Turkey
ISTANBUL
- Ulker have decided to part company with Mark Pope,Dejan Koturovic and
Jiri Zidek.Ulker will sign new foreigners.GM Lufi Aribogan also said
that they want to continue with their point guard Jerome
Allen(1973,193cm, G) next season.The status of other players on the team
will be reviewed after June 1st.
Spain
BARCELONA-
Today might have been one of the most important days in basketball
history. The top European teams have decided to create their own
competition leaving FIBA's Suproleague without the best teams from the
old continent.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Tau Baskonia, Estudiantes and Caja San Fernando
(Spain), Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, PAOK and Peristeri
(Grecia), Kinder Bologna, Fortitudo Bologna, Benetton Treviso y Varese
(Italia), Olimpia Ljubljana (Slovenia), Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania) y
London Towers (England).
Villeurbanne and PAU Orthez are evaluating if they are to join this new
competition. It seems that the Turkish teams will not join thus making
it easier for them to get the FIBA euro title.
During the first half of June the teams will provide more information
about this new Euroleague, whose goal is to become the basketball engine
for the XXIst Century.
17
ULEB teams leave FIBA
BARCELONA - The war between FIBA and the ULEB has begun. After the
meeting held yesterday in Barcelona, 17 teams from the ULEB (Union of
European Basketball Leagues) agreed to leave FIBA and to organize an
alternative EuroLeague for next year.
The 17 teams were:
Barcelona, Real Madrid, Estudiantes, Caja San Fernando and TAU Vitoria
from Spain.
Olympiakos, Panathinaikos, AEK Athens, PAOK and Peristeri from Greece.
Kinder Bolonia, Fortitudo Bolonia, Varese and Bennetton Treviso from
Italy.
Olimpia Ljubjiana from Slovenia.
Zalgiris Kaunas from Lithuania.
London Towers from England.
Alba Berlin from Germany and one representative from France were also at
the meeting, but did not sign the agreement.
All teams who agreed signed a document in which they promise to play in
the new competition, with a 1 million dollar guarantee. If a team
decides not to play in the new ULEB Euroleague, it will have to pay up.
The main reason for the split is that FIBA sold the Television rights to
the swiss company ISL, annoying most of the teams from Spain, Greece and
Italy. The teams feel that money from this contract is less than what
they receive from other companies in their countries.
Italy
BARCELONA
- 17 clubs met yestarday in Barcelona to lay the foundations for the
birth of a new EuroLeague. The clubs, who are dissatisfied with FIBA,
and feel that the needs of clubs were not not taken into consideration
in the organization of the SuproLeague.
"We are thinking about the interests of the clubs" -says
Manager of the Italian League, Andrea Bassani."Yet without
forgetting the importance of the National championship. It will be
interesting to see, for instance, Fortitudo Bologna playing 4 times
against Barcelona or Panathinaikos".
If all goes well, the ULEB's aim is to start the new EuroLeague next
season.
Furthermore, it seems that Fiba will not be able to take disciplinary
measures against players or teams in their national championships.
The project will probably be official in the first half of June.
The teams partecipating in this new project are: Fortitudo Bologna,
Kinder Bologna, Benetton Treviso, Varese Roosters, Barcelona, Real
Madrid, Estudiantes, Caja San Fernando, Tau Vitoria, Panathinaikos,
Olympiakos, Aek Athens, Paok Thessaloniki, Persiteri, Olimpia Ljubjana,
Zalgaris Kaunas.
Greece
ATHENS
- Greek basketball arch rivals Panathinaikos and Olympiakos were
probably the most eager supporters of the new, the revolutionary
"Euroleague", born officially last night in Barcelona. The
Greek giants, along with Real, Barcelona, Fortitudo, and Kinder, are
among the "seeded" clubs which will participate in the new
league for the full length of its first 3 years of life. AEK, PAOK, and
possibly Peristeri are also expected to be part of the inaugural season.
"This is going to be good for basketball", said Tasos
Stefanou, Panathinaikos' manager of basketball operations. He added that
FIBA's big mistake was "rearranging the TV rights' status without
ever consulting Europe's top teams". Olympiakos' delegate Takis
Livieratos said that "this is the beginning of a new era, with the
four leading Greek teams right there in firing line". AEK's lawyer,
Socrates Lambropoulos, talked of "a historic decision". The
director of the Greek League, ESAKE, Kostas Rigas, was also
enthusiastic: "There is going to be much more beautiful basketball
in the near future. More money from TV means better investments by the
teams". And ESAKE's president Theodore Karatzas added from Athens:
"This is gonna be a breath of fresh air for basketball". There
is still no reaction from the Greek Basketball Federation, whose
chairman, Yorgos Vasilakopoulos, is also a member of FIBA's executive
board.
Turkey
TOFAS
CHAMPIONS
Efes
Pilsen - Tofas Bursa 96-99
Efes Pilsen:Drobnjak 32,Kutluay 18,
Mulaomerovic 18,Turkoglu 15,Besok 10,Onan 3
Tofas:Rivers 40,Griffith 23,Rimac 13,Yilmaz 8,Bas 6,Pars 6,Konuk 2,Okur
1
ISTANBUL - Tofas claimed their 2nd straight Turkish Championship
after a thrilling game that went to overtime.
