News Euroleague News http://www.euroleague.net/rssfeed/27/180.xml en Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT The great Matjaz Smodis retires One of the great forwards of the century, three-time Euroleague champion Matjaz Smodis has decided to call it quits as a player at age 33, after finishing his career in style. Playing for his hometown team Krka Novo Mesto, a club where he started his outstanding career, Smodis was named the MVP of the playoffs finals series in his native Slovenia as Krka downed Union Olimpija 61-71 in Game 4 on Monday to win its fourth consecutive domestic title, and sixth in club history. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113818/180/the-great-matjaz-smodis-retires http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113818/180/the-great-matjaz-smodis-retires Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/42533/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/a0f/filename/matjaz-smodis.jpg 15931 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/42533/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/d79/filename/matjaz-smodis.jpg 127485 Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Matjaz Smodis
One of the great forwards of the century, three-time Euroleague champion Matjaz Smodis has decided to call it quits as a player at age 33, after finishing his career in style. Playing for his hometown team Krka Novo Mesto, a club where he started his outstanding career, Smodis was named the MVP of the playoffs finals series in his native Slovenia as Krka downed Union Olimpija 61-71 in Game 4 on Monday to win its fourth consecutive domestic title, and sixth in club history.

"Game 3 loss was a wake-up call for us. But we knew if we play tougher, harder, and show some teeth, it will be difficult for Olimpija to beat us," Smodis said after scoring 21 points to lead Krka to Game 4 victory, and the national title. "Thanks to all the fans, and all the people at the club, for an ideal end of a long and successful career."

For Smodis, this was his 16th domestic trophy, winning at least one with each of five clubs he played with during his career, in addition to three Euroleague titles he has to his name. The first Euroleague crown for Smodis came in 2001, also his debut Euroleague season, when his Virtus Bologna won the best-of-five Finals against Tau Ceramica. Two more titles Smodis won with CSKA Moscow in 2006 and 2008, both coming against Maccabi Tel Aviv. Interestingly, all three trophies came with Ettore Messina on the bench as the head coach.

Smodis was also a three-time Euroleague runner up, playing title games in 2004 with Fortitudo Bologna, as well as 2007 and 2009 with CSKA. All in all, Smodis played 11 Euroleague seasons, amassing 170 games. He ranks among Top 25 all time in both points (1,818) and rebounds (687), and is one of only seven players to have tallied at least 1,800 points and 650 rebounds in his career. In his company are only Nikola Vujcic, David Andersen, Mike Batiste, Dimitirs Diamantidis, Erazem Lorbek and Luis Scola.

Smodis claimed his first professional title in 2000, when he won Slovenian National Championship with Krka. After that, Smodis went on to win Italian League trophies with Virtus Bologna in 2001 and with Fortitudo Bologna in 2005, as well as six consecutive Russian League titles with CSKA Moscow from 2006 to 2011. In the process, he also won six domestic cup titles, last one coming in 2012 when he joined Cedevita Zagreb of Croatia.

