The competition suffers three changes, the first is that the most important teams are exempt from a first crossing going directly to the round of 16 in direct qualifying format to round of matches. The second that eight teams qualify for the league, two more than in the past and the last and most important change is that from this year after the league no longer qualify the first two but the first four will qualify for a final four between them. Final format that is still valid today
In 1980 the Olympic Games were held in Moscow, where the United States was boycotted. After the previous phases to the fight for the medals, in the fight for the Bronze they faced the local Soviet Union against Spain, with victory for the first by (117-94). In the final Yugoslavia defeated Italy (86-77). A unique Olympic Gold in history for the «plavi»
In 1980, the Cup Winners’ Cup final was held in Milan, where everything was left at home because two Italian teams competed. In the end, Varese beat Cantú (90-88) in a very even match that needed some extra time to know the winner
