June 19, 2013
 
50 YEARS MEMORIES, BOSNA'S 1979 TITLE
KK Bosna, 1979
1979: Bosna starts a true dynasty
The first Yugoslavian team to win the top continental title was none other than Bosna Sarajevo, which lifted the Euroleague trophy in 1979. Bosna had won the Yugoslavian League in 1978 and managed to keep its main players: Ratko Radovanovic, Zarko Varajic and above all, Mirza Delibasic, one of the great basketball geniuses in the sport’s history. Tall, talented and versatile, Delibasic was not only an outstanding shooter, but had an incredible court vision that allowed him to change any game with his creativity and know-how. Bosna started its Euroleague season in the Quarterfinals Group Stage, finishing first of a group that also featured Spartak Brno of Czechoslovakia, Partizani Tirana of Albania and Limassol of Cyprus. Once in the semifinals group stage, Bosna sent a message right away by edging defending champion Real Madrid 114-109 in overtime in Sarajevo. Bosna would eventually win all its home games and would advance to the title game by edging Olympiacos 83-88 in Athens. The second finalist would be either Varese or Real Madrid, who faced each other in the final game in that round. Varese beat Madrid 82-83, but Luis Maria Prada famously missed 3 free throws with no time on the clock that could have changed history. Once in the title game, Bosna downed mighty Varese 96-93 in front of 15,000 fans in Grenoble, France, behind 45 points from Varajic in a career-best performance and 30 from Delibasic. Bob Morse had 28 points for Varese while Charlie Yelverton added 27. Bosna had won the Euroleague title and Yugoslavia became the fifth country to have a top continental champion.
BOSNA CHAMPS

INTERVIEW: ZARKO VARAJIC
Zarko Varajic, 1979
It took Bosna Sarajevo a record-breaking performance to beat heavy favourite Varese in the 1979 Euroleague final. Zarko Varajic had 45 points in the title game to make Bosna beat Varese 96-93 against all odds. He and Bosnian basketball legend Mirza Delibasic combined for 75 points in that game.
"Varese played a lot of zone that night, and it helped us a lot, because we were shooting well, especially Mirza Delibasic and me."