2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup

2001–02 FKC 2003–04 EuroChallenge2003–04 FIBA Europe Cup 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup 2002–03 GRE Aris (1st title) POL Prokom Trefl Sopot LAT Ventspils SCG Hemofarm Will Solomon USA BUL Todor Stoykov 24.0 BUL Priest Lauderdale 12.0 LAT Kristaps Valters 7.3 The 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup was the first edition of Europe's transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs, the FIBA Europe Champions Cup, following the abolushment of the FIBA Korać Cup and FIBA Saporta Cup competitions and the launch of the ULEB Cup.[ http://www.fibaeurope.com/default.asp?cid= dead https://web.archive.org/web/20040824175519/http://www.fibaeurope.com/Default.asp?cid= 2004-08-24 FIBA Europe{5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&compID={0D93D753-CAD5-4604-A251-1402A6361BF3}] It was FIBA's top tier competition. In this first edition, it was actually the 3rd tier level on the European club basketball pyramid, featuring 15 domestic league champions. Except Lithuania, the champions were only from the countries, which wasn't represented in the Euroleague or the ULEB Cup. The season consisted of 64 teams. The Greek club Aris Thessaloniki won the title, after beating the Polish club Prokom Trefl Sopot in the Final, which was held at Alexandreio Melathron, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The competition, which was initially advertised as FIBA's attempt to revive the FIBA European Champions Cup (now known as the EuroLeague). The competition attracted 15 national domestic league champions, 5 runners-up, and teams from 30 European national leagues, which represented it as a truly pan-European event. Several teams like Split, Aris, PAOK, Lietuvos Rytas, Kalev, Fribourg, Planja, Academic, Levski, APOEL, Ventspils, Rabotnički, and Porto had played for years in FIBA's former Champions Cup (1958–2001). Apart from Lietuvos Rytas and UNICS, no other participant of the FIBA Europe Champions Cup finished higher in their national championship in the previous season than any of the participants of the 2002-03 season of the Euroleague or the ULEB Cup. The brand new competition was also joined by second division runners-up from Italy, Russia and Spain, and the newly promoted champion of the Israeli Second Division. The league was unable to make a good commercial impact, and was then dropped to being the European 4th-tier level in the following 2003–04 season, as FIBA launched the FIBA Europe League to replace it. Teams Country Teams Clubs GRE Greece 5 Panionios Freddoccino (5th) Maroussi Telestet (6th) Peristeri (7th) PAOK (8th) Aris (10th) POR Portugal 5 Portugal Telecom (1st) Ovarense Aerosoles (2nd) Oliveirense (3rd) Porto Ferpinta (4th) CAB Madeira (13th) POL Poland 4 Prokom Trefl Sopot (2nd) Gipsar Stal Ostrów (3d) Anwil Włocławek (4th) Polonia Warszawa (5th) RUS Russia 4 UNICS (2nd) Avtodor Saratov (4th) Khimki (8th) EvrAz (2nd, SL B) BEL Belgium 3 Quatro Bree (3rd) Dexia Mons-Hainaut (4th) Euphony Liège (5th) BUL Bulgaria 3 Yambolgaz-92 (1st) Lukoil Academic (2nd) Levski Sofia (3d) FRA France 3 JDA Dijon (6th) SIG Strasbourg (9th) SLUC Nancy (8th) ISR Israel 3 Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (3d) Bnei HaSharon Hapoel Tel Aviv (1st, A2) LTU Lithuania 3 Lietuvos rytas (1st) Alita (3d) Šiauliai (4th) BIH Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 Feal Široki (1st) Sloboda Dita Tuzla (2nd) HRV Croatia 2 