Euroleague 1996-97

(From 19-09-1996 to 24-04-1997)

 

 

COMPETITION SYSTEM

·          In a First Stage, 24 teams (the domestic champions in the most important leagues, together with a variable number of runners-up) are divided into four groups of six playing a round-robin. The final standing is based on individual wins and defeats. In case of a tie between two or more teams after this group stage, the following criteria is used to decide the final classification: 1) number of wins in one-to-one games between the teams; 2) basket average between the teams; 3) general basket average within the group.

·          The 24 teams from the First Stage are re-distributed in a Second Stage, also played as a round-robin of four groups with six team each, although the individual scores and standings of the previous round are accumulated.

·          The top four teams from each group after the Second Stage qualify for a 1/8 Final Playoff (X-pairings, best of 3 games). The eight winners advance to a 1/4 Final Playoff (best of 3 games).

·          The four winners of the 1/4 Final Playoff qualify for the Final Stage (Final Four), played at a predetermined venue.

 

 

FIRST STAGE

 

GROUP A

Competition Day 1 (19-09-1996) / Competition Day 6 (7-11-1996)

Paniónios BC [Athína] (GRE) - CSKA [Moskva] (RUS)

72-67 (37-30)

96-66 (52-38)

Limoges CSP (FRA) - Maccabi Elite SC [Tel-Aviv] (ISR)

62-69 (28-33)

69-77 (26-35)

Ülker Gençlik SK [İstanbul] (TUR) - Stefanel Olimpia Milano (ITA)

67-73 (26-37)

67-65 (33-33) (*)

Competition Day 2 (26-09-1996) / Competition Day 7 (14-11-1996)

Maccabi Elite SC - CSKA

77-78 (48-37)

89-80 (42-28)

Ülker Gençlik SK - Paniónios BC

87-69 (52-34)

84-71 (37-33)

Limoges CSP - Stefanel Olimpia Milano

74-85 (39-36)

79-66 (41-34)

Competition Day 3 (3-10-1996) / Competition Day 8 (21-11-1996)

CSKA - Ülker Gençlik SK

71-76 (31-38)

73-76 (41-42)

Maccabi Elite SC - Stefanel Olimpia Milano

78-68 (39-36)

85-88 (40-54)

Paniónios BC - Limoges CSP

92-77 (44-41) (*)

78-75 (40-40)

Competition Day 4 (10-10-1996) / Competition Day 9 (5-12-1996)

Stefanel Olimpia Milano - CSKA

87-74 (49-45)

70-55 (35-24) (*)

Limoges CSP - Ülker Gençlik SK

84-80 (54-41)

99-91 (36-34) (a)

Paniónios BC - Maccabi Elite SC

69-74 (34-44)

69-57 (39-28)

Competition Day 5 (17-10-1996) / Competition Day 10 (12-12-1996)

CSKA - Limoges CSP

74-65 (40-29)

83-66 (37-24)

Stefanel Olimpia Milano - Paniónios BC

90-66 (49-46)

79-86 (35-38)

Ülker Gençlik SK - Maccabi Elite SC

84-80 (36-39)

71-65 (32-36)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Two overtimes at the end of regulation (73-73 and 85-85).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1(E). Stefanel Olimpia Milano

10

7

3

775

727

17

2(E). CSKA

10

6

4

761

734

16

3(E). Maccabi Elite SC

10

6

4

755

734

16

4(F). Ülker Gençlik SK

10

4

6

767

766

14

5(F). Limoges CSP

10

4

6

757

788

14

6(F). Paniónios BC

10

3

7

729

795

13

 

GROUP B

Competition Day 1 (19-09-1996) / Competition Day 6 (7-11-1996)

KK Cibona [Zagreb] (CRO) - CB Estudiantes [Madrid] (SPA)

81-66 (30-39)

78-77 (45-36)

Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna (ITA) - Spirou BC [Charleroi] (BEL)

87-78 (34-38)

61-78 (33-38)

Olympiakós BC [Peiraiás] (GRE) - Alba Berlin BT (GER)

