May 25, 2012
2010 Final Four Media Reaction
Spain

Gigantes

http://www.gigantes.com/

Gigantes“It's time to say thanks to Xavi Pascual and his players for two things: one, for having brought to our country a title that had not been won since the same club achieved it in 2003 at Palau Sant Jordi; and two, for having let us enjoy some excellent basketball. This team has shown that by running on the path of greatness one can be champion of everything. Thanks and congratulations!.”

Sport

http://www.sport.es/

Sport“Normally you say that a team is the best ever when you run out of adjectives to talk about the game, the team's way to success and when all the titles that the team is playing for are won. And that is precisely where Xavi Pascual's team stands now, dominating all the competitions it plays with authority.”

“Without a doubt, the final test was the Euroleague, a title that has historically been more than scarce in the history of the Catalan team, with only the title in 2003 until now. This season however, there was no way it could have slipped from their fingers. After dominating the competition with almost no opposition, with a regular season in which the team was perfect, a Top 16 with only one loss and an exciting Playoff series in which Barca also lost one game, came the brilliant Final Four. CSKA Moscow and Olympiacos were unable to present options to fight back.”

El Mundo Deportivo

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/

El Mundo Deportivo“It was a story destined to finish with a happy ending. Paris had resisted Barcelona twice before: it closed its door on its face in 1991 and 1996, when the team was full of hope for the final win. But this third time, Paris had to give it up for team that makes everyone who watches fall in love with the game. 'Barcelona is a team that appeals you because of its style,' Theo Papaloukas himself admitted the day before the Final. The City of Lights could not resist Barca's charm, either, and fell to its feet. Barça, je t'aime!”

“Xavi Pascual's team showed, like Pep Guardiola's team did in Rome last year in football, that sometimes sports are fair. We have grown tired of hearing that the bast do not always win, and that everything can happen in a game. It can be true. But not Sunday. The best team in European basketball right now was crowned at the Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy. A team that improved with each game and that knew how to make a stand in the decisive moment of the year. The overwhelming 86-68 score against Olympiacos leaves little room for doubt.”

La Vanguardia

http://www.lavanguardia.es/

La Vanguardia“The third time is the charm, and tonight more than ever. With the victory against Olympiacos by 86-68, Regal FC Barcelona managed to take its second Euroleague title and its first in Paris, where it had lost previous two finals, in 1991 and 1996, at the very same arena. With fancy play that managed to neutralize the multimillion project of the Greek club, the Blaugrana put the icing on the cake of a season in which they have played the best ball in Europe. Today, then, we can say that justice was done with a team that dominated the Final top to bottom, led on court by Navarro - who won his second title and was designated Final Four MVP- and by Xavi Pascual on the bench.”

El Periodico

http://www.elperiodico.com/

El Periodico“With a huge display of offensive talent and strength under the glasses, Regal FC Barcelona pulled off its second Euroleague title. If the football team won its second Champions League title in Paris, the basketball team followed the same path. The Blaugrana team completed an excellent game against the most powerful possible rival this year, an Olympiacos team that wasn't unable to defeat the excellent defense generated by coach Xavi Pascual. This success buries the curse of the French capital, where the Catalans had lost before in 1991 and 1996.”

El 9 Esportiu

http://www.el9nou.cat/

El nou.cat“Regal FC Barcelona is the new king of European basketball. Seven years after that first Euroleague title at Palau Sant Jordi, the team of Xavi Pascual wrote another history page yesterday in Paris with the recapturing of a dream that had been frustrated since 2003. Barcelona also sealed its debt with the French capital, a city that had left the Catalans empty-handed twice before, in 1991 and 1996. And all this happened in front of many of those players who suffered those defeats like Epi, Jimenez or Solozabal. The Palais Omnisports Paris-Bercy, the scenario of all those disappointments, was now a stage for the Blaugrana party, with more than 2,500 fans in the stands enjoying themselves as they had never done before with a team that has brought hope back to Barcelona and that yesterday shone all over Europe. Even before this Final Four, Barcelona was the best team with only two losses in 22 games and a 61-5 record overall in all competitions. But the team was aware that winning the title was necessary to make it all official because, as everyone knows, history is written by the winners. Now the team can truly say that it has Europe at its feet.”

