June 19, 2013
Friday, May 1, 2009


Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Final

Mike Batiste - PanathinaikosThe veteran Papaloukas draws a charge on Spanoulis, which is like finding a gold coin - in this case a new possession - for the Reds. Greer gets to the line, and it's 74-76 with 4 minutes left. Saras to the rescue, though. A great drive ups the lead and one of his patented triples makes it 76-81. But a guy named Papas is on the court too. He picks the pocket of Jasikevicius at one end, and calmly matched the triple at the other: 79-81 with 2 minutes left. Vujcic gets to the line now and hits 1 of 2, and Pekovic can only make the same: 80-82 with 1:27 to play. All the tension of the weeks leading up to this classic is still in the air with 90 seconds left! Amazing! Bourousis to the line after an offensive rebound. His first free throws bounces up and in, the second goes down smooth: 82-82 going into the final minute. Wow! Saras to Pekovic on a pick-'n'-roll, Greens ahead. Vujcic misses a three. No foul by the Reds. Pekovic's shot rolls out. The Reds go to Bourousis, who shot bounces up again, but out. Greens to final! If anyone doubted it's great to see a national rivalry in an international semifinal, the final answer is already given. Two immensely talented, entertaining teams have put on a show of uncommon quality. Even their devoted fans on both sides have to appreciate the great basketball of their opponent.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Minute 35

Batiste keeps one-upping everyone else, getting off the floor instantaneously for a new spectacular dunk. If that's not enough, Diamantidis makes a pass never seen before, from the floor under the basket, in a scrum, over several players to Saras in the corner for a triple. Unbelievable to see. The Greens go up 8 points, 65-73, and Olympiacos needs a timeout to keep a lid on with 7:30 left to play. A quiet minute is broken only by free throws from Halperin, before another timeout, out of which Vujcic drills a triple and Printezis buries free throws. It's suddenly down to 71-73 for the Greens and the Reds have answered again, and so does Spanoulis, with a no-doubt-about it triple. Nobody is giving up with 5 minutes left.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | After three quarters

Play of the game - maybe the season - followed by more heroics. Childress skies from the weak side like a swooping condor to slam a miss by Greer with both hands. Panathinaikos responds with a lob for a dunk by Batiste. Want more? Milos Teodosic comes out of nowhere to sink a gutsy triple. Then Saras matches it for the Greens. The beautiful game of European basketball at its best has lit up the third quarter of the second semifinal. One of its greatest practicioners, Jasikevicius, pumps in another from downtown. He channeled Michael Jordan by giving Teodosic a hip push before stopping on a dime to bury his shot. Saras feeds Batiste, who then swats a shot by Papaloukas out of bounds, but Bourousis buries a triple, 63-66 for the Greens after three quarters.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Minute 25

Lynn Greer - Olympiacos - Final Four Berlin 2009Papaloukas made one of his patented great passes to Printezis to start the second half, and then Greer made a pick-'n'-roll gem to Vujcic for a three-point play as Olympiacos seized its first lead right after halftime. The Reds' cheering section exploded, but Spanoulis made an acrobatic layup, Pekovic a jump-hook and Fotsis a triple to return the lead to Panathinaikos, 46-50. The battle was joined. If the fans seemed strangely quiet in the second quarter, that was no longer the case. Vujcic made two inside baskets around an impressive block by Childress of a Fotsis tip-in try. The score, 50-50, said it all about how even the game had become. Childress lifted his great game with a layup started at the circle and passing by three Panathinaikos defenders. Papaloukas found Vujcic for a reverse. What fun!

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Halftime

It took them the whole first half, but much like CSKA in the first game, Olympiacos made up consistent deficits to finally tie, 39-39, on a sweet drive by Papaloukas. The Panathinaikos defense was so apprehensive about his passing ability off a pick-'n'-roll that they left a lane to the hoop, where he scored alone with a classic layup in the next-to-last minute. Next, Printezis made it 41-41 before another amazing play inside for Panathinaikos, as Fotsis tipped in a bad miss by Perperoglou. It was at least the second fortunate basket by the Greens, but as they say, you create your own luck. The Reds didn't do that with Bouroussis open in the paint on the half's final play, so the Greens made it through the half without ever trailing, up 41-43 at the break.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Minute 15