64-67 (38-32)

62-61 (31-29) (*)

Competition Day 2 (26-09-1996) / Competition Day 7 (14-11-1996)

Spirou BC - KK Cibona

73-77 (40-31)

75-66 (32-35)

Alba Berlin BT - CB Estudiantes

78-79 (39-44)

82-75 (42-41)

Olympiakós BC - Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

96-80 (54-42)

81-72 (25-37) (b*)

Competition Day 3 (3-10-1996) / Competition Day 8 (21-11-1996)

KK Cibona - Alba Berlin BT

78-68 (46-31)

79-71 (39-33)

Spirou BC - Olympiakós BC

72-79 (33-31) (a)

87-60 (50-29)

CB Estudiantes - Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

66-75 (29-31)

100-86 (49-31)

Competition Day 4 (10-10-1996) / Competition Day 9 (5-12-1996)

Olympiakós BC - KK Cibona

62-61 (36-32)

63-61 (36-32)

Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna - Alba Berlin BT

82-72 (33-37) (*)

81-64 (46-28) (*)

CB Estudiantes - Spirou BC

94-72 (44-32)

75-82 (34-35)

Competition Day 5 (17-10-1996) / Competition Day 10 (12-12-1996)

KK Cibona - Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

64-72 (31-32) (*)

54-66 (24-28) (*)

Olympiakós BC - CB Estudiantes

110-78 (53-46)

87-78 (35-40)

Alba Berlin BT - Spirou BC

94-73 (53-38) (*)

69-79 (45-35)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Overtime at the end of regulation (68-68).

(b) Overtime at the end of regulation (66-66).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1(F). Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

10

7

3

773

742

17

2(F). CB Estudiantes

10

6

4

798

821

16

3(F). KK Cibona

10

6

4

713

679

16

4(E). Alba Berlin BT

10

6

4

755

723

16

5(E). Olympiakós BC

10

5

5

770

711

15

6(E). Spirou BC

10

0

10

699

832

10

 

GROUP C

Competition Day 1 (19-09-1996) / Competition Day 6 (7-11-1996)

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen (GER) - ASVEL Basket [Villeurbanne] (FRA)

66-79 (30-36)

72-64 (39-32)

Panathinaïkós BC [Athína] (GRE) - KK Smelt Olimpija [Ljubljana] (SVN)

75-67 (30-29) (*)

74-76 (48-35) (*)

KK Croatia Osiguranje Split (CRO) - FC Barcelona (SPA)

65-75 (25-37) (*)

68-70 (40-32) (*)

Competition Day 2 (26-09-1996) / Competition Day 7 (14-11-1996)

KK Smelt Olimpija - TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

86-70 (44-33) (*)

77-89 (33-38)

KK Croatia Osiguranje Split - ASVEL Basket

73-61 (29-30)

78-59 (40-24)

FC Barcelona - Panathinaïkós BC

77-58 (39-29) (*)

79-75 (38-40) (*)

Competition Day 3 (3-10-1996) / Competition Day 8 (21-11-1996)

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen - KK Croatia Osiguranje Split

60-63 (33-28)

86-79 (37-37)

KK Smelt Olimpija - FC Barcelona

77-65 (44-33) (*)

70-71 (37-35) (*)

Panathinaïkós BC - ASVEL Basket

66-72 (29-42) (*)

74-80 (30-43) (*)

Competition Day 4 (10-10-1996) / Competition Day 9 (5-12-1996)

FC Barcelona - TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

90-71 (41-28) (*)

71-79 (30-40)

Panathinaïkós BC - KK Croatia Osiguranje Split

72-50 (30-23) (*)

58-65 (30-36) (*)

ASVEL Basket - KK Smelt Olimpija

70-69 (37-45) (*)

73-60 (35-30) (*)

Competition Day 5 (17-10-1996) / Competition Day 10 (12-12-1996)

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Panathinaïkós BC

67-78 (35-36)

87-79 (45-37) (*)