Split CO (9th) Zagreb (3rd) CYP Cyprus 2 APOEL (1st) Keravnos Keo (2nd) CZE Czech Republic 2 Opava (1st) Mlékárna Kunín (2nd) EST Estonia 2 Kalev Tallinn (1st) Tartu ÜSK Rock (2nd) LAT Latvia 2 Ventspils (1st) Skonto (2nd) SCG Serbia and Montenegro 2 Hemofarm (4th) NIS Vojvodina (6th) ESP Spain 2 Ourense (3d, A2) Tenerife (4th, A2) TUR Turkey 2 Türk Telekom (5th) Pinar Karşıyaka (8th) UKR Ukraine 2 Odesa (1st) Kyiv (2nd) AUT Austria 1 Montan Bears Kapfenberg (1st) BLR Belarus 1 Grodno-93 (1st) DEN Denmark 1 BF Copenhagen (1st) ENG England 1 Birmingham Bullets (9th) MKD Macedonia 1 Feršped Rabotnički (1st) HUN Hungary 1 Atomerőmű (1st) ITA Italy 1 Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia (2nd, A2) NED Netherlands 1 EiffelTowers Nijmegen (2nd) SVN Slovenia 1 Geoplin Slovan (4th) SWE Sweden 1 Plannja Basket (1st) SUI Switzerland 1 Benetton Fribourg (2nd) Draw and promotion The participating teams were announced on 21 July 2002. The draw took place on the 30th July, 2002, in Munich. FIBA appointed legendary former players who had played in the FIBA Champions Cup (1958-2001) to promote the new competition: Sarunas Marciulionis (Managing Director of the Northern Conference) Predrag Danilovic (member of the Board of FIBA Europe) Kosta Illiev (Managing Director of the Southern Conference) José Antonio Montero (Managing Director of the Western Conference Alexander Volkov (member of the Board of FIBA Europe) Competition system 64 teams from countries affiliated to FIBA Europe enter a Regional Qualifying Round (RQR), distributed in three major conferences (North, South and West) according to their geographical location. Within each conference, the teams are further divided into groups and play 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 are 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 RQR group winners and runners-up, together with the best third-placed teams, advance to Pan-European Phase (PEP). Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern and Southern conferences participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion- in the case of the Northern conference, the final four doubles as NEBL championship (North European Basketball League). The 24 teams qualified for the PEP are divided into six groups of four teams each playing a Round-robin. The group winners, together with the two best runners-up, qualify for a quarterfinal play-off (x-pairings, home and away games). The four winners of the quarterfinal play-off qualify for the final stage (Final Four), played at a predetermined venue. The winner gets a wild card to participate in 2003–04 FIBA Europe League. Conference North The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002. The winner was also considered the champion of the 2002-03 North European Basketball League. + Key to colors     Top two places in each group advance to PEP     Eliminated Group A TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. RUS UNICS 10 9 1 896 724 +172 2. LAT Ventspils 10 7 3 914 797 +117 3. LTU Šiauliai 10 4 6 821 886 −65 3–1 (+28) 4. POL Gipsar Stal Ostrów 10 4 6 805 837 −32 2–2 (+6) 5. CZE Opava 10 4 6 829 874 −45 1–3 (+24) 6. SWE Plannja Basket 10 2 8 767 914 −147 Group B TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. POL Anwil Włocławek 8 8 0 666 537 +129 2. UKR Odesa 8 4 4 655 686 −31 3. DEN Copenhagen 8 3 5 586 579 +7 1–1 (+8) 4. RUS EvrAz 8 3 5 567 589 −22 1–1 (−8) 5. EST Tartu ÜSK Rock 8 2 6 589 672 −45 Group C TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. POL