Now, winning it once again with Krka in his 19th professional season, Smodis ended up completing a full circle in his great career. He won the championship with his boyhood club, to make a definite exit from the game in the same surroundings where he once started, and put a fitting end to his long journey.]]> Unicaja, coach Repesa part ways Unicaja Malaga of Spain announced Tuesday that Jasmin Repesa will not return as the team's head coach next season. The statement said that club management met yesterday and took the decision to terminate his contract. Repesa and Unicaja posted a 15-9 overall record in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague this season. They finished the regular season 8-2 and tied for first place in Group B. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113812/180/unicaja-coach-repesa-part-ways http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113812/180/unicaja-coach-repesa-part-ways Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/41773/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/ace/filename/jasmin-repesa-unicaja-malaga-eb12.jpg 11609 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/41773/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/524/filename/jasmin-repesa-unicaja-malaga-eb12.jpg 49852 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/41773/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/da7/filename/jasmin-repesa-unicaja-malaga-eb12.jpg 28044 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/41773/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/c82/filename/jasmin-repesa-unicaja-malaga-eb12.jpg 11526 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/41773/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/e02/filename/jasmin-repesa-unicaja-malaga-eb12.jpg 81127 Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Unicaja Malaga of Spain announced Tuesday that Jasmin Repesa will not return as the team's head coach next season. The statement said that club management met yesterday and took the decision to terminate his contract. Repesa and Unicaja posted a 15-9 overall record in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague this season. They finished the regular season 8-2 and tied for first place in Group B. Repesa managed to take Unicaja to its eighth consecutive Top 16, where the team finished with a 7-7 record and fifth place, one short of the playoffs, after registering road wins against future Final Four qualifiers Real Madrid and CSKA Moscow, among others. Things did not go that well for Repesa's team in domestic competitions, as Unicaja failed to reach both the Copa del Rey final eight and the Spanish League playoffs. Unicaja was Repesa's fifth Euroleague team after Slask Wroclaw, Cibona Zagreb, Fortitudo Bologna and Virtus Roma. Unicaja thanked Repesa "for his work, effort and dedication shown throughout this season, wishing him all sorts of succeess in his next professional challenge."]]> Tickets now on sale for NBA Global Games Istanbul 2013, presented by Garanti Tickets are now on sale for the game featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and Euroleague Basketball's Fenerbahce Ulker as part of the NBA Global Games presented by Garanti it was announced today. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113742/180/tickets-now-on-sale-for-nba-global-games-istanbul-2013-presented-by-garanti http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113742/180/tickets-now-on-sale-for-nba-global-games-istanbul-2013-presented-by-garanti Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44052/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/708/filename/ebnba-combi.png 6913 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44052/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/a1b/filename/ebnba-combi.png 25771 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44052/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/894/filename/ebnba-combi.png 17670 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44052/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/6ad/filename/ebnba-combi.png 10971 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44052/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/e24/filename/ebnba-combi.png 35091 Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0
Tickets are now on sale for the game featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder and Euroleague Basketball's Fenerbahce Ulker as part of the NBA Global Games presented by Garanti it was announced today.

The game, to be played at the Ulker Sports Arena on Saturday October 5th, and broadcast live on D-Smart, is part of the NBA’s comprehensive Global Games schedule, which features eight NBA teams playing in six countries as part of the 2013-14 NBA preseason.

Tickets for the game are available for purchase online at: www.biletix.com/etkinlik/PBNBA/TURKIYE/tr

Garanti Bank, which is part-owned by BBVA, the NBA’s official banking partner, returns for the second consecutive year as presenting partner of the game in Istanbul. Partners also include adidas, Avea and Bilbao.

The reigning Western Conference Champion Thunder, featuring four-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant and former Fenerbahce Ulker player Thabo Sefolosha, will be playing the franchise’s first game in Europe.

More information can be found at www.nba.com/turkey, the NBA’s official destination in Turkey, and via social media on Facebook.com/nbaturkiye and on twitter @NBA_Turkiye]]> Media reaction to the 2013 Final Four After another unbelievable set of four games plus all the parallel activities that formed the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in London, media outlets around the globe offered their views on the event. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113749/180/media-reaction-to-the-2013-final-four http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113749/180/media-reaction-to-the-2013-final-four Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45517/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/ed8/filename/acie-law-olympiacos-piraeus-practices-final-four-london-2013.jpg 10083 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45517/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/5ac/filename/acie-law-olympiacos-piraeus-practices-final-four-london-2013.jpg 49607 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45517/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/bc6/filename/acie-law-olympiacos-piraeus-practices-final-four-london-2013.jpg 23725 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45517/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/e3c/filename/acie-law-olympiacos-piraeus-practices-final-four-london-2013.jpg 11668 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45517/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/09b/filename/acie-law-olympiacos-piraeus-practices-final-four-london-2013.jpg 74696 Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 GREECE

Contra
By Giannis Zoitos

http://www.contra.gr/Basketball/Europe/Euroleague/finalfour/olympiakos-real.2249406.html

"Sloukas, Perperoglou, Hines and Antic had a great game, but Vassilis Spanoulis was... Kill Bill. With 22 points in the second half, including some three-pointers from as far as his neighborhood in Larissa, reading all situations and keeping a clear mind, he was the leader that every coach dreams of having in his roster. Olympiacos did not panic in any way. When you come back again, that means it is no coincidence. There is no chance that Olympiacos gives up in the last two years. It does not lose if it trails by 10, 15 or 29 points. It just keeps fighting, stands up and attacks. It plays basketball and scored 100 points in a Euroleague final. In this case, Real Madrid was the victim, like CSKA last season."