FC Barcelona - ASVEL Basket

78-81 (39-36) (*)

91-90 (32-35) (a)

KK Croatia Osiguranje Split - KK Smelt Olimpija

53-66 (31-38)

81-53 (29-26) (*)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Overtime at the end of regulation (74-74).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1(G). Panathinaïkós BC

10

8

2

736

693

18

2(G). KK Smelt Olimpija

10

7

3

753

669

17

3(G). ASVEL Basket

10

7

3

738

718

17

4(H). FC Barcelona

10

4

6

767

734

14

5(H). KK Croatia Osiguranje Split

10

4

6

630

705

14

6(H). TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

10

0

10

704

809

10

 

GROUP D

Competition Day 1 (19-09-1996) / Competition Day 6 (7-11-1996)

Efes Pilsen SK [İstanbul] (TUR) - Kinder Virtus Bologna (ITA)

75-60 (35-33)

75-89 (45-40)

CB Caja San Fernando [Sevilla] (SPA) - KK Partizan [Beograd] (YUG)

72-67 (38-34) (*)

66-72 (30-33)

MBK Dynamo [Moskva] (RUS) - EB Pau-Orthez (FRA)

70-65 (34-28)

94-71 (46-29)

Competition Day 2 (26-09-1996) / Competition Day 7 (14-11-1996)

KK Partizan - Efes Pilsen SK

76-72 (35-40)

93-77 (49-36)

MBK Dynamo - Kinder Virtus Bologna

64-78 (39-42)

89-74 (45-40)

EB Pau-Orthez - CB Caja San Fernando

85-79 (42-37)

61-69 (37-35) (*)

Competition Day 3 (3-10-1996) / Competition Day 8 (21-11-1996)

Efes Pilsen SK - MBK Dynamo

87-84 (55-40)

73-82 (41-47)

KK Partizan - EB Pau-Orthez

84-75 (40-39)

73-77 (40-34)

Kinder Virtus Bologna - CB Caja San Fernando

93-75 (53-40)

72-64 (30-37)

Competition Day 4 (10-10-1996) / Competition Day 9 (5-12-1996)

EB Pau-Orthez - Efes Pilsen SK

80-78 (34-37)

78-76 (25-37) (a)

CB Caja San Fernando - MBK Dynamo

91-61 (43-30) (*)

79-75 (36-32) (b)

Kinder Virtus Bologna - KK Partizan

100-83 (45-43)

78-70 (44-35)

Competition Day 5 (17-10-1996) / Competition Day 10 (12-12-1996)

Efes Pilsen SK - CB Caja San Fernando

69-66 (37-35)

68-70 (31-42)

EB Pau-Orthez - Kinder Virtus Bologna

89-83 (45-35)

86-74 (43-38)

MBK Dynamo - KK Partizan

71-72 (42-37) (*)

97-64 (47-27)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Overtime at the end of regulation (64-64).

(b) Overtime at the end of regulation (65-65).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1(H). Efes Pilsen SK

10

8

2

793

735

18

2(H). KK Partizan

10

6

4

777

762

16

3(H). Kinder Virtus Bologna

10

5

5

798

773

15

4(G). EB Pau-Orthez

10

5

5

780

767

15

5(G). CB Caja San Fernando

10

4

6

731

723

14

6(G). MBK Dynamo

10

2

8

711

830

12

 

 

SECOND STAGE

(The individual scores and standings of the First Stage are accumulated in the Second Stage)

 

GROUP E

Competition Day 1 (9-01-1997) / Competition Day 4 (6-02-1997)

Spirou BC - Stefanel Olimpia Milano

68-71 (39-33)

73-63 (38-27)

Olympiakós BC - CSKA

82-51 (35-33)

70-79 (30-41)

Alba Berlin BT - Maccabi Elite SC

70-65 (43-38)

78-62 (37-26)

Competition Day 2 (16-01-1997) / Competition Day 5 (13-02-1997)

Stefanel Olimpia Milano - Olympiakós BC

73-71 (39-38)