Childress takes over guarding Spanoulis in the second quarter. The Greens are content to feed Pekovic inside, however, and his succession of inside baskets seem to keep the Greens in charge. Panathinaikos got lucky, too, as a tipped rebound by Vujcic fell into the hands of Batiste for a layup. With a few seven-point leads, control remained with the Greens until Greer, once again, lifted the Reds with a three-pointer. No one was expected to run away, but in terms of tone, the game seems very much in green hands so far.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | After 1 quarter

Childress is getting some help now from Lynn Greer, whose three-point play and three-pointer helps Olympiacos get back in the game. The Reds are on the verge of tying when a reverse layup by Childress is cancelled because he stepped on the baseline. Now Bouroussis got to the line on a foul by Pekovic, making it 21-22, but failing to tie with his second free throw. If anything, the crowd is a bit silenced by the intensity on the court. The Greens come back from the brink, however, with Spanoulis being left open on the last possession of the quarter, draining a triple to make it 21-27.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Minute 5

You can close your eyes and tell which team scored from the roars in opposite corners of o2 World. It was Panathinaikos to start, 2-7, but Josh Childress got the Reds back within 7-9 with a nice pass to Georgios Printezis and a fastbreak layup. Less than 4 minutes in, at 7-13, Olympiacos calls Theo Papaloukas off the bench. The Greens are relying on Pekovic and Spanoulis to run their show, and enjoying a comfortable lead as a result. The big man is getting shots in the post, while Spanoulis is driving there when he wants. Only Childress seems to be creating much for Olympiacos and saved a basket by Panathinaikos. Bouroussis, who was said to be suffering from fever today, comes in to help the Reds, but Batiste is just as ready for the Greens. So far, they control it.

Semifinal Blog: Olympiacos vs. Panathinaikos | Tip-off

Now, it's time for the classic Greek derby and one of the biggest rivalries in all of sports. Olympiacos and Panathinaikos have tipped off at o2 World in Berlin, Germany in Friday's second semifinal. The winner will have the chance to challenge CSKA Moscow, the first semifinal winner, and try to stop the reigning champs from a repeat in Sunday's title game. Olympiacos starters: Yotam Halperin, Jannero Pargo, Josh Childress, Georgios Printezis and Nikola Vujcic. Panathinaikos starters: Vassilis Spanoulis, Drew Nicholas, Stratos Perperoglou, Antonis Fotsis and Nikola Pekovic. Reds against Greens. It doesn't get any more charged up. Here we go!!!


POSTED BY: FRANK LAWLOR, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 21:08 pm


Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Final

CSKA Moscow celebrates - Final Four Berlin 2009After the first quarter, it was the exacty kind of evenly-matched battle that anyone could have expected from Barcelona and CSKA. The only difference was that CSKA played without the lead for the entire game, until just 6:40 was left in the final quarter. That, however, was already in the midst of a scoring show of 13 points in a row by Ramunas Siskauskas - 3 three-pointers in succession, 2 free throws and a miraculous lean-in - that turned the game around for the champs. There started a shot-for-shot battle, Khryapa dunking and blocking a fastbreak three-pointer from behind, Navarro blasting triples while falling down. It came down to 74-76 going into the final minute, but Langdon's bank shot and another remarkable Siskauskas layup sealed the difference. The champs had done what they had to and were cool as could be when it finished. Led by the one and only Siska.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Minute 35

The trend - CSKA closing in, Barca running away - continued into the fourth quarter, which Smodis opened by tying it 56-56. And the other trend, Andersen answering his old team for his new one, also continued with his lay-in and huge triple to make it 61-56. He was already up to his season-high of 22 points. Siska was back though, and after a timeout, not only matched that triple but doubled it for CSKA's first lead, 61-62, with 6:40 to play. Timeout Barcelona. Santiago's inadvertant shoulder to Smodis's mouth during a shot knocked down the CSKA forward, who came the other way and returned the favor as tempers flared and Siska's foul shots made it 61-64. Barcelona needed a break, but what they got instead was a turnover. And there came Siskauskas with his third consecutive triple, which coupled with 2 free throws, gave him 11 in a row and CSKA a 61-67 lead with 5 minutes left.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | After 3 quarters