Sport-fm.gr
By Nikos Zerbas

"When players like Teodosic, Papaloukas, Mavrokefalidis, Bourousis, Nesterovic, Halperin and Lucas left the team in summer 2011, the budget shrank and many believed that winning the Euroleague would become a distant memory, but the club's new model went over and above all expectations. With several kids and good foreigners under the guidance of Dusan Ivkovic on the bench and Spanoulis on the floor, Olympiacos returned to the top in Greece last year – after 15 seasons. Some may have called last year's epic results coincidence, luck or anything else, but Olympiacos's triumph last weekend in London testified that nothing was accidental. Olympiacos triumphed relying heavily on many young Greek players, forging a team with a character never seen before - rallying from -19 in the final 12 minutes of the final against CSKA, from -15 in Game 5 of the playoffs against Efes and from -17 against Real Madrid. Olympiacos proved it can play against all basketball styles and kept its throne with a Greek coach, Georgios Bartzokas. It has a leader who knows everything about the Final Four."

Eurohoops.net
By Lefteris Moutis

http://www.eurohoops.net/2013/05/league-action/25186

"Olympiacos started the season as the Euroleague champions and ended it the same way. Despite starting the game being behind in the scoreboard by 17 points after the first quarter (27-10) the Reds got the 100-88 win. Αfter changing their coach from Dusan Ivkovic to Giorgos Bartzokas and replacing center Joey Dorsey midseason, the Greeks were proven to be the team of destiny. For the first time since Maccabi Tel Aviv’s run in 2004 and 2005, a team defends its title in Euroleague and they did it in a spectacular way, playing in London probably their best basketball this season."

Superbasket.gr
BY Spiros Kavalieratos

http://www.superbasket.gr/permalink/181808.html

"Olympiacos had yet another legendary comeback. Down 10-27 after 10 minutes against Real Madrid, Olympiacos retained the Euroleague crown by rallying past the "Madrileños" 100-88 behind the lead of Vassilis Spanoulis. The boss of the European champions was absent in the first half, but beat Madrid's defense in the last two quarters, with great support from Acie Law, Kyle Hines, Pero Antic, Stratos Perperoglou, Kostas Sloukas and Georgios Bartzokas's young armada. Vassilis Spanoulis was chosen as the Final Four MVP."

OnSports

http://www.onsports.gr/basket/Final-Four/item/316057-Euroleague-O-basilias-einai-xana-Olympiakos

"Olympiacos rewrote its own history by winning the Euroleague title for the second consecutive season, after a great display against Real Madrid. The Reds managed to pull another incredible upset after finding themselces down by 17 points in the first quarter (10-27) to win the game 100-88. The Reds were the third team in Final Four history to repeat, after Jugoplastika and Maccabi, keeping the trophy in Greece. (...) The show came to an end when Papanikolaou gave Olympacos a 14-point lead, which forced Real to accept its gate. Olympiacos fans were at The O2 singing and expecting the time to pick up the trophy. Real went on a 0-6 run which Spanoulis killed with an unbelievable three-pointer for a 90-79 score with 1:33 to go. Olympiacos proclaimed its power against Madrid, which could not win the Euroleague for the 19th consecutive season. Meanwhile, the Reds rewrote their own history, holding the trophy in their hands for the second consecutive year.

Sport24
By Stefanos Triantafillos

http://www.sport24.gr/Basket/Euroleague/olympiakos-real_madriths_100-88.2249711.html

"Both coaches changed their plan and this favoured Olympiacos, which found answers off the bench. Perperoglou downed two three-pointers which opened the game, Katsivelos found the way to the basket and created for his teammates. Antic and Hines made their team's defense tougher and slowly, Georgios Bartzokas's team got within 24-31 with Spanoulis on the bench. (...) Defensive pressure, rebounding and running the floor allowed Olympiacos to keep adding points. Pablo Laso tried Mirotic at center along with Rudy, Llull, Carroll and Sergio Rodriguez. Bartzokas reacted by puting Sloukas, Law and Spanoulis together on court. Spanoulis scored the decisive basket of the game with 1:30 left. With his three-pointer, the score was 90-79. Olympiacos kept its difference in the final minute and reached a historic win.