87-84 (51-39)

CSKA - Alba Berlin BT

67-69 (34-39)

78-76 (39-39)

Maccabi Elite SC - Spirou BC

87-70 (51-34)

90-82 (46-42)

Competition Day 3 (23-01-1997) / Competition Day 6 (20-02-1997)

Alba Berlin BT - Stefanel Olimpia Milano

68-78 (40-41)

80-91 (49-45)

Spirou BC - CSKA

67-72 (29-37) (*)

80-66 (45-32)

Olympiakós BC - Maccabi Elite SC

69-60 (29-33)

82-78 (44-44)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1. Stefanel Olimpia Milano

16

11

5

1234

1175

27

2. Alba Berlin BT

16

10

6

1193

1167

26

3. Olympiakós BC

16

9

7

1236

1131

25

4. Maccabi Elite SC

16

9

7

1209

1173

25

5. CSKA

16

8

8

1178

1175

24

6. Spirou BC

16

1

15

1123

1297

17

 

GROUP F

Competition Day 1 (9-01-1997) / Competition Day 4 (6-02-1997)

Paniónios BC - Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

72-88 (41-52)

94-58 (54-30) (*)

Limoges CSP - CB Estudiantes

91-85 (38-39)

68-70 (38-29)

Ülker Gençlik SK - KK Cibona

73-77 (35-44)

82-81 (37-28) (a)

Competition Day 2 (16-01-1997) / Competition Day 5 (13-02-1997)

Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna - Limoges CSP

90-76 (47-28)

81-70 (33-43)

CB Estudiantes - Ülker Gençlik SK

97-63 (48-29)

78-74 (42-32) (b)

KK Cibona - Paniónios BC

85-58 (46-30)

84-76 (41-41)

Competition Day 3 (23-01-1997) / Competition Day 6 (20-02-1997)

Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna - Ülker Gençlik SK

69-61 (35-36)

73-78 (46-40)

Paniónios BC - CB Estudiantes

91-95 (47-54)

92-70 (44-31)

Limoges CSP - KK Cibona

85-61 (45-31)

72-66 (37-28)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Overtime at the end of regulation (70-70).

(b) Overtime at the end of regulation (69-69).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1. Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna

16

12

4

1262

1163

28

2. KK Cibona

16

10

6

1166

1126

26

3. CB Estudiantes

16

9

7

1309

1284

25

4. Limoges CSP

16

8

8

1226

1235

24

5. Ülker Gençlik SK

16

5

11

1196

1243

21

6. Paniónios BC

16

4

12

1162

1325

20

 

GROUP G

Competition Day 1 (9-01-1997) / Competition Day 4 (6-02-1997)

MBK Dynamo - Panathinaïkós BC

88-81 (46-43)

71-67 (33-38)

CB Caja San Fernando - KK Smelt Olimpija

81-76 (34-37) (*)

67-70 (35-40)

EB Pau-Orthez - ASVEL Basket

95-97 (50-45) (*)

67-65 (37-37) (*)

Competition Day 2 (16-01-1997) / Competition Day 5 (13-02-1997)

Panathinaïkós BC - CB Caja San Fernando

90-71 (52-32) (*)

78-87 (47-51) (*)

KK Smelt Olimpija - EB Pau-Orthez

96-86 (49-43) (*)

77-71 (43-29) (*)

ASVEL Basket - MBK Dynamo

82-52 (39-27)

86-90 (45-39) (a)

Competition Day 3 (23-01-1997) / Competition Day 6 (20-02-1997)

EB Pau-Orthez - Panathinaïkós BC

66-78 (33-32) (*)

75-71 (31-41) (*)

MBK Dynamo - KK Smelt Olimpija

64-76 (38-45) (*)

80-72 (42-41) (*)

CB Caja San Fernando - ASVEL Basket

91-68 (40-38) (*)

83-81 (45-46) (*)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

(a) Overtime at the end of regulation (74-74).