A trend has developed in which CSKA gets close, even tying late in the first half, and Barcelona skimming ahead again with big plays. Andersen and Lakovic have been th authors of Barcelona's key baskets, while Langdon and Lorbek are now keeping CSKA afloat. But the biggest reappearance came with Ramunas Siskauskas firing a huge triple for the latest tie 52-52. Even if Andersen answers with a killer tunrnaound jumper off the dribble, Siskauskas shows he's back with a reverse layup. Last season's MVP is ready for a fourth quarter that looks like a sure thriller, with Barca still leading 56-54.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Minute 25

Key subplots to start the second half included Grimau getting a quick fourth foul but not shying away from stealing on the ensuing play and dunking to make it 41-32. CSKA went to Lorbek knowning they needed him to win. He dropped a hook and finished a great pass from Holden to steady the champs 41-36. Andersen answered with a great look to Santiago. A funny moment came when Jaka Lakovic's lob pass to Fran Vazquez went in the basket. Vazquez apparently touched it, but Barcelona asked for a triple. The refs just smiled. At 45-42, Navarro reappeared with the game's first "la bomba" shot, his running floater in the paint, and his first points since the opening minutes.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Halftime show

Naturally 7, the amazing band with no instruments, wowed fans with a great halftime show. With only the microphones in their hands, the group sounds just like a real band, with the members imitating the various musical instruments using only their vocal chords. They sound so real that no one would guess they weren't using pre-recorded background music...Seated among the many VIPs in the expensive seats is a pair of players who started the season hoping to be playing here tonight. Alba Berlin guard Julius Jenkins and forward Ansu Sesay led their team all the way to the Top 16, but came up short there, in part due to a pair of losses against the team they are now watching, Regal FC Barcelona. At least they made off with a pair of nice tickets to witness the big games up close...Even though their teams play a couple hours from now, you know the Panathinaikos and Olympiacos fans are in the house. They have been chanting back and forth from corner to corner during halftime of the first game loud enough to make the giant scoreboard shake. But when Naturally 7 sang, they had to stop and listen.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Halftime

David Andersen - Regal FC Barcelona - Final Four Berlin 2009CSKA inched back by denying Barcelona any easy shots, rebounding well and biding iits time until Holden buried the game-tying three-pointer at 30-30. Foul trouble was hurting Barcelona, as two guys at the same position, Navarro and Grimau, had 3 fouls each with several minutes left in the second quarter. Basile and Lakovic were doing the heavy work now in Barcelona's backcourt, while Santiago came in to post-up for a 34-30 lead. CSKA had made the first psychological score by erasing its big 11-point deficit from the first quarter, but Barcelona held on to win the half anyway, 36-32 on Andersen's putback at the buzzer, decided after a rare instant replay consultation by the referees. Barcelona was ahead despite 7 turnovers (to just 3 for CSKA) and despite Navarro and Grimau playing only 6 minutes each. CSKA was missing Erazem Lorbek, who was scoreless in 5 minutes, and missing three-point accuracy, hitting only 2 of 7 tries. Neither team needs to go back to the drawing board, exactly, but both will tweak some things that didn't work in the first half.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Minute 15

Kaun gave CSKA a big lift to help get his team within 21-18, which forced a Barcelona timeout. Great showing by the rook, who CSKA kept going to, but now Fran Vazquez rejected one of his shots, and Barcelona used a steal by Roger Grimau to stretch the difference again, punctuated by an amazing shot-clock buzzer-beater on a deep two-point turnaround by Andersen. Awesome shot. CSKA needed a new timeout and went inside to Smodis, successfully, but Lakovic fed Vazquez for a dunk off an inbounds play. Smodis's next post-up try was blocked. Barcelona brought in Navarro despite his two fouls, and Langdon immediatley posted him up for a third. Halfway through the second quarter, 27-22.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | End of first quarter