Tofasare the best ball club in the country for the last 2 years.
They have collected all the cups in the last 2 seasons.Tremendous
achievement.
This year they won the title in 5 games with 4-1 over Efes Pilsen who
also had a
tremendous season but not in Turkey,in the Euroleague competing in the
prestigious Final Four for the very 1st time.
The MVP of today's game was David Rivers(1965,185 cm,PG).
Actually he is the MVP of the final series.
He had a game high 40 points,playing terrific ball especially in 2nd
half.
Bursa side came from 17 point 2nd half deficit to force the overtime.
Efes led by 12 at half time 47-35 with Predrag Drobnjak(1974,211cm,F
)impressive in the paint.
But in 2nd half Tofas came within 4.Efes increased the gap to 8 but
Tofas didnot give up.
Rashard Griffith(1974,212cm,.C ) ruled in the paint this time with 23
points.
Alper Yilmaz(1975,197cm,F ) 3 pointer in the overtime made the score
94-92 for Tofas.
In the next play Damir Mulaomerovic(1974,195,G ) lost the ball.Slaven
Rimac's(1974,196 cm,G )
dunk sealed the deal for Tofas.Rivers's successful free throws didnot
let Efes force another overtime.
The referees had a poor game.They gave some wrong critical decisions.
Italy
BOLOGNA
- Vrankovic throws the ball and a couple of towels around the court.
Ruggeri tries to get him to say that word (sweep...), but he sounds like
someone who has cried and complained for the entire four finals lost by
Fortitudo. It's Dan Gay, who today is spokesman. Tomorrow is game three.
"What do you want me to say? We are working on it, we are thinking
about it. We are calm and happy, winning game two gave us a little bit
of peace. We don't want to make the same mistake as game one". No
pain, no gain. This is especially true for Fortitudo. "But maybe we
needed this. We swept two series' in a row, and maybe we weren't
accustomed to such a level and climate. Good results don't always show
any possible imperfections. The final is a tougher level and you can't
take risks, especially now against a strong team like Benetton. We had
not felt it necessary to do our best, anyway we won . But now it is
different.In game 1 we did not succeed in doing what we intended".
But Game 2 was a whole different ball game: " We were more
determined. We did not allow them the things they found easy in game 1.
We played good defence and denied them easy shots and offensive
rebounds. Concerning offence, we shot with good field goals, moving the
ball in the right way and playing as a team. In the second half we were
tired and let go a little. This shows what kind of a team we are. We
have plenty of winning chances when we play like last Tuesday. In the
last few days, when there was no dicsussion with the press, a lot of
things were said in the dressing room. "No, we simply reflected on
the mistakes we made and tried to stay calm, on court I mean, as in
practice and outside we are ok. But on court that day we made too many
mistakes". Was it easier in Treviso than in Bologna ? Too much
pressure? "We just want to win this championship. I think it is
just a mental barrier". Recalcati has confirmed game three,
starting five with three inside players. He will start with Vrankovic,
Galanda and Fucka. The key choice in game one, which Bucchi could
respond to putting Nicola in the starting five once again. But this does
not worry Paf so much. Only one word exists: winning.
Greece
ATHENS
- It certainly looks like a step in the right direction, but is it
perfectly legal? "Even if some teams disagree, let them go to
justice. This way, we'll find out who wants progress, and who
doesn't", answers Yorgos Vasilakopoulos, president of the Greek
Basketball Federation (EOK). Vasilakopoulos proposed that no team be
able to field more than 5 non-Greek players per game. "They may
employ as many foreigners as they wish, which makes our plan lawful. But
only five non-Greeks will be able to play in each game", he said.
Yorgos Floridis, the Sports Minister, has initially approved the plan,
and so did the Players Association, headed by Fragiskos Alvertis
(pictured). "EOK is trying to stop the downfall and we are going to
support them any way we can", said Alvertis. By
"foreigners", Vasilakopoulos means players not eligible for
the Greek national team. According to early information from Antalya,
FIBA plans to postpone their "open borders" policy for another
season, too.
Yugoslavia
Kolinska
league” 62 – “Winston YUBA” 69
“KOLINSKA” 62 (35): Becirovic 21, Jurak 7, Petrov 3, Rituper 3,
Smodis 13, Udrih 2, Drobnjak 2, Dragsic 3, Maravic 4, Kunc 4.
“WINSTON YUBA” 69 (35): Tomasevic 18, Nadjfeji 13, Petrovic,
Radmanovic 2, Radonjic 4, Stanojevic 6, Zecevic, Lukovcki 9, Canak 2,
Topic 10, Milojevic, Radosevic 5.
Team composed to represent Yugoslav league won selection of Slovenian
league in friendly game in Zagorje – 69:62.
Spain
Vukovic
dismissed
The president of Pamesa Valencia, Juan Roig, has announced this morning
the decision of firing coach Miki Vukociv.
