After losing in 1994 and 1995, Baskonia finally won the 1996 Cup Winners’ Cup title, beating PAOK Thessaloniki Stojakovic and Prelevic in the final in front of their own fans (88-81). Rivas was imperial near the rim, well supported by Perasovic and Nicola

Semi-finals
Dynamo MBK – Baskonia (0-2)
Zalgiris Kaunas – PAOK Thessaloniki (0-2)

The third time around, Taugrés finally won the much-desired European Cup in front of their own fans, after two successive final losses in 1994 and 1995. Rookie point guard Jordi Millera and Puerto Rican center Ramon Rivas (31 points and 14 rebounds) were the key players in the victory of the Alava team that, after overcoming a bad start of the game, was able to impose in the second half its best game against a PAOK that depended too much on Branislav Prelević (34 points).

Baskonia 88
*Millera – 9p, 6r
*Perasovic – 17p, 4r
*Nicola – 19p, 4t
*Reyes – 7p, 4r
*Rivas – 31p, 14r
Cazorla – 0p, 1r
Garbajosa – 5p, 2br
López – 0p

PAOK Thessaloniki 81
*Boudouris – 10p, 2a
*Prelevic – 34p, 5r
*Stojakovic – 20p, 4r
*Rentzias – 12p, 3r
*Garrett – 0p, 3t
Nikolaidis – 0p, 1r
Balogiannis – 3p, 1r
Tsekos – 0p, 1r
Giannoulis – 2p, 1r