The competition started showing that this year was going to be difficult for the big theorists. Teams of the calibre of Maccabi, Armani Milan and Bayern Munich were knocked out at the first hurdle, and the reigning champions could not secure a place in the next round until the final matchday. CSKA and Fenerbahce, on the other hand, were very solid

GROUP A
FENERBAHCE (8-2)
KHIMKI (5-5)
RED STAR (5-5)
REAL MADRID (5-5)
BAYERN MUNICH (4-6)
STRASBOURG (3-7)

GROUP B
OLYMPICS (8-2)
ANADOLU EFES (6-4)
LABOUR KUTXA (6-4)
CEDEVITA (4-6)
LIMOGES (3-7)
ARMANI MILAN (3-7)

GROUP C
LOKOMOTIV KUBAN (8-2)
BARCELONA (6-4)
PANATHINAIKOS (6-4)
ZALGIRIS KAUNAS (5-5)
KARSIYAKA (3-7)
ZIELONA GORA (2-8)

GROUP D
CSKA MOSCOW (9-1)
UNICAJA MALAGA (7-3)
BROSE BASKETS (6-4)
DARUSSAFAKA DOGUS (4-6)
MACCABI (4-6)
SASSARI (0-10)

As always, the TOP16 was the most exciting regular phase of the regular season. In Group E, Fenerbahce maintained their high standard and finished top of the standings. The Lokomotiv finished second, tied with Panathinaikos, and in fourth place the Red Star sneaked in, leaving out teams like Anadolu Efes or Unicaja. In group F, CSKA continued their dominance, closely followed by Laboral Kutxa, Barcelona finished third, and Real Madrid, again, suffered until the last second to qualify for the playoffs. Something that Olympiacos or Khimki could not say.

GROUP E
FENERBAHCE (11-3)
LOKOMOTIV (9-5)
PANATHINAIKOS (9-5)
RED STAR (7-7)
ANADOLU EFES (7-7)
DARUSSAFAKA DOGUS (5-9)
UNICAJA MALAGA (4-10)
CEDEVITE (4-10)

GROUP F
CSKA MOSCOW (10-4)
LABOUR KUTXA (9-5)
BARCELONA (8-6)
REAL MADRID (7-7)
KHIMKI (7-7)
BROSE BASKETS (7-7)
OLYMPICS (6-8)
ZALGIRIS KAUNAS (2-12)

The playoffs, unlike the rest of the year, were not as competitive, with three of the four playoffs ending in the fast lane.

Fenerbahce showed the shortcomings of this year’s reigning champions Real Madrid, and defeated them without hesitation (3-0). It was not only the three defeats, but the forcefulness with which the Turks got them.

(75-69); (100-78); (63-75)

 

CSKA fulfilled their prediction of favourites against Red Star. For the Serbs it was already a success to be among the top eight in Europe, and they could do little against the Russian battleship, even though they always came out on top (3-0).

(84-74); (77-76); (71-78)

 

 

Laboral Kutxa, one of the great entertainers of the year, also showed their high level at the crossings. The Panathinaikos, which was destined to be a great project although it never fulfilled expectations, was surpassed by the Basques (3-0).

 

(84-68); (82-78); (75-84)

 

 

The Lokomotiv vs Barcelona was the only playoff played, having to wait until the fifth game to know the winner. The Catalans had the opportunity to sendenced in the Palau, but let themselves be overcome and the Russians fulfilled their home condition in the final match (3-2).

(66-61); (66-92); (82-70); (80-92); (81-67)

 

 

After the playoffs we reached the four final that this year was held in Berlin. On the one hand we have a whole Russian duel between CSKA MOSCOW and LOKOMOTIV KUBAN, on the other, FENERBAHCE against LABORAL KUTXA. Two favourites against two aspirants.

In the first semifinal we lived the Russian duel. CSKA always maintained their advantage, controlling the situation with De Colo. Lokomotiv raced their options until the end, but in the last few possessions CSKA tempered their nerves and were just a finalist.

CSKA Mosow 88
*De Colo – 30p, 4a, 3r.
*Higgins – 7p, 2r, 1a.
*Kurbanov – 4p, 7r, 1a.
*Vorontsevich – 9p, 4r, 3t.
*Hines – 8p, 7r, 3a.
Teodosic – 8p, 6a, 1r.
Khryapa – 9p, 3a.
Fridzon – 13p, 1r, 1br.
Jackson – 0p.

Lokomotiv Kuban 81
*Delaney – 26p, 4a, 3r.
*Voronov – 0p.
*Broekhoff – 10p, 5r, 1a.
*Claver – 2p, 5r, 2a.
*Randolph – 13p, 11r, 2t.
Singleton – 6p, 5r, 1a.
Draper – 17p, 4a, 1r.
Janning – 7p, 1a, 1br.
Bykov – 0p.
Zubkov – 0p.

 

In the other semi-final Fenerbahce suffered from the brazenness of Laboral Kutxa. The Turks quickly took advantage, but Baskonia tuteó the favorite at all times, even a few minutes from the end had their chances of victory, but in the end Fenerbahce reacted. Baskonia had their chance with a last shot by Adams that did not enter, and the match went to an extra time, which was dominated from start to finish by the Turks.