Juan Casimiro, who has trained this year in Caceres, could be the
substitute for the next season.
The renovation of Tanoka Beard will depend now on the decision of the
new technical. Furthermore, Juan Roig has declared that not will quiver
to him the hand to rescind the contract to that player that they will
not be of the pleasure of the new trainer.
Italy
BIELLA
- A long line of coaches is ready to make the trip to Biella after
Federico Danna who signed a two-year contract with Varese Roosters, but
there are only three favourites. The first candidate is Marco Crespi
former Olimpia Milano coach, the second is Andrea Mazzon fired during
his season with Panionios Athens, and former winner of the Korac Cup
with Verona. The third name, which probably comes as a great surprise is
coach Stefano Vanoncini currently coaching Cento in the B1 league
finals.
A decision will be made in the next ten days.
Greece
Tsakalidis
at the Court Side camp on the way to NBA
The list of players that will participate in Court Side's Pro Camp
promises to be sensational. No less than THIRTEEN participants are draft
eligible, of which SEVEN are underclassmen !! NINE NBA teams have
already confirmed that they will scout the event, and more
representatives from the NBA are expected the coming week. The draft
eligible players in the Pro Camp are; Iakovos Tsakalidis, Kaya Peker,
Kerem Tunceri, Sani Becirovic, Stevan Nadjfeji, David Mushkudiani,
Flavius Lapuste, Jason Rowe, Anthony Stacey, John Whorton, Nate Johnson
and Damous Anderson (the first seven are underclassmen). Nigerian
rebounding phenomenon, Olumedi Oyedeji, will also be in Pecs, provided
that the Hungarian authorities give him his visa on time.
Greece
Olympiakos
move one step closer
Olympiakos
used a late 9-3 rally to hold off AEK 60-54 and gain a 2-1 advantage in
the race for a Suproleague berth. After 37 minutes, the score was tied
51-51 on Michalis Kakiouzis' three-pointer. But "Hollywood"
Robinson sparked a quick 7-0 run and Olympiakos cruised to victory.
With center Iakovos Tsakalidis nursing a sprained ankle, AEK had trouble
handling Dragan Tarlac and Ignacio De Miguel inside. These combined for
27 points and 19 boards. Game 4 will be played on Wendesday night, at
AEK's home court. Here's the boxscore from Game 3:
OLYMPIAKOS: Ĺdwards 4, Papanikolaou 3, Robinson 15, Ôomic 7, Ôarlac
16, De Miguel 11, Grant 4.
ÁĹĘ: Ěoschou 5, Hansell, Ď'Sullivan 2, Hatzis, Ęďronios 14,
Dikoudis 8, Ěuursepp 14, Bowie 6, Ęakiouzis 5.
Italy
Fortitudo's
players in "press silence"
BOLOGNA - It's cool at Fortitudo's place. In the afternoon the team
practiced (without Karnisovas, out for the rest of the championship) for
the usual session . There was a surprise for the journalists, as General
Manager Enzo Lefebre was present him too at practice and invited all the
press to avoid interviews with players, who must be left alone in order
to "think by their own consience about what has just
happened". A sort of press silence; it is not unusual, and we had
already thought about such a measure. Anyway, Fortitudo's managment
allowed Recalcati to talk to journalists; and Charlie confirmed what was
said yesterday. "It is a situation that makes me confirm all the
things I said in press conference. We suffered Edney and we were not
smart at all in our offence. We did not give Vrankovic the ball because
of our difficulties, but also and most of all because we did not think
about that. And I stress what I said yesterday about Karnisovas; he is
out, and now our balances are changing. We'll try something new, maybe
modifying offensive responsibilities". But recalcati stressed also
defensive efficienty: "Yes, it's still the way I said. What most of
all worries me, are not 79 points we allowed, but the DER, that creates
you difficulties when it's more than one. This rate tells that we worked
good, but we suffered and were dramatic against Edney. We accorded him
too much, and, finally, Nicola and Sheppard's contribution was
terrificly heavy". Recalcati, like he did in Reggio Calabria after
Final Eight loss, stayed with the fans for a while after the game:
"I want to say that I cry, claim or celebrate at the end, and now
only the first game has gone. I would like the others to do the same. It
is not for sure that the series is not going to game 5. I do not think
it is right that fecing the first heavy problem, the ghosts of the past
overcome all the fans. I know there are plenty of ghosts, but I want to
underline that both the atmospheres, the celebrating one before, and the
funeral one after, were wrong. I think that people should give
confidence to the team. I think that if you ask a one eye girl's
boyfriend, he will tell you that his beloved has a wonderful
appeal". Charlie analyzes; maybe taking it easy is the right thing
to do. Sometimes it happened that hysteria overcame anybody; and we all
know the way it ended.
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Group Seven
Group Seven
Foundation provides care for children suffering from the isolation, poverty and
displacement inherent to the brek-up of a country. Group Seven, consists of
seven Yugoslavian athletes who play basketball internationally. The foundation
was established in an effort to assure that charitable donations reach the poor,
destitute children of the former Yugoslavia who are most in need, irrespective
of politics or nationality.
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