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1. Panathinaïkós BC

16

13

3

1218

1134

29

2. ASVEL Basket

16

12

4

1225

1188

28

3. KK Smelt Olimpija

16

10

6

1219

1119

26

4. CB Caja San Fernando

16

7

9

1203

1194

23

5. EB Pau-Orthez

16

6

10

1240

1251

22

6. MBK Dynamo

16

3

13

1140

1310

19

 

GROUP H

Competition Day 1 (9-01-1997) / Competition Day 4 (6-02-1997)

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen - Efes Pilsen SK

72-73 (37-30) (*)

91-68 (42-36) (*)

KK Croatia Osiguranje Split - KK Partizan

76-75 (47-40)

71-82 (34-27)

FC Barcelona - Kinder Virtus Bologna

73-72 (48-39)

92-103 (40-51)

Competition Day 2 (16-01-1997) / Competition Day 5 (13-02-1997)

Efes Pilsen SK - KK Croatia Osiguranje Split

74-64 (32-23) (*)

78-56 (36-27) (*)

KK Partizan - FC Barcelona

91-87 (51-35) (*)

75-73 (38-28) (*)

Kinder Virtus Bologna - TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

90-100 (41-53) (*)

85-79 (42-39)

Competition Day 3 (23-01-1997) / Competition Day 6 (20-02-1997)

FC Barcelona - Efes Pilsen SK

69-67 (36-30) (*)

96-70 (43-34) (*)

TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen - KK Partizan

70-81 (29-41)

89-76 (44-36)

KK Croatia Osiguranje Split - Kinder Virtus Bologna

68-70 (32-35)

73-57 (40-23)

* Games played a day before the reference date for each competition day.

 

FINAL STANDING

P

W

L

F

A

Pts.

1. Efes Pilsen SK

16

12

4

1250

1156

28

2. KK Partizan

16

9

7

1257

1228

25

3. FC Barcelona

16

8

8

1244

1225

24

4. Kinder Virtus Bologna

16

7

9

1274

1259

23

5. KK Croatia Osiguranje Split

16

7

9

1055

1124

23

6. TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen

16

2

14

1175

1312

18

 

 

1/8 FINAL

(best of 3 games: 6-03-1997 / 11-03-1997 / 13-03-1997; same color means same home court)

2F-3G (1): KK Cibona - KK Smelt Olimpija

61-58 (29-29)

69-66 (39-37)

61-62 (33-28)

1E-4H (2): Stefanel Olimpia Milano - Kinder Virtus Bologna

67-59 (37-28)

83-76 (44-40)

78-76 (40-34)

2H-3E (3): KK Partizan - Olympiakós BC

71-81 (36-41)

60-61 (24-27)

69-74 (36-45)

1G-4F (4): Panathinaïkós BC - Limoges CSP

68-67 (37-30)

55-70 (23-31)

 

2E-3H (5): Alba Berlin BT - FC Barcelona

77-95 (41-53)

72-62 (33-12)

 

1F-4G (6): Teamsystem F. Bologna - CB Caja San Fernando

73-70 (46-35) (a)

75-79 (30-42)

 

2G-3F (7): ASVEL Basket - CB Estudiantes

97-74 (43-33) (a)

79-77 (44-41)

75-71 (36-39)

1H-4E (8): Efes Pilsen SK - Maccabi Elite SC

76-67 (43-36)

78-65 (33-30)

84-69 (42-29)

(a) Games played on 5-03-1997.

 

 

1/4 FINAL

(best of 3 games: 27-03-1997 / 1-04-1997 / 3-04-1997; same color means same home court)

2-1 (A): Stefanel Olimpia Milano - KK Smelt Olimpija

94-90 (43-40)

73-69 (34-26)

61-77 (31-29)

4-3 (B): Panathinaïkós BC - Olympiakós BC

49-69 (29-30)

65-57 (37-39)

 

6-5 (C): Teamsystem Fortitudo Bologna - FC Barcelona

70-65 (37-33)

75-73 (48-32)

62-87 (32-45)