Prokom Trefl Sopot 10 10 0 951 718 +233 2. LAT Skonto 10 7 3 975 882 +93 3. RUS Avtodor Saratov 10 6 4 881 903 −22 4. CZE Mlékárna Kunín 10 3 7 895 985 −90 5. BLR Grodno-93 10 2 8 764 876 −112 1–1 (+5) 6. LTU Alita 10 2 8 819 921 −102 1–1 (−5)Group D TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. LTU Lietuvos rytas 10 10 0 938 670 +268 2. RUS Khimki 10 6 4 875 830 +45 3. POL Polonia Warszawa 10 5 5 830 847 −17 4. UKR Kyiv 10 4 6 859 901 −42 5. HUN Atomerőmű 10 3 7 770 883 −113 6. EST Kalev 10 2 8 706 847 −141 Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion Semifinals January 14, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius Prokom Trefl Sopot POL 80–114 UNICS RUS 2 Lietuvos rytas LTU 94–63 Anwil Włocławek POL 1 |} 3rd place game January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius Anwil Włocławek POL 78–65 Prokom Trefl Sopot POL 1 |} Final January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius Lietuvos rytas LTU 90–93 UNICS RUS 2 |} Conference South The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002. + Key to colors     Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP     Eliminated Group A TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. GRE Peristeri 10 9 1 844 718 +126 2. ISR Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 10 7 3 878 826 +52 3. BUL Yambolgaz-92 10 5 5 771 790 −19 4. SCG NIS Vojvodina 10 4 6 850 862 −12 1–1 (+16) 5. TUR Pinar Karşıyaka 10 4 6 792 815 −23 1–1 (−16) 6. MKD Feršped Rabotnički 10 1 9 747 871 −147 Group B TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. TUR Türk Telekom 10 8 2 801 749 +52 2. SCG Hemofarm 10 7 3 825 726 +99 1–1 (+14) 3. ISR Hapoel Tel Aviv 10 7 3 806 742 +64 1–1 (−14) 4. GRE Panionios Freddoccino 10 6 4 820 799 +21 5. BUL Levski Sofia 10 1 9 793 872 −79 1–1 (+1) 6. BIH Sloboda Dita 10 1 9 684 841 −157 1–1 (−1) Group C TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. GRE Aris 8 6 2 701 633 +68 2. ISR Bnei HaSharon 8 5 3 668 632 +36 1–1 (+12) 3. GRE Maroussi Telestet 8 5 3 731 694 +37 1–1 (−12) 4. HRV Split CO 8 2 6 679 752 −73 1–1 (+16) 5. CYP Keravnos Keo 8 2 6 567 635 −68 1–1 (−16)Group D TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. BUL Lukoil Academic 10 8 2 878 720 +158 2. GRE PAOK 10 7 3 858 778 +80 3. SVN Geoplin Slovan 10 6 4 753 705 +48 4. HRV Zagreb 10 4 6 783 790 −7 1–1 (+9) 5. BIH Feal Široki 10 4 6 772 848 −76 1–1 (−9) 6. CYP APOEL 10 1 9 644 847 −203 Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Southern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion Semifinals January 16, Universiada Hall, Sofia Peristeri GRE 84–86 Aris GRE 2 Lukoil Academic BUL 99–83 Türk Telekom TUR 1 |} 3rd place game January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia Türk Telekom TUR 86–70 Peristeri GRE 1 |} Final January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia Lukoil Academic BUL 81–80 Aris GRE 1 |} Conference West The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002. + Key to colors     Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP     Eliminated Group A TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. ESP Tenerife 10 9 1 804 732 +72 2. FRA JDA Dijon 10 6 4 829 776 +53 2–0 (+14) 3. ENG Birmingham Bullets 10 6 4 746 764 −18 0–2 (−14) 4. BEL Dexia Mons-Hainaut 10 5 5 806 791 +15 5. SUI Benetton Fribourg 10 2 8 690 776 −86 2–0 (+10) 6. POR Oliveirense 10 2 8 797 833 −36 0–2 (−10)Group B TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. FRA