The first week of the Top 16 on NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge provoked a special situation, just the second time in five years that a Euroleague employee, ineligible to win prizes, had the best team. For that reason, the second-best team, "Ropopo", belonging to Luis Bomant Ferrer of Spain, got the weekly prize. Luis will receive an official Euroleague game ball and this season's official Media Guide on DVD, plus he'll be entered in the end-of-season drawing for more prizes. Meanwhile, the overall leader of NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge at the end of the regular season made a big-city move to start the Top 16 and now is in the driver's seat with just five games remaining in the contest. Vidas Kaluzevicius added 205.9 points for his team, "Lithuania 37th", to give it a total of 1,866.4 and - more importantly - expand his lead over second placeto 28.6 points. Remember, however, that Vidas overcame 17 places and a 75-point deficit in just two weeks of the regular season to get where he is now, so with five weeks left, his challengers have plenty of time left. All, of course, are aiming for the grand prize, the chance to be Euroleague Basketball's VIP guest at the 2009 Final Four in Berlin, including a spot on the o2 World floor to witness the new champions celebrating the Euroleague title! The next NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge deadline will be on Wednesday, February 4 at 17:15 CET, one hour before the first game of Top 16 Week 2, which is CSKA Moscow vs. Cibona Zagreb. Euroleague Basketball apologizes for any inconvenience caused NIKEiD Fantasy Challenge users earlier this week when technical difficulties limited access to the game.
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FANTASY CHALLENGE RUNDOWN
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GROUP E
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Tau Ceramica:
- Center Tiago Splitter suffered a muscle tear in his left leg, which will keep him out of Thursday's game at Olympiacos. |
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Olympiacos:
- Forward Josh Childress has undergone a hernia operation and could miss the entire Top 16.
- Guard Theo Papaloukas sat out the weekend's Greek League game to rest, but is fit for Thursday's game against Tau Ceramica.
- Forward Giorgos Printezis didn't play Sunday in the Greek League due to an injury, but will also be available for the game against Tau. |
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AJ Milano:
- Guard Ariel Filloy is still rehabbing after undergoing surgery on a broken bone in his right hand.
- Sharpshooter Marco Mordente is sidelined with a broken hand. |
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Asseco Prokom:
- Forward Qyntel Woods could make his first Euroleague appearance with Prokom against Armani Jeans on Thursday. |
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GROUP F
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Regal FC Barcelona:
- Guard Jaka Lakovic will be sidelined from six to eight weeks due to nose surgery to repair a respiratory problem. |
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Real Madrid:
- Guard Raul Lopez will be sidelined for the next three weeks after aggravating a leg injury in last week's Top 16 opener against Regal FC Barcelona. Lopez suffers from a small hamstring muscle tear in his right leg. |
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Maccabi Electra:
- Big man Charles Gaines could make his first Euroleague appearance for Maccabi this week at Barcelona. |
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Alba Berlin:
- Center Patrick Femerling remains sidelined after undergoing knee injury. |
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GROUP G
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Unicaja:
- Jiri Welsch is expected to play Thursday against Panathinaikos after sitting out the club's last Spanish League game as a precaution. |
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Lottomatica Roma:
- Point guard Ibby Jaaber hurt his left ankle in an Italian League game over the weekend. He missed most of the team's practices this week and his participation for Roma's road game at Partizan will be a game-day decision onWednesday. |
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Panathinaikos:
- Forward Kostas Tsartsaris has sat out the last games in both the Euroleague and Greek League due to a sprained ankle and is in doubt for the game in Malaga. |
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Partizan Belgrade:
- Head coach Dusko Vujosevic has a full squad available for Wednesday’s game against Lottomatica Roma. |
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GROUP H
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CSKA Moscow:
- Team captain Matjaz Smodis is expected to play after sitting out a Russian League game with an ankle injury. |
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Montepaschi Siena:
- Point guard Morris Finley continues to rehabilitate from a calf injury and is not expected to take part in Wednesday’s game against Fenerbahce Ulker. |
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Fenerbahce Ulker:
- Gasper Vidmar suffered a minor leg injury in the Turkish League game against Kepez Belediyesi and missed two practices, but is flying with the team to Italy.
- Forward Mirsad Turkcan is back with the team after stomach problem.
- Center Omer Asik remains sidelined after undergoing surgery this summer to repair damaged ligaments in his knee. |
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Cibona:
- Head coach Velimir Perasovic has a full squad available for Wednesday’s game in Moscow. |