8-7 (D): Efes Pilsen SK - ASVEL Basket

87-71 (41-32)

80-70 (36-40)

57-62 (38-33)

 

 

FINAL STAGE (Roma, Italy)

 

1/2 FINAL

(22-04-1997)

A-B: KK Smelt Olimpija - Olympiakós BC

65-74 (32-37)

C-D: FC Barcelona - ASVEL Basket

77-70 (38-36)

 

PLACES 3-4

(24-04-1997)

KK Smelt Olimpija - ASVEL Basket

86-79 (54-35)

 

 

FINAL

VENUE: Palaeur (Roma)

DATE: 24-04-1997 (20:30 h)

ATTENDANCE: 12.500

REFEREES: Carl Jungebrand (FIN), Romualdas Brazauskas (LIT)

FOULED OUT: Fassoulas (39’) / Rivas (26’), Dueñas (37’), Andreu (40’)

TOP SCORER: David Rivers (26)

MVP: David Rivers

[Incidents: The game was delayed 15 minutes over official tip-off time (the actual starting time was 20:45 h) because a glass backboard was broken during the consolation final and it had to be replaced.]

Olympiakós BC - FC Barcelona

73-58 (31-29)

Olympiakós BC (coach: Dušan Ivković)

 

2P

3P

FT

Rbds

Blck

Balls

As

PF

Min

Pts.

A

M

A

M

A

M

Def

Of

ST

TO

# David Rivers

9

6

3

1

14

11

5

1

-

3

5

3

3

39

26

# Georgios Sigalas

2

-

6

2

2

1

3

1

1

1

1

2

4

27

7

# Franko Nakić

3

-

1

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

2

13

-

# Dragan Tarlać

8

1

-

-

14

9

6

8

3

1

2

1

3

35

11

# Panagiotis Fassoulas

5

2

-

-

3

2

2

2

2

1

-

1

5

31

6

Efthymis Bakatsias

-

-

-

-

2

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

2

1

Dimitris Papanikolaou

6

3

2

1

4

2

2

2

-

1

1

-

1

12

11

Nassos Galakteros

-

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

Milan Tomić

2

2

3

1

2

2

4

-

-

-

-

1

1

31

9

Christian Welp

3

1

-

-

-

-

-

1

-

-

1

1

2

9

2

TOTAL

38

15

16

5

41

28

24

15

6

8

10

9

21

200

73

 

FC Barcelona (coach: Aíto García Reneses)

 

2P

3P

FT

Rbds

Blck

Balls

As

PF

Min

Pts.

A

M

A

M

A

M

Def

Of

ST

TO

# Saša Ðorđević

9

2

2

-

2

2

4

-

-

2

4

7

3

32

6

# Xavi Fernández

-

-

1

-

-

-

1

-

-

-

3

-

1

14

-

# Artūras Karnišovas

3

1

4

3

3

3

3

1

-

1

2

-

2

30

14

# Andrés Jiménez

11

7

1

-

4

2

5

4

-

2

1

2

4

30

16

# Ramón Rivas

4

3

-

-

-

-

3

1

-

-

1

1

5

16

6

Rafael Jofresa

5

3

3

1

1

-

1

1

-

-

-

1

2

17

9

Roger Esteller

3

-

3

1

2

-

-

-

-

-

1

1

4

23

3

Quique Andreu

4

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1

2

-

5

17

2

Manel Bosch

-

-

-

-

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

-

-

5

-

Roberto Dueñas

3

1

-

-

2

-

-

-

2

-

1

-

5

16

2

TOTAL

42

18

14

5

14

7

19

7

2

6

15

12

31

200

58

RESUMEN (SUMMARY)

Al igual que el año anterior, el Barcelona volvió a fracasar en su intento por conquista la Euroliga, el único título europeo que falta en sus vitrinas, y de nuevo ante un equipo griego. Pero si entonces la polémica jugada final (tapón ilegal de Vranković a Montero en los últimos segundos) sirvió para desviar la atención, en esta ocasión el Barça no pudo recurrir a ningún argumento para justificar su absoluta escasez de ideas y recursos para afrontar una gran final. El equipo catalán en ningún momento se metió en el partido, y siempre fue a remolque de un Olympiakós que, bajo la sabia dirección de su base David Rivers, controló en todo momento el ritmo de juego.

