KTP-Basket targets first Finnish basketball title in over 30 years

KTP-Basket is entering the Finnish Basketball League playoffs as a genuine championship contender, aiming to end a title drought that stretches back to 1994, reports Yle.

The Kotka-based team has defeated every league opponent this season, including regular-season leader Salon Vilpas, and heads into the postseason in peak form. Assistant coach Michael Pounds, whose father won the club’s last title in 1994, said the squad believes it can go all the way—though progress must come “one step at a time.”

KTP’s success has been built on smart recruitment and strong health. Key domestic players like Hannes Pöllä and Remu Raitanen have been backed by standout imports Jayden Taylor (19.9 points per game) and Koen Sapwell (13.9 ppg). Late-season addition Tucker Richardson, a 2023–24 champion with Nokia BC, further bolsters the roster.

Playmaker Tuomas Hirvonen, sidelined since February with a foot injury, is expected to return for the playoffs, which begin Monday. The team’s final regular-season game—a road match against Uudenkaupungin Korihait—could still lift KTP to second place if results align.

Pounds emphasized that playoff intensity demands instinctive, sharp decision-making. “Players shouldn’t overthink on the court,” he said. “The right choices need to come naturally.”