Sport.gr
Spyros Polychronopoulos

"The final did not start well for Olympiacos, as neither good defense played, nor right choices were made on offense. Real managed to find early pace while a peculiar defense, leading Olympiacos to penetrations easily stopped by Begic. With this defense and a 3 of 4 three-pointers, Real took a 13-5 lead after 5 minutes, forcing Bartzokas to call timeout. (...) Olympiacos defense once again led the way and the Reds' confidence began to slowly rise as its deficit went down. Antic cut the difference to five points, 28-33, with 3 minutes to go in the first half. After a tragic first period, Olympiacos beat Madrid 27-14 to get from -17 to -4, 37-41. Spanoulis stepped up with three consecutive three-pointers (!) putting Olympiacos ahead in the game (48-45). (...) At the start of the fourth period, the Reds were balanced on defense, holding Real to a single point for three minutes, while at the same time Law and Spanoulis gave their team at eight-point lead (70-62), after a 60-35 run! Real did not surrender but Olympiacos showed character found answers and Shermadini made it a 12-point game, 82-70, with 5 minutes left."


SPAIN

Marca
By Jesus Sanchez

http://www.marca.com/2013/05/12/baloncesto/final-four/1368392375.html

"Olympiacos, the Final Four Cinderella, once again lifted the Euroleague trophy in a remake of the movie that produced in Istanbul and had so much success last season. For the first time since 2005, a club defends its title, which Maccabi did then and Olympiacos did just now (100-88). It is impossible to underestimate them ever again. Despite its great start, Madrid could not do anything and ended up failing in the game which it took so much to arrive. It lacked toughness and experience. So many years had gone by, 18, that it was difficult to remember how to handle a final like this. Madrid competed, but lost. Laso's team pay a high price for its lack of experience even when the start of the game was an exhibition. It was the first Euroleague final for all of his players and also for the Vitoria-born coach. In the end, they couldn't escape from that. Olympiacos's defense, outstanding in the semifinals against CSKA, also managed to deactivate Madrid, which could not match the Greeks' aggressiveness from the 10th minute.

Mundo Deportivo
By Jesus Perez Ramos

http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20130512/baloncesto/euroliga/olympiacos-madrid-final-euroliga_54374036491.html

"Real Madrid managed to pass the semifinals test by downing FC Barcelona, the reigning Spanish League champion, but did not manage to do the same against the King of Europe, Olympiacos, a team with not so many talented player but which plays tougher, by far, than any other team in the competition. (...) The team coached by Georgios Bartzokas and led by Vassilis Spanoulis deserves great credit. It managed to wait for its moment without falling apart. If it was able to rally from a 19-point deficit in last season's final to defeat CSKA, it overcame a 17-point deficir against Madrid, beating its opponent by 90-61 in the final 30 minutes. Laso tried to stop his opponents' rhythm with a zone defense in which Slaughter was guarding Spanoulis closely, but it didn't work. Both teams were tied at 61-61 after 30 minutes but Olympiacos took off and 5 minutes later, it had a 14-point lead, 84-70, and the title in its pocket. This defeat left Madrid just close to the title. It had a good Euroleague season but lacked that final step. The Spanish League is now its only chance to get a title this season."

El Pais
By Robert Alvarez

http://deportes.elpais.com/deportes/2013/05/12/actualidad/1368372057_610284.html

"Voracity, courage and master tactics allowed Olympiacos, with its relentless, effective executors Law, Hines and Spanoulis, finished with a dream that Real Madrid had for 18 years. Its last generation, coached by Pablo Laso, was not able to defeat an opponent that handled its resources with masterful effectiveness. Precisely, Madrid lacked that essential, undeniable virtue - dominating the scene. After a dream-like first quarter, it lost its pace and started to stumble at the same speed it plays, falling apart outplayed by its opponent and possibly, by the importance of a game which it had watched on TV for almost two decades. Experience, courage and an outstanding management of its own resources catapulted Olympiacos to a second consecutive crown, something that nobody did after Maccabi in 2005. The Greek team confirmed its historic title won against CSKA a year ago. Back then, it rallied from 19 down in the last 12 minutes. This time in London, it gave a first warning by dismantling, again, the Russian team in the semifinals. Against Madrid, it rallied from a 17-point, first-quarter deficit (10-27). Madrid was short-handed after such an incredible start."

El Mundo
By Mario Diaz

http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2013/05/12/baloncesto/1368383888.html

"It is tough that anybody will question a Greek team's faith or think on other team as favourite that doesn't come from this country. Four of the last five Euroleague titles are in Athens and also the last one, the one in London. Even when Real Madrid managed to get a 17-point deficit or that Rudy Fernandez scored 20 points. The Euroleague final had an assigned owner, no matter what. Vassilis Spanoulis is the only active player with three Final Four MVP trophies and, maybe, also the only player that despite reaching halftime with a -10 index, has ended up being decisive. (...) The hero needed to give its final strike - his fifth three-point shots, Teodosic style, from nine meter with his defender's hand on his face, taking all responsabilitis. A direct hit to Madrid's heart, a team that must wait for its ninth title but that must keep the biggest lesson learned in London - never to question the faith of a Greek team."