El Pais

http://www.elpais.com
http://www.elpais.com/articulo/deportes/Barca/apisonadora/elpepidep/20100510elpepidep_1/Tes

El Pais“Barcelona made justice in Paris. Right where it had fallen twice in its never-ending search for the European crown over the last three decades, it at least managed to display the beauty and precision that right now only Barcelona can give to this game. Navarro was brilliant and chosen as the Final Four MVP - the first Spanish to get the trophy. (...) This win dignified the game in a team whose players help each other in all ways possible - prolific in offense, generous in defense, quick in transition, patient and exact when it came to ball circulation. Barcelona and the beautiful game, the good basketball, won - and Paris was a party.”

Greece

Sportnet.gr

http://www.sportnet.gr
http://www.sportnet.gr/report.php?id=223359

SportNet“It was totally fair - Barcelona was crowned the European champion. The Catalan team played at its best against Olympiacos and won 86-68. Olympiacos played with anarchy on offense and lost the fight because of that. Navarro was named MVP and Grimau lifted the Euroleague trophy to heaven.”

Sport.gr

http://www.sport.gr
http://www.sport.gr/default.asp?pid=4&aid=64676

Sport.gr“In the most crucial and important game of the season, Olympiacos did not live up to expectations and was defeated by Barcelona in the Euroleague final, 86-68. Panagiotis Giannakis's team played poor defense, which allowed Barca to find its rhythm early and control the game. Thirteen years after the final in Rome, Barcelona left Olympiacos no room for a comeback, took revenge and were crowned European champions for the second time in club history.”

Sport day

http://www.sday.gr
http://www.sday.gr/page.ashx?pid=2&aid=10106&catid=104

Sport Day“Olympiacos failed to stop Barcelona and was defeated in the Euroleague Final in Paris, 86-68, passing by the trophy again without touching it. Several Olympiacos players, like Kleiza, Teodosic and Schortsianitis, had bad days, and only Theo Papaloukas tried to rescue his team. Navarro and Mickeal had a fantastic evening and gave their team its second Euroleague title - its first since 2003.”

USA

SLAM Magazine

http://www.slamonline.com
http://www.slamonline.com/online/blogs/game-notes/2010/05/euroleague-final-stage-live-blog/

“Maric with three the old-fashioned way and Partizan has themselves a 55-52 lead. These next 8:41 might be the most fun I’ll ever have watching basketball.”

“Childress to the cup and Olympiacos has the lead 63-62. I legitimately would contribute Euros toward each of your ticket purchases if you can get here by Sunday. This atmosphere is unreal.”

“I've thrown all media etiquette rules out the window at this point. Yelling, jumping, anything this suit and tie will allow in tight quarters. Luckily, my associates have joined in. Props to all of them for remembering how much fun it is to be a fan.”

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/08/AR2010050803163.html

“The differences between the once and future kings may be obvious, but the link between Ricky Rubio, 19, and Theo Papaloukas, 33, is far greater. Papaloukas has slowed a bit and is still inconsistent, but he was Europe's top playmaker for several years; now Rubio owns that distinction. They are ingenious creators, and most of all they are winners.”

FRANCE

L’Equipe

http://www.lequipe.fr
http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/breves2010/20100509_230029_barcelone-quelle-lecon.html

“Seven years after its first title, Barcelona won the Euroleague for the second time with victory over Olympiacos on Sunday in Paris following a final it controlled from start to finish. The best scorer was Juan Carlos Navarro, who was elected Final Four MVP…

“Barca's title is not a surprise, far from it. The final 18-point margin is a response to the 73-58 loss inflicted by Olympiacos in the final at Barcelona in 1997... Between 1985 and 1997, Barcelona lost its first five Euroleague finals. But since it is two for two... This win also makes up for the two defeats for Barcelona in previous finals at Bercy, in 1989 (Split) and 1996 (Panathinaikos).”

