When Obradovic meets Maljkovic, something great happens on the stage of the European basketball. Therefore, I have many reasons to believe that the second semifinal of the 2007 Euroleague Final Four is more than a matter of history. I think that it is matter of...mythology! The game between Panathinaikos and Tau Ceramica brings two European basketball "barons" to OAKA's court. Two great coaches, two different styles, one word: success! Both Zots Obradovic and Boza Maljkovic have the know-how in creating and managing great basketball teams. They have changed the game and dominated the Euroleague in an impressive way.

So far, both Obradovic and Maljkovic have won 39 titles between them, with 9 of the 19 Euroleague trophies in the Final Four era included! Maljkovic, who is eight years older than his compatriot, came up big at the end of the 80's when he presented the "total basketball" of Yugoplastika Split. The current coach of Tau led the "zutko" in back-to-back titles (Munich 1989, Zaragoza 1990), before leaving for Barcelona to play a third straight final, which was a big disappointment for him. Barcelona lost the title game to his old team, Split, in Paris…

Maljkovic returned to the throne in 1993, in Piraeus, Greece, where his new French team, Limoges, surprised everybody with their defense-oriented game... more