The next Final Four event is just around the corner. Next weekend will be played the FIBA Eurocup Final Four with the teams of Tartu Rock, Barons Riga, Dexia Mons-Hainaut and Proteas AEL Limassol.
Just by reading the names, you could imagine that this will be an even bigger spectator bust than the ULEB Cup but luckily, FIBA Europe had the great idea to give the organization duties of this event to their favorite organizers of Cyprus. The lovely island in the Mediterranean see looks like being the main place for FIBA Eurocup events as the annual All-Star game is taking place there too. There must be a nice beach hotel over there…
The question remains what is the value of a competition that features two Baltic teams (none from Lithuania), a Belgian and a Cypriot team in its four best ones and where the top scorer is playing for a Finnish team? Well probably not much than symbolic value. All the top teams are playing either the Euroleague or the ULEB Cup so this competition remains something like the European Cup for second-level nations.
With strict limitations in the number of non-European players, this cup was not even interesting for some nations that have less limitations. Still, the event should become a success because for the participating teams, it is their once in a lifetime story to win a European Cup. So good luck to all the participants next weekend, we will give you of course more infos on the team in the next days.
Do they win a spot in the ULEB Cup next season ?
No
but there are some projects to integrate this cup also in the ULEB system in the future. Don’t know however, if theses ideas are still alive.
It was decided that the FIBA Eurocup winner would be playing in the enxt season ULEB.
But I guess this rule will be implemented next season…
Should be interesting to watch…
Arkadios – are you going now?
As someone who followed the competition from the first stage (part of the job), I wanna say it’s not as bad as many think. There were three Russian teams (not of the top obviously) there – one never made it to the QF and two were KO there.
There was KK Zagreb with Ante Tomic and Cholet with De Colo to follow.
I can understand why people don’t consider it as strong as in the past, but for basketball junkies, as ppl who come here are, it still had enough good reasons to follow.
Tobi yes