ENGLAND

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/may/10/basketball-london-euroleague-finals?INTCMP=SRCH

Told earlier this year that Barcelona would in May be taking on Real Madrid in a showpiece end-of-season European final in London before a sell-out crowd, the thoughts of most sports fans would turn to Ronaldo and Messi gracing Wembley. But although their footballing counterparts foundered at the Champions League's semi-final stage, the Spanish sides are two of the best four basketball teams in Europe competing this weekend at the O2 Arena in the Euroleague finals.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/may/10/euroleague-london-uk-franchise?INTCMP=SRCH

Euroleague's chief executive, Jordi Bertomeu, has predicted that London could establish a top-flight Euroleague side within the next three years. After signing a deal to bring the showpiece Euroleague Final Four end of season play-offs to the O2 in London for two years, Bertomeu is also holding talks with domestic officials about the best way forward to establish a UK franchise.

The Times

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/article3760213.ece

The Champions League of basketball comes to London tomorrow in an effort to sell a version of the professional game that prides itself on not being the NBA. Few British sports fans will be familiar with Euroleague basketball but organisers hope a three-day season finale staged in the O2 arena will change that as they use London as a bridgehead into a potentially lucrative, geographically strategic but as yet relatively indifferent market.

The Daily Mail
By Sunni Upal

"Olympiakos stormed back from a 17-point deficit to defeat Real Madrid 100-88 and retain their Euroleague title in front of over 15,000 fans at London's O2 Arena. The Spanish side started strong and held a commanding 27-10 lead after the first quarter, but an 8-0 run for the Greeks at the start of the second period changed the momentum in the final. Olympiakos trailed 41-37 at half-time before MVP Vassilis Spanoulis stole the show and sent his team on their way. After a pointless opening two periods, Spanoulis hit three 3-pointers in quick succession and Olympiakos edged in front at 48-45. The teams were tied at 61-61 after the third period before another 3-pointer from Spanoulis with just over seven minutes remaining put the Greek side up by eight points and in sight of victory. Spanoulis would sink one more 3-pointer in the dying moments to finish with 22 points, ahead of team-mate Acie Law with 20. Rudy Fernandez led Madrid's scoring with 21 points, but they were made to settle for second place in London. Earlier in the day, CSKA Moscow held on to beat Barcelona 74-73 in the third place play-off."

Reuters, UK news agency

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/basketball-olympiakos-storm-past-madrid-retain-euroleague-title-211558501.html

"Inspired by a vocal travelling support who defied Greece's economic problems to make the trip to London, Olympiakos battled back from 27-10 down after the first quarter of the Euroleague final to take the lead early in the second half.

"They rarely looked threatened, shooting 39 points in the fourth quarter to clinch their third Euroleague title 100-88. (...) The team's talisman Vassilis Spanoulis dominated the second half, shooting a total of five three-pointers and notching up four assists. He was voted the Final Four's most valuable player for the third time and finished top scorer with 22 points. A 21-point haul for Rudy Fernandez, who quit the National Basketball Association to return to Madrid last year, could do little to stem the tide."

MVP 247
By Mark Woods

http://www.mvp247.com/2013/05/euroleague-final-2013/

“It came against the odds, not just with the bookmakers this weekend, but amid financial turmoil in Greece and within Olympiacos itself, forcing changes behind the scenes, off-court uncertainties and a degree of doubt that they had enough to live again with the very best. In the first Final Four in the UK, they brought a shine to the proceedings and fireworks to finish.

‘100 points is an amazing achievement,’ Spanoulis smiled, shortly before being drenched – along with Bartzokas - by his team-mates in the post-game press conference. ‘I don’t think any other team has achieved it in the Final Four where defences are dominant. But this team has amazing chemistry. Everyone knows their role.’ The Greek gods were smiling. On Mount Olympus, they know the pleasure of heavenly delights.”

