Igor Rakocevic 31
Highlights from Union Olimpija-Efes Pilsen 2OT thriller
The Euroleague’s game of the night last night and probably ultimately in all of week one was seen in the Union Olimipija-Efes Pilsen battle – and BallinEurope does mean battle – in Ljubljana. By the time the buzzer sounded, some 8,700 had thrilled to only the third double-overtime regular-season game in EL history, with Olimpija […]
The Frank Euroleague Roundup: Top 16, week five
With one more week of Euroleague play to go before the field of viable contenders officially shrinks again, Ball in Europe contributor Francesco Cappelletti wraps the round that was in the big league. In this week’s roundup, Signor C. laments Montepaschi Siena’s fate, Sergio Scariolo’s precarious position and the reason Olympiacos might yet give Barca […]
The Frank Euroleague roundup: Top 16, week four
The critical week four of Euroleague Top 16 action is in the books, but Ball in Europe’s man in Italy, Francesco Cappelletti, is still musing on the shifts ‘n’ events thanks to these eight games. This week’s frank roundup wishes Panathinaikos bye-bye, gives mucho deserved props to Pini Gershon, and bestows an “accolade” upon Zabian […]
Gasol FIBA Men’s Player of the Year, wins both expert and popular vote
BiE supposes the only suspense with this award this year was how close things would get and who placed second. So, after the ho-hum announcement that Pau Gasol was chosen FIBA Europe Men’s Player of the Year for a second consecutive time, we today know the answers. In order, then: Not very close at all, […]
Euroleague Top 16 draw: The Frank take
The Euroleague Top 16 group draw was orientated, due to the guidelines, well before it started. So, while Group G and Group H were fixed, it remained to see where Maccabi Tel Aviv and Efes Pilsen Istanbul would be directed: to the Barcelona-Panathinaikos group or the Real Madrid-Montepaschi gang. The two teams went into the […]
(Belated) Fantasy tips from the Euroleague boss, week 10
Hello everybody, once again this is Javier Gancedo of Euroleague Basketball. First of all, I am sorry I’m a bit late with this column this week. A lot of circumstances went against me: I have been sick since Sunday with a temperature, but trying to work since this week is critical for all of us. […]
Fantasy tips from the Euroleague boss, week 9
Hello and Happy New Year everybody! This is once again Javier Gancedo of Euroleague basketball, hoping that 2010 brings you happiness, fun and a lot of great hoops in Europe’s marquee club competition. I’ve been on holiday for the best part of the Euroleague break and right now I’m very busy. You good people out […]
The Frank Euroleague roundup, week six
Wrapping up and putting a bow on week six of Euroleague basketball is BallinEurope’s man in Italy, Francesco Cappelletti, who today writes of Kleiza & Papaloukas, the Partizan player-making machine, and the league’s three biggest flops thus far in 2009-10. Dear old Theo Linas Kleiza has made us witnesses to what a former NBA sixth […]
The European Player of the Year nominees are…
The nominees are in over at FIBA Europe and, with the exception of one (or two, thanks to Rubiomania) categories, voting could be pretty tight in the FIBA Europe Player of the Year 2009. Yes, Pau Gasol and Ricky Rubio are on the list in a threat to become repeat winners in the Male POY […]
Final tips from the Euroleague fantasy boss!
Hello NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge players all over Europe! Once again, this is Javier Gancedo, as always from Euroleague Basketball headquarters. Well, the 2008-09 NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge comes to an end this week. It has been a fantastic season for the game, I think. I guess I’ll have to do a recap next week: In fact, […]
Monday's cigarettes
Here we go for another round of Monday morning cigarettes! Always a beauty, the ACB has come up with the best plays of the most spectacular players of the season so far. And no surprise here: The top 3 is composed of Sergio Llull, Quinton Hosley and Marcus Haislip. How to come back from a […]
Tips from the Euroleague boss
Hello everybody at BallinEurope, this is once again Javier Gancedo, all the way from Euroleague headquarters in Barcelona. This has been arguably the best Top 16 since I joined the company in 2003. I have great memories of my first Top 16 as an insider (Sharp’s three-pointer against Zalgiris, Basile’s triple against Efes followed by […]