ISRAEL

Haaretz

http://www.haaretz.com
http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1168073.html

“Seven years ago, Juan Carlos Navarro won with Barcelona the club’s first European championship. Last night, in their second win, he lifted the cup. Thirteen years after it was routed by Olympiacos in the final, Barcelona avenged the Greeks by crushing them 86-68 in front of 14,678 fans at Bercy. Barcelona model 2009-10 finished the European season with a 20-2 record and will be remembered as one of the greatest teams in history. The No. 1 defensive team in the Euroleague this season cut 19 points from the average of the top offensive team and didn’t stop at that… Coach Xavi Pascual’s charges sparkled in a clever team-orientated game that was pleasing to the eye, with three or four passes to set up easy baskets in the paint or from three, which led them to be ahead from the third minute until the end…”

Yediot Ahronot - YNET

http://www.ynet.co.il
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3887243,00.html

“The end of the seven bad years. Barcelona won the European basketball championship in Bercy, France, after beating Olympiacos 86-68 in the Euroleague final to bring back the title in last won in 2003. Seven years ago the team had Dejan Bodiroga, Sarunas Jasikevicius and Juan Carlos Navarro, but the latter is the only remaining piece on the current squad from the team that lifted its first and last Euroleague title until now.

Terence Morris, in his third Euroleague final in a row with three different teams, finally won the Euroleague cup.”

Ma’ariv

http://www.nrg.co.il
http://www.nrg.co.il/online/3/ART2/105/113.html?hp=3&cat=620

Ma’ariv“Barcelona, the fresh Euroleague champion, celebrated all night after winning for the second time in club history in a one-sided victory at Olympiacos’s expense. Juan Carlos Navarro, selected as Final Four MVP, was emotional when he said: “It was a very difficult game, just as we expected.”

RUSSIA

SportExpress

http://www.sport-express.ru/
http://basketball.sport-express.ru/reviews/5558/

SportExpress“The most productive player in the game was CSKA Moscow guard Trajan Langdon, who dialed up 32 points – not only a personal high at CSKA, but also the most points scored by a CSKA player in the Final Four. The previous record belonged to Ramunas Siskauskas, who recorded it in last year's semifinal against Barcelona with 29 points.”

http://finiz.ru/

finiz.ru“Results of the Euroleague Final Four in Paris left CSKA fans with mixed feelings. On the one hand, third place is not the result that could satisfy the two-time winner of the tournament. On the other, before the start of the season, few believed that CSKA would break through to be among the strongest teams on the continent.

When the army club announced in the pre-season the reduction in the budget by one third and replaced Ettore Messina with Yevgeny Pashutin, many were quick to put on the team a cross. Reaching the Euroleague final was thought out of the question. The Top 16 seemed to be the ceiling…."

championat.ru
http://www.championat.ru/basketball/article-56522.html

championat.ru“Emotions reigned in the locker room after the CSKA Moscow victory after an exciting battle over Partizan in the game for third place. CSKA managed to escape with a win in overtime thanks to a three-pointer at the end of normal playing time by John Robert Holden. The best outcome for the European season for the red and blue was difficult to provide - a victory in a seemingly meaningless game on the 65th anniversary World War II...This landmark victory could have been avoided if not for a great game by Trajan Langdon, who made a little basketball miracle as he scored 32 points.”