ESPN UK

http://www.espn.co.uk/more/sport/story/206935.html#lHCwjvs9PzLbHyj6.99

"Olympiacos successfully defended their Euroleague basketball title with an impressive 100-88 victory over Real Madrid at the O2 Arena in London. Madrid, drawn as the visiting team, took the early advantage when establishing a 17-point lead after the first quarter but defending champions Olympiacos showed their class in winning the next three.

"Vassilis Spanoulis top-scored with 22 points for the Greek side, and team-mate Acie Law also netted 20 points to push his team to victory. Rudy Fernandez kept Madrid in the match with 21 points, but The Reds proved too strong in front of the 15,169 crowd."

Sky Sports

http://www1.skysports.com/basketball/news/12375/8710066

“Olympiacos Piraeus won the Turkish Airlines Euroleague crown for the second straight year after a 100-88 victory over Real Madrid Baloncesto in London. Vassilis Spanoulis exploded for 22 points - all of which came in the second half - as the Greek side battled back from a slow start to triumph in front of a vocal following at the O2 Arena. A total of six Olympiacos players scored in double figures as their Spanish opponents were unable to build on an impressive run in the first quarter.

Talkbasket
John Hobbs

http://www.talkbasket.net/7770

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion, and never underestimate Vassilis Spanoulis. The regular season MVP turned a woeful first half and replied with 22 points to lead Olympiacos to a 100–88 victory over Real Madrid to claim back-to-back Euroleague crowns, the second team in the Euroleague era to do so after Maccabi Electra did it in 2004 and 2005. Acie Law poured in 20 points and Kyle Hines 12, but this was about Spanoulis, who was an easy choice for the Final Four’s Most Valuable Player, becoming only the second player to win that MVP award three times. Toni Kukoc was the other player to achieve that feat. When Spanoulis was out of synch; so were his side, when he was form; man, so were the champs. (...) Carlos Suarez led a mini-fightback and after three periods, the game was nicely balanced at 61-61 heading to the last quarter. Then Olympiacos’ true spirit shone. A 10-0 start rocked the Liga Endesa side, and despite pulling it to within five thanks to Jaycee Carroll but a 9-0 burst ended all hope. Even then, Madrid planned a fightback … the last word though, fell to Spanoulis. His three made it 90-79, and the game was over."

London 24

Olympiacos Piraeus roared back from a double-digit deficit to retain their Euroleague title as London hosted European basketball’s premier Final Four competition for the first time. The Reds bested Real Madrid 100-88 at the O2 Arena in Greenwich after trailing by 17 at the end of the opening quarter and, in doing so, became just the fourth team to win back-to-back crowns in the Final Four era. The title is the third continental crown in Olympiacos’s illustrious history. Before beating CSKA Moscow last season in Istanbul, they defeated FC Barcelona in the 1997 title game in Rome.

http://www.isportconnect.com/
By Steve Moorhouse

http://www.isportconnect.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19320&catid=30&Itemid=37

"The amount of tickets purchased by British fans who saw Olympiacos take the Euroleague Final Four title at The O2 in London was higher than the organisers expected. The O2 hosted the Final Four on Friday 10 May and Sunday 12 May which was sold out at a 16,145 capacity. It was the first time Euroleague Basketball had been witnessed on British soil and figures showed that 30% of tickets were bought through the UK ticket store."


RUSSIA

RIA Novosti

http://en.ria.ru/sports/20130512/181107168-print/CSKA-Beats-Barcelona-for-3rd-at-Euroleague-Final-Four.html

CSKA Moscow recovered some pride Sunday by beating Barcelona 74-73 to take third place at Euroleague basketball’s Final Four in London. CSKA bounced back from a 69-52 semifinal crushing by Olympiacos on Friday and responded well to coach Ettore Messina’s pleas for the players to show dedication and teamwork in the third-place game instead of playing like “a bunch of rabbits.”

"Survival of the fittest," CSKA guard Aaron Jackson said of the hectic finish, in comments to R-Sport. "We stuck with it, especially on defense, to the end and we came away with the win."

MKRU
By Juliana Urban

http://www.mk.ru/sport/article/2013/05/13/853042-evroliga-pochemu-zavelis-basketbolistyi-tsska.html

"Half an hour before the game. Several people started singing right on the escalator at the exit of the metro station North Greenwich, where The O2 arena is located. Not singing in Russian. It was thought that maybe it the Spaniards. It turned out to be the Greeks. Fans of Olympiacos flocked to the sport center for three and a half hours before the game…

"And after three and a half hours the Greeks deservedly celebrated the victory. Olympiacos for the second time in a row won the league and scored in the game with Real 100 points. London was waiting for a Greek night..."