 

Ðorđević, acostumbrado a jugar bajo la presión de una gran final, no estuvo en ningún momento a la altura de las circunstancias, muy nervioso y fallón para un jugador de su categoría. Pero es que sus compañeros tampoco tuvieron una gran actuación. Parecían juveniles frente a un curtido y experimentado equipo griego. El Barça fue un equipo roto que ofreció una imagen lamentable.

 

Le costará mucho al barcelonismo olvidar esta humillante derrota por 15 puntos de diferencia —la más amplia en una final desde 1963— porque, además de ver cómo su equipo ofrecía una paupérrima actuación y cómo la relación entre Aíto y Ðorđević se deterioraba irremisiblemente, su mal fario en la Copa de Europa continuaba acrecentándose.

 

En lo que fue la final en sí, el inicio estuvo plagado de errores por parte de ambos conjuntos (una nefasta serie de 0 de 10 lanzamientos en el Olympiakós y numerosas pérdidas de balón por parte del Barcelona). Tras una ventaja inicial de los hombres de Aíto (2-9), David Rivers tiró de galones en el campeón griego, y diez puntos suyos llevaron el primer empate al luminoso (18-18, min. 14). Sin solución de continuidad, Fassoulas daba la primera ventaja al Olympiakós con una jugada de canasta y tiro libre adicional (21-18). A partir de ese momento se entró en una fase de igualdad en el marcador, con cortas ventajas de unos y otros, aunque el Barcelona estaba yendo claramente de más a menos, y esto se puso en evidencia aún más en la segunda mitad.

 

A los tres minutos y medio de la reanudación, un triple de Sigalas otorgaba la máxima diferencia al Olympiakós (39-29), ante un Barcelona que no daba la impresión de poder reaccionar. Ni siquiera la zona 2-3 ordenada por Aíto tras la eliminación por personales de Rivas en el minuto 26 pareció funcionar. Pese a que ambos equipos continuaban prodigando los fallos en ataque, el cuadro de Ivković jugaba con la tranquilidad de tener un cómodo colchón de ventaja. Además, el juego interior de Tarlać causaba estragos en los hombres altos del Barça, que se fueron cargando de faltas personales, y el conjunto griego comenzó a dominar claramente los rebotes (24 frente a 12 del Barcelona en esta segunda mitad). Tras lograr una nueva máxima diferencia (60-43, min. 35), el Olympiakós, de la mano de un Rivers que controló el ritmo del partido a su antojo, no tuvo ningún problema para lograr la victoria ante la inoperancia total y absoluta del Barcelona.

 

 

ROSTERS (FINAL FOUR)

(Numbers in blue indicate the 10 players registered for the Final Four)

Olympiakós BC (Ολυμπιακός BC)

FC Barcelona

4. Efthymis Bakatsias (Ευθύμης Μπακατσιάς) (PG) GRE

5. Georgios Sigalas (Γιώργος Σιγάλας) (G) GRE

6. Evric Gray (F) USA

6. Willie Anderson (F) USA

7. Dimitris Papanikolaou (Δημήτρης Παπανικολάου) (F) GRE

8. Nassos Galakteros (Νάσος Γαλακτερός) (F) GRE

9. Franko Nakić (Φράνκο Νάκιτς) (F) GRE

10. Panagiotis Fassoulas (Παναγιώτης Φασούλας) (C) GRE

11. Milan Tomić (Μίλαν Τόμιτς) (PG) GRE

12. Dragan Tarlać (Ντράγκαν Τάρλατς) (C) GRE

13. Christian Welp (C) GER

14. Vassilis Soulis(Βασίλης Σούλης) (C) GRE

14. Anatolij Zhurbenko (Анатолий Журбенко) (C)* GRE

14. Aleksej Savrasenko (Алексей Саврасенко) (C)* GRE

15. David Rivers (PG) USA

COACH: Dušan Ivković YUG

* The Russian centers Zhurbenko and Savrasenko adopted Greek citizenship (the latter even changed his official passport name to “Alexis Amanatidis”).

