. In February 2012, he was loaned to VEF Rīga of the Latvijas Basketbola Līga (LBL).{{cite web|title=Siim-Sander Vene liitub Riia VEF-iga|url=http://sport.err.ee/v/korvpall/100f6388-ebdd-4d4f-aa86-2afde1ca9a4e|language=Estonian|publisher=ERR Sport|date=2 February 2012}}

On 27 September 2012, Vene was loaned to Prienai. Prienai finished the 2012–13 season in fourth place.

In July 2013, Vene returned to Žalgiris. In the 2013–14 Euroleague, Vene averaged 3 points, 2.6 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game, as Žalgiris reached Top 16. Vene won his first Lithuanian Championship in the 2013–14 season, after defeating Neptūnas 4 games to 2 in the finals. In the 2014–15 season, Vene averaged 3.4 points, 1.2 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game in the Euroleague and won his second Lithuanian Championship, after Žalgiris defeated league rivals Lietuvos rytas 4–0 in the finals.{{cite web|title=Siim-Sander Vene ja Kaunase Žalgiris tulid Leedu meistriks|url=http://sport.delfi.ee/news/korvpall/eesti/siim-sander-vene-ja-kaunase-zalgiris-tulid-leedu-meistriks?id=71648527|language=Estonian|publisher=Delfi Sport|date=6 June 2015}} In the 2015–16 Euroleague, Žalgiris once again reached Top 16, but failed to advance to the playoffs with a 2–12 record. Vene averaged 3.3 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. He won his third consecutive Lithuanian Championship in the 2015–16 season, after Žalgiris defeated Neptūnas in the finals.{{cite web|title=Vene ja Žalgiris tulid kolmandat aastat järjest Leedu meistriks!|url=http://sport.delfi.ee/news/korvpall/eesti/fotod-vene-ja-zalgiris-tulid-kolmandat-aastat-jarjest-leedu-meistriks?id=74741959|language=Estonian|publisher=Delfi Sport|date=6 June 2016}}

On 8 August 2016, Vene signed with Nizhny Novgorod of the VTB United League.{{cite news|title=Nizhny Novgorod lands Siim-Sander Vene|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/russia/208998/nizhny-novgorod-lands-siim-sander-vene.html|accessdate=8 August 2016|work=Sportando.com|date=8 August 2016}} He was named Estonian Basketball Player of the Year in 2017.{{cite web|title=Eesti aasta parimateks korvpalluriteks valiti Mailis Pokk ja Siim-Sander Vene|url=http://sport.delfi.ee/news/korvpall/eesti/fotod-eesti-aasta-parimateks-korvpalluriteks-valiti-mailis-pokk-ja-siim-sander-vene?id=78418603|language=Estonian|publisher=Delfi Sport|date=31 May 2017}}

On 16 August 2017, Vene signed with Reggiana of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{cite news|title=Firmato Siim-Sander Vene|url=http://www.pallacanestroreggiana.it/24630-2|accessdate=16 August 2017|publisher=Pallacanestro Reggiana|date=16 August 2017|language=Italian}} On 29 September, he was sidelined for three months due to a leg injury and didn't play any games for Reggiana. On 4 January 2018, it was announced that Vene will sign for LBA club Varese for the remainder of the 2017–18 season.{{cite news|title=Ametlik: Siim-Sander Vene liitub Varesega|url=https://sport.err.ee/652171/ametlik-siim-sander-vene-liitub-varesega|date=4 January 2018|publisher=ERR Sport|language=Estonian}} On 21 June 2018, he was named Estonian Basketball Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.{{cite news|title=Eesti Korvpalliliit tunnustas hooaja parimaid, aasta korvpalluriteks valiti Vene ja Anderson|url=http://www.basket.ee/et/uudised?news_id=4605|date=21 June 2018|publisher=Estonian Football Association|language=Estonian}}

On September 5, 2018, Vene signed a six-week deal with Manresa of the Liga ACB as a replacement for the injured Justin Doellman.{{cite news |title=Baxi Manresa signs Siim-Sander Vene |url=https://sportando.basketball/en/spain/acb/287638/baxi-manresa-signs-siim-sander-vene.html |accessdate=5 September 2018 |work=Sportando |date=5 September 2018}} He was released from the team when his contract ended. He signed with another Liga ACB team Fuenlabrada in December 2018.{{cite news |title=Siim-Sander Vene, talento para el Montakit Fuenlabrada|url=http://www.acb.com/redaccion.php?id=144792|accessdate=7 December 2018 |work=ACB.com |date=7 December 2018|language=es}} Only a week later Vene moved to another Liga ACB team Gran Canaria after making use of his opt-out for signing with a EuroLeague team.{{cite news |title=El Herbalife Gran Canaria incorpora a Siim-Sander Vene|url=https://cbgrancanaria.net/news/el-herbalife-gran-canaria-incorpora-a-siim-sander-vene/|accessdate=14 December 2018 |work=Club Baloncesto Gran Canaria |date=13 December 2018|language=es}}