The Moscow News

http://www.mn.ru
http://www.mn.ru/sport/20100511/55440531.html

the moscow news“CSKA came up short against a Barcelona side on its way to proving itself the best in Europe - but recovered from the semifinal disappointment to bag the bronze in a thrilling game. The Final Four of the Euroleague is familiar territory for both CSKA and Barcelona, but it was the Catalan side who enjoyed the better of things in their semifinal clash. Despite a powerful performance from Lithuanian Ramunas Siskauskas, who netted 19 points, they struggled to contain their opponents and eventually went down 64-54.
While Barca went on to take gold against Olympiacos in the final, CSKA faced Partizan Belgrade in the battle for third place. And the clash went the distance, with both teams determined to end with a win and grab the medals. Locked at 78-78 after 40 minutes, there was little to separate the sides in overtime - but with 2.7 seconds on the clock J.R. Holden landed a two-pointer to give CSKA a decisive 90-88 advantage. That took Holden's game tally to 12, but the top scorer was Trajan Langdon with a mighty 32-point haul.”

RT

http://rt.com
http://rt.com/Top_News/2010-05-10/cska-beat-partizan-euroleague.html

RT“CSKA Moscow have snatched victory over Partizan Belgrade in the match for third place in the Euroleague Final Four, thanks to an accurate throw from J.R. Holden with 2.5 seconds before the end of overtime.”

"Meanwhile, all the Euroleague glory went to Barcelona, who crushed Olympiacos Piraeus. The Spaniards, who beat CSKA in the semis, were unstoppable on their way to the trophy, and proved their status of favorites in the Final Four.”

SERBIA

Blic

http://www.blic.rs/
http://english.blic.rs/Sports/6392/Partizan-defeated-in-overtime

Blic“Partizan basketball team have won fourth place at the Euroleague Final Four in Paris, having been defeated by CSKA Moscow 90-88 in the third-place match. The game was decided after overtime, a the Serbian champions suffered yet another narrow defeat, after the anticlimax in Friday’s semi-final against Olympiacos, also after overtime.”

Kurir

http://www.kurir-info.rs
http://www.kurir-info.rs/sport/danilovic-ponosan-na-ekipu-33676.php

kurir“Mixed feelings for the black and white – sad and proud. Partizan president Predrag Danilovic, despite a tragedy in the family when his sister died on Thursday, managed to arrive Sunday in Paris to watch the black and white live against CSKA Moscow for third place. Although disappointed his players took last place in the Final Four, Partizan Belgrade is the moral winner. The team did not lose any of its games in 40 minutes. The games against both Olympiacos and CSKA Moscow went to extra time and were decided by one ball.”

Vesti

http://www.vesti-online.com
http://www.vesti-online.com/Sport/Kosarka/51622/F4-Partizan-pao-opet-posle-produzetka

Vesti“Partizan coach Dusko Vujosevic, after a second defeat in extra time at the Final Four in Paris, says that all players should understand that they acquired great experience that they will use all means in the future…

“Partizan players, just like after the game against Olympiacos, sang together with the 2,000 fans, who chanted ‘Champions, Champions!’ as the Black and White left the floor.”

UNITED KINGDOM

http://www.basketball247.co.uk
http://www.basketball247.co.uk/news/archives/00000577.shtml

Basketball 24/7“The footballing stars of FC Barcelona jetted into Paris to lend their support to their basketballing brothers on Sunday and they can only have left feeling a touch of envy. This year, they will not be the ones delivering a European crown back to the Camp Nou.

El Barca Basquet may rank down the pecking order within their own club but for this night at least, they stole the spotlight with a dominating display against Olympiacos at a sold-out and noisy Bercy, bringing the Euroleague title back to Catalunya for only the second time with a resounding 86-68 victory over their Greek rivals.

Inspired and impregnable, it was no less than they deserved…”

TURKEY

http://www.todayszaman.com
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-209823-barca-beats-olympiakos-to-win-euroleague-title.html

Todays Zaman“Barcelona won the Euroleague title for the first time in seven years on Sunday, beating Olympiacos 86-68 after Juan Carlos Navarro scored a game-high 21 points. Navarro was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Final Four.”
Friday, May 14, 2010
Euroleague.net
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