Both teams made substitutions among their big men midway through the first period. While Barcelona bringing defensive ace Fran Vazquez off the bench for Daniel Santiago was of no surprise and according to the general plan, CSKA Moscow head coach opted to bring in Sasha Kaun for Erazem Lorbek, the earliest the rookie has played in a Euroleague game this season. Kaun alluded to a possibility of a bigger role in a chat to Euroleague.net on Thursday, explaining that his coach has been preparing him for the possibility for nearly a month. With Kaun in the rotation at center, CSKA can use Viktor Khryapa exclusively at small forward and keep a bigger lineup to combat the Barca big men. Nonetheless, the champs were looking at the down side of a 21-12 score after one quarter.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Minute 5

Jaka Lakovic - Regal FC BarcelonaDefense was the name of the game early, despite David Andersen's soft baseline jumper to open the scoring. After Langdon got CSKA on the scoreboard, Lakovic and Navarro hit back-to-back triples to lift the Barcelona fans out of their seats thanks to and 8-2 lead. Langdon silenced them with a tough bank shot. Lakovic showed he was on form with a new triple at 11-4, while CSKA's outside shooting died. By the time Andersen also joined the three-point party, it was 14-4 and the name of the game was triples: Barcelona's wide open ones went in and CSKA's less open tries rimmed out, making up for the difference. First timeout: CSKA.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow | Minute 1

We have tipoff! The Final Four has started with Barcelona vs. CSKA in Berlin. The starting lineups in the first semifinal: for CSKA: J.R. Holden, Trajan Langdon, Viktor Khryapa, Matjaz Smodis and Erazem Lorbek; and for Barcelona, Jaka Lakovic, Juan Carlos Navarro, Gianluca Basile, Daniel Santiago and Daniel Andersen.

Semifinal Blog: Regal FC Barcelona vs. CSKA Moscow

The fabulous o2 World in Berlin, Germany is rocking for the upcoming start of the 2009 Final Four. The first semifinal, Barcelona vs. Moscow, is about to start, but the fans in o2 World have already begun to live the moment. The same can be said for a truly worldwide television audience of more than 175 countries and Euroleague.TV, where former Euroleague winner George Zidek is doing the color commentary. A global media contingent is also on hand to follow a weekend's worth of thrills until the crowning of the 2008-09 Euroleague champion at Sunday night's final. To get it started, Barcelona, the team with the best record this season in the Euroleague, has the tall task of dethroning the defending champs from CSKA. There is a luandry list of stars to watch and the show is about to begin, with all the players being introduced in 46664 t-shirts, in support of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. The hype is all behind and it's time to play some basketball


POSTED BY: FRANK LAWLOR, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 17:55 pm


Olympiacos is celebrating now that it is back in the Final Four for the first time in a decade and one special way to do so was to make some former stars a part of it. Some of the biggest names in club history are attending the event to cheer the Reds on. Olympiacos organized a special event at Kempinski Adlon on Friday morning featuring David Rivers, Eddie Johnson, Argyris Kambouris and Alekos Spanoudakis. Rivers was the 1997 Final Four MVP, guiding the Reds to their only Euroleague title. He had 26 points to lead Olympiacos to a 73-58 win in the title game in Rome. Johnson will celebrate his 50th birthday today by watching Olympiacos against Panathinaikos. He had 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Reds downed the Greens 52-58 in the 1995 Euroleague semifinals, becoming a hero for all Olympiacos fans. Kambouris, a former Olympiacos center, is mostly remembered for hitting the game-winning free throws that helped Greece to down the Soviet Union 103-101 in overtime in the 1987 EuroBasket final. That win for Greece changed the European basketball map forever. Spanoudakis was a Greek basketball player in the 1940s and 1950s, as well as an innovator who introduced the jump shot in the country. He was a member of the Greek national team that won the bronze medal at Eurobasket 1949 in Egypt. The Olympiacos legends from yesteryear signed autographs for fans as they warmed up for another truly historical event in club history: the 2009 Euroleague Final Four!


POSTED BY: JAVIER GANCEDO, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 15:53 pm


Marko Pesic talks Berlin basketball

One of the surnames most closely associated with the explosion of basketball in Berlin over the last 15 years is Pesic. The father of the family, Svetislav Pesic, coached Alba Berlin to the only European trophy won by a German team, the 1995 Korac Cup, while his son, Marko, played several seasons for the same club during a solid point guard career. Marko Pesic is enjoying the Final Four and gave Euroleague.net a chance to talk Berlin basketball with him before Friday's semifinals.



