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Euro league history

Interview with A.Karnisovas Lithuanian NT leader
Interview with D.Tomasevic
one of the best Euro forwards
Interview with Tyus Edney Euro All-Star MVP




co-webmasters of this site

Dejan (football)
Ivan    (basketball)

 


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.

 



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.