4. Andrés Jiménez Fernández (PF) (6-06-1962) SPA

5. Rafael Jofresa Prats (PG) (2-09-1966) SPA

6. Roger Esteller Juyol (G) (6-07-1972) SPA

7. Juan Ramón Rivas Contreras (C) (16-03-1966) PUR

8. Enrique “Quique” Andreu Balbuena (C) (20-10-1967) SPA

8. Víctor Alemany Sayós (PF) (5-05-1975) SPA

8. Oriol Junyent Monuera (C) (1-07-1976) SPA

9. Xavier “Xavi” Fernández Fernández (F) (12-02-1968) SPA

10. Aleksandar “Saša” Ðorđević (PG) (26-08-1967) YUG

10. José Antonio Montero Botanch (PG) (3-01-1965) SPA

11. Salvador “Salva” Díez Zapata (PG) (21-04-1963) SPA

11. Josep Manel “Chema” Marcos Maestre (PG) (7-01-78) SPA

12. Manel Bosch Bifet (F) (19-09-1967) SPA

13. Roberto Dueñas Hernández (C) (1-11-1975) SPA

13. Andrej Fetisov (Андрей Фетисов) (PF) (19-01-1972)* RUS

13. Terrah Jerrod Mustaf (PF) (28-10-1969)* USA

14. Artūras Karnišovas (F) (27-04-1971) LIT

Francisco Javier “Fran” Rueda Naranjo (F) (9-03-1976) SPA

COACH: Alejandro “Aíto” García Reneses (20-12-1946) SPA

* Fetisov was cut on 30-11-1996 and replaced by Mustaf.

KK Smelt Olimpija

ASVEL Basket

4. Roman Horvat (F) SVN

5. Vladimer Stepania (ვლადიმერ სტეფანია) (C) GEO

6. Jaka Daneu (G) SVN

7. Slavko Duščak (G) SVN

8. Marijan Kraljevič (C) SVN

9. Gregor Hafnar (F) SVN

10. Dušan Hauptman (PG) SVN

11. Marko Tušek(PF) SVN

12. Marko Milič(F) SVN

13. Radoslav Nesterovič (C) SVN

13. Ivica Jurkovič (PF) SVN (x)

14. Arriel McDonald (PG) USA

15. Darren Henrie (G) USA

COACH: Zmago Sagadin SVN

(x) Jurkovič replaced Nesterovič in the consolation final.

4. Delaney Rudd (PG) USA

5. Karim Ouattara (C) FRA

6. Thomas Andrieux (G) FRA

7. Olivier Bourgain (F) FRA

8. Laurent Pluvy (PG) FRA

9. Jimmy Nébot (PF) FRA

10. Alain Digbeu (G) FRA

11. Brian Howard (F) USA

12. Rémi Rippert (C) FRA

13. Georges Adams (G) FRA

14. Jim Bilba (PF) FRA

15. Ronnie Smith (C) USA

Innocent Guédegbé (PG) FRA

Alexandre Dudouet (F) FRA

Damien d’Amico (PF) FRA

Benoît Tressières (PF) FRA

Gautier Rouchon (PF) FRA

COACH: Gregor Beugnot FRA

 

FINAL FOUR MVP: David Rivers (OLY)

 

FINAL FOUR TEAM

David Rivers (OLY)

Dimitris Papanikolaou (OLY)

Brian Howard (ASV)

Andrés Jiménez (BAR)

Dragan Tarlać (OLY)

 

 

::::: GAME DETAILS (FINAL STAGE) :::::

 

::::: GAME DETAILS (SPANISH CLUBS) :::::

 

::::: ROSTERS (SPANISH CLUBS) :::::

 

 

 

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