POSTED BY: FRANK LAWLOR, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 13:38 pm


It’s here! The day fans and players alike have been waiting all season for is upon us. Berlin can now stand tall as the international sporting capital for the next 72 hours with the 2009 Euroleague Basketball set to tip off in a matter of hours. Although there is still plenty of time before the true action starts, hints of something special can already be felt in and around the arena. A smattering of fans representing their teams – both Final Four clubs and those who missed out this season – have begun to gather outside, adorned in club scarves and flags. The festive atmosphere continues when you enter the arena, with media members, volunteers and Euroleague staff all clicking their heels in anticipation of the big games. Only when you near the playing court, where the teams are having gameday shoot-arounds, does the party atmosphere disappear as you start to feel the seriousness of the games that are ultimately the real reason we are all gathered to celebrate.


POSTED BY: FRANKIE SACHS, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 12:43 pm


The basketball atmosphere at the Intercontinental Hotel in Berlin – the official hotel of the 2009 Final Four – gets betters and better. There are many ways to face a Final Four, but perhaps nobody knows better than Ettore Messina, who always seems calm and even-tempered. Coach Messina is always early for breakfast and keeps around his assistants as much as possible. Experience is always a plus in such an event. The VIPs keep coming by the minute. Maccabi Electra president Shimon Mizrahi was around earlier today, while Alba Berlin general manager Marko Baldi is also around, sporting a smile after his club extended head coach Luka Pavicevic for three more seasons. Pavicevic led Alba to its first Top 16 appearance this season. FIBA Secretary General Emeritus Boris Stankovic also arrived this morning, bringing memories of the wonderful 50 Years of European Club Basketball event from the 2008 Final Four in Madrid. Of course, all of them will be present at the o2 World tonight. After all, if you like basketball, there is no chance you miss such an incredible Final Four!


POSTED BY: JAVIER GANCEDO, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 12:37 pm


Among the special guests at the Final Four this weekend is Adriatic League president Radovan Lorbek, in what should be a big event for him. His oldest son Erazem is now a Euroleague superstar and hopes to win his first title with CSKA Moscow. The Lorbeks are perhaps the best-known basketball family in European basketball now, since in addition to Erazem, who led CSKA in points and rebounds this season, brother Domen and Klemen also play professional basketball for Benetton Treviso and Hopsi Polzela, respectively. The elder Lorbek is not surprised to see Erazem playing so well. "Erazem already was in a Final Four in Tel Aviv when he played for Fortitudo and now he is back. It’s logical because he dominated his generation, winning MVP awards in junior and under-20 competitions. He was the Euroleague Rising Star in 2005 and now has made it to the All-Euroleague teams. It is a big honor for me to see him as one of the 10 best players in the Euroleague. It is the normal development of a talent like his," Rado said. The dad also revealed something not many know about his boys. Erazem plays a mean piano, but Domen isn’t ready to for music yet. "My kids were intoxicated with basketball from the day they were born! Having me as their father, it was the natural step for them. Erazem is a great piano player. I wanted Domen to study piano, but he says he will start only after basketball. I am happy to have so many children with enough talent to do the same thing. The real promoter in our family is Erazem, because the youngest always watch the older and copies him a bit."


POSTED BY: JAVIER GANCEDO, Berlin on Friday, May 1 @ 12:33 pm

Friday, May 01, 2009
Euroleague.net
PrintPrint Send to a FriendSend to a Friend ShareShare

Submenu

SCHEDULE
SEMIFINALS, May 1:
Regal FCB 78-82 CSKA Moscow
Olympiacos 82-84 Panathinaikos
3RD PLACE, May 3:
Olympiacos 79-95 Regal FCB
FINAL, May 3:
Panathinaikos 73-71 CSKA Moscow

FINAL FOUR TEAMS

DEVOTION

2008-09 ALL-EL TEAM, MVP
Jordi Bertomeu, Juan Carlos Navarro

FINAL FOUR SLIDE SHOW
Vassilis Spanoulis - Panathinaikos - Final Four Berlin 2009