Romain Sato

Romain Sato
	Sato, in 2013.
Personal information
Born	March 2, 1981 (age 40); Bimbo, Central African Republic
Nationality	Central African
Listed height	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school	Dayton Christian (Dayton, Ohio)
College	Xavier (2000–2004)
NBA draft	2004 / Round: 2 / Pick: 52nd overall
	Selected by the San Antonio Spurs
Playing career	2004–2017
Position	Shooting guard / Small forward
Career history
2004–2006	Aurora Jesi
2006	Barcelona
2006–2010	Mens Sana Siena
2010–2012	Panathinaikos
2012–2013	Fenerbahçe
2013–2017	Valencia
Career highlights and awards
	EuroLeague champion (2011); EuroCup champion (2014); Spanish League champion (2017); All-Spanish League Team (2014); Spanish Supercup winner (2017); 4× Italian League champion (2007–2010); 2× Italian Cup winner (2009, 2010); 3× Italian Supercup winner (2007–2009); Italian League MVP (2010); Italian SuperCup MVP (2009); Greek League champion (2011); Greek Cup winner (2012); Turkish Cup winner (2013); 2× First-team All-Atlantic 10 (2003, 2004);

Romain Guessagba-Sato-Lebel (born March 2, 1981), generally known as Romain Sato, is a former Central African professional basketball player. Standing at a height of 1.96 m (6' 5"), he played as a swingman.

High school[]

Sato attended Dayton Christian High School, while living in Moraine, Ohio, in the United States. While there, he played basketball.

College career[]

Sato graduated from Xavier University in 2004, having majored in French, after playing college basketball with the Xavier Musketeers.

Professional career[]

Sato was selected by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 NBA draft, and was subsequently waived on February 24, 2005. After being drafted by the Spurs, Sato played in the Italian Second Division^[1] with Sicc Cucine Jesi. He was the league's second-leading scorer in the 2005–06 season, averaging 25.5 points per game, and also adding 7.5 rebounds per game.

In Romain's three playoff games that season, he averaged 35 points and 14.6 rebounds. From there, he went to FC Barcelona to play in the 2006 Spanish ACB League playoffs.^[2] Sato then returned to Italy to play in the top Italian League with Montepaschi Siena for the 2006–07 season. In his first season with Siena, he helped Montepaschi to win the Scudetto (Italian Championship),^[3] and he then went on to win three more Scudetti with Siena. He was named the Italian League MVP in 2010.^[4]

In July 2010, he signed a three-year contract with Panathinaikos. In the summer of 2012, he signed a two-year contract with Fenerbahçe Ülker.^[5] He left them after one season. In August 2012, he signed a one-year deal with the Spanish team Valencia Basket.^[6] On July 1, 2014, he re-signed with Valencia Basket for two more years.^[7]

National team career[]

Sato played with the senior men's Central African Republic national basketball team at the 2009 FIBA Africa Championship. He averaged 21.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game at the tournament, and was named to the All-Tournament First Team.

Career statistics[]

Legend
GP	Games played	GS	Games started	MPG	Minutes per game
FG%	Field-goal percentage	3P%	3-point field-goal percentage	FT%	Free-throw percentage
RPG	Rebounds per game	APG	Assists per game	SPG	Steals per game
BPG	Blocks per game	PPG	Points per game	PIR	Performance Index Rating
Bold	Career high

†	Denotes seasons in which Sato won the EuroLeague

EuroLeague[]

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG	PIR
2007–08	Montepaschi Siena	23	22	28.0	.442	.347	.731	4.9	1.0	1.8	.1	11.6	12.7
2008–09	Montepaschi Siena	20	19	25.8	.462	.400	.814	3.9	.7	1.8	.1	10.1	10.8
2009–10	Montepaschi Siena	16	16	28.0	.490	.396	.855	5.3	1.3	1.5	.0	13.6	16.3
2010–11†	Panathinaikos	21	16	26.2	.413	.388	.813	3.9	1.1	.7	.1	9.0	10.1
2011–12	Panathinaikos	23	20	26.0	.410	.347	.712	4.7	1.0	.7	.4	7.1	8.6
2012–13	Fenerbahçe Ülker	23	23	27.0	.408	.341	.810	4.2	1.3	.7	.1	7.3	8.2
2014–15	Valencia Basket	9	6	27.3	.362	.292	.800	4.8	1.1	.9	.6	6.3	6.7
Career		126	122	26.8	.433	.364	.789	4.4	1.1	1.2	.2	9.4	10.6

Gallery[]

Play media

Romain Sato's words in his presentation as a Valencia Basket player, in 2013.
Play media

Sato answers the questions of the Press in the very same act.
Play media

Hommage in Valencia's court after his first season in the club, when he was chosen as best SF in the league, and awarded by local fans as the team's player who showed more effort.

References[]

^ Coro, Paul (July 5, 2006). "Sato may fill Suns' need". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ "First Team Roster: Romain Sato". Mens Sana Basket. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
^ "Xavier University Graduate Romain Sato Wins Italian Title". CSTV. June 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.
^ Legabasket.it – Gli MVP di Lega: Romain Sato è il miglior giocatore della stagione regolare (in Italian).
^ "Fenerbahce signs Romain Sato". Sportando.net. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ "VALENCIA BASKET announces power Romain Sato". Eurocupbasketball.com. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ "Romain Sato will stay in Valencia two more years". Euroleague.net. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.

[1] Coro, Paul (July 5, 2006). "Sato may fill Suns' need". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[Mens_Sana_bio-2] "First Team Roster: Romain Sato". Mens Sana Basket. Archived from the original on 2007-12-05. Retrieved 2008-02-20.

[3] "Xavier University Graduate Romain Sato Wins Italian Title". CSTV. June 19, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-28.

[4] Legabasket.it – Gli MVP di Lega: Romain Sato è il miglior giocatore della stagione regolare (in Italian).

[5] "Fenerbahce signs Romain Sato". Sportando.net. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

[6] "VALENCIA BASKET announces power Romain Sato". Eurocupbasketball.com. 2 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.

[7] "Romain Sato will stay in Valencia two more years". Euroleague.net. July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2014.

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