On July 1, 2019 he signed contract with Varese of the LBA. He returns to Varese after a season with three different Spanish teams.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/varese-officially-signs-siim-sander-vene/|title=Varese officially signs Siim-Sander Vene|date=July 1, 2019|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=July 1, 2019|last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}

On May 24, 2020 Vene signed a contract with Fuenlabrada, making a return to the Spanish club where he had already a stint in 2018.{{Cite news|url= https://sportando.basketball/en/siim-sander-vene-to-join-fuenlabrada/ |title=Siim-Sander Vene to join Montakit Fuenlabrada|date=May 24, 2020|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=May 24, 2020|last1=Carchia |first1=Emiliano }}

On September 28, 2021, he signed a 2-month contract with Limoges CSP of the LNB Pro A.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/limoges-tabs-siim-sander-vene-to-replace-injured-assane-ndoye-part-ways-with-matic-rebec/|title=Limoges tabs Siim-Sander Vene to replace injured Assane Ndoye, part ways with Matic Rebec|last=|first=|date=September 28, 2021|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=September 29, 2021|last1=Borghesan |first1=Ennio Terrasi }}

On January 4, 2022, he signed with Pallacanestro Varese of the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/siim-sander-vene-returns-to-pallacanestro-varese/|title=Siim-Sander Vene returns to Pallacanestro Varese|last=|first=|date=January 4, 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=January 5, 2022|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}

On August 9, 2022, he signed with Hapoel Jerusalem of the Israeli Premier League.{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/hapoel-jerusalem-signs-siim-sander-vene/|title=Hapoel Jerusalem signs Siim-Sander Vene|last=|first=|date=August 9, 2022|website=|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=August 15, 2022|last1=Borghesan |first1=Ennio Terrasi }} While on the team, Vene played a significant role particularly in a number of clutch wins, including over Maccabi Tel Aviv, and over Lenovo Tenerife in the semi-finals of the Basketball Champions League Final Four.

National team career

Vene was a member of the Estonian national under-18 basketball team that competed at the 2007 FIBA Europe Under-18 Championship and finished the tournament in 12th place. Vene averaged 12.1 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist per game.

As a member of the senior Estonian national team, Vene competed at the EuroBasket 2015, averaging 10 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game.{{cite news|url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/pageID_sjYngeE7G,EaeD6EPgPrB3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_2133.html|title=Estonia|publisher=Eurobasket2015.org|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808024635/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/pageID_sjYngeE7G,EaeD6EPgPrB3.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_2133.html|archivedate=2016-08-08}} Estonia finished the tournament in 20th place.

Vene was named the captain of the Estonian national team in 2020 ahead of the EuroBasket 2021 qualification games.

Personal life

Vene's father, Priit, and mother, Lea, were both basketballers. His father is now a basketball coach. Vene's younger brother, Kent-Kaarel, is also a professional basketball player.

Career statistics

=EuroLeague=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009–10

| style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris

| 6 || 0 || 10.9 || .417 || .000 || .500 || 1.8 || .2 || .0 || .2 || 2.0 || 1.2

| style="text-align:left;"| 2013–14

| style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris

| 5 || 0 || 13.7 || .462 || .500 || 1.000 || 2.6 || .6 || .2 || .2 || 3.0 || 3.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2014–15

| style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris

| 14 || 0 || 9.2 || .450 || .438 || .714 || 1.2 || .5 || .5 || .0 || 3.4 || 2.6

| style="text-align:left;"| 2015–16

| style="text-align:left;"| Žalgiris

| 20 || 1 || 12.1 || .491 || .300 || .833 || 1.6 || .7 || .4 || .2 || 3.3 || 3.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2018–19