Fenerbahce 88
*Dixon – 3p, 5r, 4a.
*Bogdanovic – 18p, 6r, 3a.
*Datome – 15p, 7r, 2a.
*Antic – 8p, 7r, 2a.
*Udoh – 14p, 4t, 2r.
Sloukas – 13p, 7a, 5r.
Vesely – 14p, 3r, 1a.
Kalinic – 0p, 2r, 1a.
Hickman – 3p, 1r.

Laboral Kutxa 77
*Adams – 19p, 7a, 2r.
*Hanga – 10p, 5r, 1br.
*Bertans – 2p, 2r, 1a.
*Tillie – 13p, 3r, 3br.
*Planinic – 0p, 2r.
Bourousis – 22p, 10r, 2a.
James – 6p, 5a, 2r.
Blazic – 5p, 2r, 1a.
Causeur – 0p.
Diop – 0p.

 

Eight years after their last Euroleague title, CSKA Moscow won their seventh European Cup by beating Istanbul’s Fenerbahce Ülker 101-96 in a match that brought together all the ingredients of emotion and good play that the fan expects from a final. After a match that he controlled for the most part and that at half-time seemed little less than sentenced, with a 20-point lead (50-30), the Moscow outfit relaxed excessively and saw how Fenerbahce not only cut the differences, but even took the lead in the final instants. In the final second, a basket after offensive rebound from Khrjapa allowed CSKA to force an unlikely extra time at half-time and prevented what would have been a historic comeback in the continental finals. Already in extra time, Dimitris Itoudis’s side managed to weather the strong start of the Turkish side, and with Nando de Colo as leader (the French base was named MVP of the finals) they emerged as the new European champions.

The match started with the tension of a final, but also with quality actions of both teams that foreshadowed a spectacular clash. CSKA had the upper hand during the first few minutes thanks to their outside success, with four trebles scored, but Gigi Datome, who scored eight points, kept the Turkish side in the ointment (22-20 at the end of the first quarter). In the second period, the Russian defence redeployed their full arsenal, with automatic changes in each block, and drowned the attack of Fenerbahce, who was only able to score a field basket (a triple by Bobby Dixon). CSKA’s deluxe outer trio of Nando de Colo, Cory Higgins and Miloš Teodosić led the Moscow attack and circulated the ball wisely. After a spectacular 28-10 partial, Dimitris Itoudis’ men withdrew to the dressing room with a comfortable 20-point lead (50-30).

But anyone who knows the teams led by Serbian Željko Obradović knows that they have the winning gene in their blood and that no advantage is definite. The staging of the Turkish squad after the break was completely different, with greater harshness in defense and a pressure to all track that put CSKA in trouble and forced several ball losses. However, this defensive overexertion did not translate into the scoreboard for the offensive error of Fenerbahçe, and once the Russian team could overcome the pressure of their rivals found a way to return to play with clear ideas in the 5 against 5. Thus, the third period ended with a clear 69-53.

Željko’s side Obradović continued to believe in their chances at the start of the last quarter, and thanks to their prodigious ability in the offensive rebound (with a colossal Ekpe Udoh in this facet) was finally able to reduce their disadvantage below the psychological barrier of ten points (74-66, min. 35). The elimination of Andrej Vorontsevich and the overstretched staff of several key players added to CSKA’s unease as they entered the final stretch of the game. Eight consecutive points from Bobby Dixon tied the match at 81 with 40 seconds to play. After a steal, Kostas Sloukas put the Turkish side ahead with two free kicks with 21 seconds remaining and Fenerbahce fans began to believe that their team would make a historic comeback in continental finals. With three seconds remaining, Nando de Colo failed to score, but Viktor Khrjapa caught the rebound and scored to force extra time. In the extra period, CSKA did not break down despite the Turkish side’s strong start, and with De Colo showing his leading character and cold-bloodedness in several decisive moves, they regained the Euroleague.

CSKA Moscow 101
*De Colo – 22p, 7a, 3br.
*Higgins – 12p, 3a, 1r.
*Kurbanov – 4p, 3r.
*Vorontsevich – 11p, 3r, 2t.
*Hines – 15p, 4r, 2a.
Teodosic – 19p, 7a, 5r.
Khryapa – 10p, 5r, 2t.
Jackson – 8p, 1r, 1a.
Fridzon – 0p.
Korobkov – 0p, 2r, 1a.
Kulagin – 0p.
Nichols – 0p, 1r.

Fenerbahce 96
*Sloukas – 10p, 2r, 1br.
*Bogdanovic – 6p, 3r, 3a.
*Kalinic – 3p, 3r, 2a.
*Datome – 16p, 5r, 3a.
*Vesely – 7p, 5r, 1a.
Udoh – 16p, 11r, 4t.
Dixon – 17p, 4a, 2r.
Antic – 16p, 1r.
Hickman – 5p.
Mahmutoglou – 0p.