RG.RU
By Paul Zarudny

http://www.rg.ru/2013/05/12/evroliga-site.html

CSKA won the third place in the "Final Four", although we all waited for the team more ...


ISRAEL

Haaretz
By Shaul Adar,

"Antic provided two dunks during Olympiacos’ run that saw the Greeks trail by a mere four-point margin at half time. The momentum changed, and the Greeks rode the energy that was coming from the stands. In an almost fully-packed arena − minus the seats purchased by CSKA fans − the Olympiacos fans totally silenced the Real supporters, and demonstrated to the English how a basketball event should look and sound when the stakes are high. There were moments when a three-point shot was making its way toward Real’s hoop that one could practically hear the O2 Arena holding its breath − and exploding with a Greek-Catalonian celebration as the ball hit home. This happened over and over again during Vassilis Spanoulis’s incredible run of three-pointers in the beginning of the second half. This writer can think of only one moment reminiscent of this magic, in Istanbul, 2005, when Liverpool won the Champions League final, coming back from a 0-3 deficit. (...) In last year’s final, against CSKA, Olympiacos also cut down a huge deficit, so this probably wasn’t a fluke. The players on court became aggressive in defense, while Real’s three-pointers weren’t as accurate as in the opening half, but all this would have been impossible without the fans’ support. When Spanoulis scored his fifth three-pointer a minute and half before the buzzer, there was not doubt it was all over. The O2 Arena was buzzing, and all the woes were forgotten. For a while, at least."


FRANCE

L'Equipe
By Xavier Colombani

http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/Actualites/L-olympiakos-is-for-real/370594

"Olympiacos is for Real! Olympiakos was a surprise champion last year. So what about back-to-back wins by the team from Piraeus? It was well-deserved if you see what they showed in London. Predictions are worth something until the truth is revealed and this time it told that the best game of the Final Four belonged to the Reds. Collective control of the board despite a lot of small ball, ability to bounce back from low moments, be on fire in the high moments and impose its game, it all worked for Olympiacos. That was difficult to say at the end of the first quarter, when Real led by 17 points - yes, 17 points, 10-27. (...) Spanoulis placed Olympiakos on track starting the third quarter with three consecutive three-point baskets (48-45, 23e). Real held on through Rudy, Sergio Rodriguez and Llull and both teams are tied at 61-61 after 30 minutes. 61 points scores by Olympiacos? This means that they scored 39 points in the last 10 minutes! Real could not keep up, as CSKA did in the semifinals. (...) How to contain them when Spanoulis had 22 second-half points? There were no answers. For the ninth time - third for Olympiacos - as Greek team won the Euroleague. It is the first title for a Greek coach - Georgios Bartzokas."


ITALY

La Gazzetta dello Sport
Pietro Scibetta,

"Olympiacos became the first Greek team to win consecutive Euroleague titles, triumphing at The O2 in London after yet another fabulous comeback. The Greeks trailed 27-10 after 10 minutes against an absolutely heavenly Real Madrid. Three blocks by Mirza Begic set the tone on defense and three-pointers by Fernandez, Mirotic and Llull (5-of-7 for Madrid in the first quarter) did the rest against a disoriented Olympiacos. Everything changed from the second quarter, when the intensity provided by Olympiacos's second unit (Antic, Sloukas, Katsivelis and Hines) slowed down their opponents. Acie Law had 8 points before the break and showed his team the way to come back. (...) Spanoulis was horrendous in the first half (-10 index) but fabulous after that. The Euroleague MVP hit three three-pointer in just over a minute (48-45) but the defensive work of Dontaye Draper allowed Real to to come, tying the game at the end of the third quarter. Then Olympiacos won its second title with a series of copyrighted plays."


USA

Euroleague Adventures
By Sam Meyerkopf

http://euroleagueadventures.com/olympiacos-is-the-comeback-champion/

"It’s some you can’t describe. Heart. A trust in your teammates. Going through experiences together that make you stronger in only the way a team can. Coming back is a skill, a skill Olympiacos has mastered. On Sunday evening in London the Greek team made history as they won Championship number two in their back to back championships in a 100-88 win over Real Madrid. But down 17 in the first half, similar to being down by 19 to CSKA Moscow last year, there was never a sense of “this is over”. A team that believes in each other is one that never lets pessimism exist...