| style="text-align:left;"| Gran Canaria

| 18 || 4 || 15.0|| .478 || .389 || .842 || 1.2 || .6 || .5 || .0 || 6.8 || 5.1

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career

| 63 || 5 || 11.2 || .471 || .357 || .789 || 1.5 || .6 || .4 || .1 || 4.2 || 2.8

=Domestic leagues=

class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center;" ! Season ! Team ! League ! {{Tooltip\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{Tooltip\|MPG\|Minutes per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|FG%\|Field goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|3P%\|3 point field goal percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|FT%\|Free throw percentage}} ! {{Tooltip\|RPG\|Rebounds per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|APG\|Assists per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|SPG\|Steals per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|BPG\|Blocks per game}} ! {{Tooltip\|PPG\|Points per game}}
2007–08	Žalgiris-2	rowspan="4"\| {{flagicon\|LTU}} LKL	2	19.2	.300	.167	.000	4.5	2.0	.0	.0	3.5
2008–09	Kaunas Triobet	19	19.0	.400	.326	1.000	3.3	.4	.8	.3	5.2
2009–10	Žalgiris	12	13.5	.441	.308	.625	3.0	.8	.7	.3	3.3
rowspan="2"\| 2010–11	Kaunas	9	29.3	.490	.472	.714	4.2	1.3	1.6	.4	13.4
EnBW Ludwigsburg	{{flagicon\|GER}} BBL	19	15.6	.378	.346	.800	1.1	.6	.4	.2	4.5
rowspan="2"\| 2011–12	Baltai	{{flagicon\|LTU}} LKL	15	26.1	.362	.328	.600	3.4	1.5	1.3	.2	8.0
VEF Rīga	{{flagicon\|LAT}} LBL	5	21.8	.394	.385	.500	4.6	1.2	.6	.2	6.6
2012–13	Prienai	rowspan="4"\| {{flagicon\|LTU}} LKL	26	28.2	.502	.243	.789	5.6	2.5	1.3	.7	11.8
2013–14	rowspan="3"\| Žalgiris	5	12.4	.400	.000	1.000	2.8	1.0	.4	.0	2.4
2014–15	46	14.6	.508	.333	.826	2.9	.9	.6	.3	5.4
2015–16	43	14.0	.514	.286	.788	2.9	.7	.5	.2	4.3
2016–17	Nizhny Novgorod	{{flagicon\|RUS}} VTB	24	24.2	.448	.337	.756	2.7	2.0	.5	.2	10.4
2017–18	Pallacanestro Varese	{{flagicon\|ITA}} LBA	20	24.9	.465	.393	.913	3.9	2.6	1.0	.2	8.3
rowspan="3"\| 2018–19	Manresa	rowspan="3"\| {{flagicon\|ESP}} ACB	6	22.0	.467	.414	1.000	3.0	.8	.3	.2	10.0
Fuenlabrada	1	20.6	.571	.571	1.000	2.0	2.0	.0	.0	14.0
Gran Canaria	18	13.2	.344	.243	.333	1.3	.3	.2	.3	3.0
2019–20	Pallacanestro Varese	{{flagicon\|ITA}} LBA	19	25.5	.510	.422	.833	4.2	2.3	.6	.1	10.8
2020–21	Fuenlabrada	{{flagicon\|ESP}} ACB	12	21.2	.391	.286	.750	2.3	1.0	.6	.0	6.0
rowspan="3"\| 2021–22	Limoges CSP	{{flagicon\|FRA}} LNB	7	13.1	.417	.286	1.000	1.3	1.3	.3	.0	3.7
Pallacanestro Varese	{{flagicon\|ITA}} LBA	18	28.2	.486	.383	.786	4.6	1.6	.7	.3	12.2

=Estonia national team=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005

| style="text-align:left;"| 2005 U-16 European Championship Division B

| style="text-align:left;"| Estonia U-16

| 6 || 4 || 28.0 || .448 || .444 || .583 || 5.2 || .0 || 1.5 || .2 || 13.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006 U-16 European Championship Division B

| style="text-align:left;"| Estonia U-16

| 9 || 9 || 34.3 || .372 || .328 || .378 || 9.6 || 3.3 || 2.8 || 1.4 || 16.0

| style="text-align:left;" rowspan=2| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007 U-18 European Championship

| style="text-align:left;"| Estonia U-18

| 8 || 2 || 26.5 || .430 || .333 || .667 || 5.0 || 1.0 || 1.9 || .8 || 12.1

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007 U-20 European Championship Division B

| style="text-align:left;"| Estonia U-20

| 8 || 0 || 13.3 || .300 || .050 || .500 || 3.3 || .3 || .9 || .0 || 3.8

| style="text-align:left;"| 2009

| style="text-align:left;"| EuroBasket 2009 Qualification Relegation Round