SIG Strasbourg 10 7 3 865 818 +47 2. ESP Ourense 10 6 4 910 861 +49 3. POR Ovarense Aerosoles 10 5 5 878 851 +27 1–1 (+13) 4. POR Portugal Telecom 10 5 5 819 827 −8 1–1 (−13) 5. AUT Montan Bears Kapfenberg 10 4 6 871 906 −35 6. BEL Euphony Liège 10 3 7 799 879 −80 Group C TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. NED EiffelTowers Nijmegen 10 8 2 856 794 +62 2. ITA Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia 10 7 3 858 838 +20 3. POR Porto Ferpinta 10 5 5 858 830 −18 2–0 (+14) 4. FRA SLUC Nancy 10 5 5 814 764 +50 0–2 (−14) 5. BEL Quatro Bree 10 3 7 770 848 −78 6. POR CAB Madeira 10 2 8 812 894 −82 Overall winners RUS UNICS (North) BUL PBC Academic (South) Pan-European phase The phase ran from February 2, 2003 to March 25, 2003. + Key to colors     Advance to Quarterfinals     Eliminated Group A TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. RUS UNICS 6 6 0 544 428 +116 2. UKR Odesa 6 3 3 522 557 −35 3. ISR Hapoel Jerusalem 6 2 4 511 525 −14 4. TUR Türk Telekom 6 1 5 478 545 −67 Group B TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. SCG Hemofarm 6 5 1 533 457 +76 2. LTU Lietuvos rytas 6 3 3 494 468 +26 3. LAT Skonto 6 2 4 530 567 −37 1–1 (+25) 4. GRE PAOK 6 2 4 470 535 −65 1–1 (−25) Group C TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. POL Prokom Trefl Sopot 6 5 1 499 463 +36 2. LAT Ventspils 6 3 3 531 480 +51 3. NED EiffelTowers Nijmegen 6 2 4 527 544 −17 1–1 (0) 4. ESP Ourense 6 2 4 450 520 −70 1–1 (0)Group D TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. FRA JDA Dijon 4 3 1 326 305 +21 2. POR Porto Ferpinta 4 2 2 300 317 −17 3. POL Anwil Włocławek 4 1 3 295 299 −4 Group E TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. GRE Aris 6 4 2 505 504 +1 1–1 (+8) 2. ISR Hapoel Tel Aviv 6 4 2 439 429 +10 1–1 (−8) 3. RUS Khimki 6 2 4 528 517 +11 1–1 (+14) 4. FRA SIG Strasbourg 6 2 4 459 481 −22 1–1 (−14)Group F TeamPldWLPFPADiffTie-break 1. BUL Lukoil Academic 6 5 1 550 483 +67 2. ESP Unelco Tenerife* 6 3 3 487 467 +20 3. ITA Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia 6 2 4 391 445 −54 2–0 (+27) 4. ISR Bnei HaSharon 6 2 4 418 451 −33 0–2 (−27) *In 2003, Tenerife CB signed a sponsorship contract with Unelco and adopted the commercial name "Unelco Tenerife CB". Quarterfinals The quarterfinals were two-legged ties determined on aggregate score. The first legs was played on April 8. All return legs were played on April 15. Aris GRE 158–150 Lukoil Academic BUL 91–73 67–77 1 Hapoel Tel Aviv ISR 127–138 Hemofarm SCG 52–56 75–82 2 JDA Dijon FRA 157–177 Prokom Trefl Sopot POL 70–74 87–103 2 Ventspils LAT 164–158 UNICS RUS 88–79 76–79 1 |} Final Four Semifinals May 2, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece. Ventspils LAT 57–79 Prokom Trefl Sopot POL 2 Hemofarm SCG 66–73 Aris GRE 2 |} 3rd place game May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece. Ventspils LAT 91–90 Hemofarm SCG 1 |} Final May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece. Aris GRE 84–83 Prokom Trefl Sopot POL 1 |} 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions CupGRE 100px Aris 1st title Final standings Team 15px GRE Aris 15px POL Prokom Trefl Sopot 15px LAT Ventspils 4. SCG Hemofarm See also 2002–03 Euroleague 2002–03 ULEB Cup 2002–03 FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup References Sources 2002–03 at Eurobasket.com Linguasport Statistics External links FIBA Champions Cup 2002 02-03 results and scoresheets Category:FIBA EuroCup Challenge FIBA