"As Coach Bartzokas said, this team has soul. A soul that can’t give up. Playing with undersized big men, a star who had one of his worst halves of the season, and down by double figures to what most call the most talented team in Europe, they didn’t blink. Trying to describe the ability to comeback is no easy task but forever on we don’t need to."

kbtx.com

“Former Texas A&M men’s basketball All-American Acie Law IV made headlines Sunday as he helped lead Olympiacos Piraeus to a come-from-behind 100-88 victory over Real Madrid in the Euroleague title game. Law, who starred for the Aggies from 2003-07 and earned consensus All-America and Big 12 Player of the Year honors as a senior, was named the player of the game during Sunday’s contest. The 6-foot-3 guard scored 20 points and dished out a game-high five assists as Olympiacos Piraeus defeated Real Madrid to claim its second consecutive and third overall Euroleague Championship. ‘It's an amazing feeling,’ Law said following the victory. ‘We didn't stop believing for one second, and that's what makes this team special. To win back-to-back is really crazy. I'm so happy and proud to be part of this team. We were down by 17 in the first quarter, but made it back to win this game. Everybody on this team deserves credit.’ During his standout career in Aggieland, Law carved a special spot for himself in A&M basketball history by leading the Aggies to three straight postseason appearances, including a run to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2006-07.”


GERMANY

Kicker

http://www.kicker.de/news/basketball/startseite/586155/artikel_piraeus-verteidigt-seinen-titel.html#omsearchresult

"Olympiacos has successfully defended its Euroleague title despite a false start in front of 15,169 fans in London, including German football player Lukas Podolski. The 10-time Greek champions defeated Real Madrid in the final, 100-88, despite a big setback in the first quarter. In Euroleague history, which started under this name in the 2000-01 season, only Maccabi Tel Aviv of Israel had been able to succeed on defending the title - 2004 and 2005. It looked like it would stay that way in the beginning of a dream-like final for Piraeus. The 30-time Spanish League champions clearly had a better start - an impressive offensive performance combined with a solid defensive work gave Real a 27-10 lead after 10 minutes. The Greeks fought back bravely and its powerful backup players allowed them to win."


LITHUANIA

Basketnews.lt
By Jonas Miklovas

"Georgios Bartzokas and Vassilis Spanoulis were in press conference when several of Olympiacos team members broke into the room Pero Antic, Kostas Sloukas, Martynas Gecevicius and other Olympiacos players ran over to his coach and leader, as they poured water on them, shoting and laughing. It was something new and unprecedented. And it was a real, natural and human thing to do. Olympiacos repeated as the Euroleague champion, even when now it seems that it didn't come as a surprise. They kept 10 players for its champion squad last season and defending the title that the Reds unexpectedly won last year. Something like this was expected this season but Olympiacos were considered the outsiders in both the semifinals and the final.

“Not only Spanoulis, but Olympiacos recorded his name in Euroleague history. Winning back-to-back Euroleague titles is extremely difficult - only two teams did it in the last 25 years, Jugoplastika Split (1989-1991) and Maccabi Tel Aviv, led by Sarunas Jasikevicius, Anthony Parker and Pini Gershon (2004-05).


FYR of MACEDONIA

MINA

http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/23301/50/

“Olympiakos Piraeus defeated Real Madrid 100-88 with a dominant second half display to win Europe's premier basketball trophy for the second year running at London's O2 arena on Sunday. Olympiacos battled back from 27-10 down after the first quarter of the Euroleague final to take the lead early in the second half and rarely looked threatened thereafter. Their ironclad defence allowed the Spanish side just 14 points in the second quarter and 20 in the third, with the team's talisman Vassilis Spanoulis top scorer with 22 points. Macedonian forward Pero Antic played excellent defense and scored 10 pts, adding 6 rebounds.”


AUSTRALIA

Perth Now

“A disappointing Euroleague basketball finals came to an end for Boomers star Joe Ingles as Barcelona went down to CSKA Moscow by one point in the third-place playoff. After losing to Real Madrid in Friday's semi-finals, Ingles had another frustrating night in a 74-73 defeat at London's O2 Arena. Greek side Olympiacos beat Real Madrid in the final to secure their second straight title. In what is likely to be his last game for the Spanish club, Ingles had a quiet night in contributing seven points in 16 minutes of game time. But it took nothing away from what has been a stellar season for the 25-year-old.”


CROATIA

Index.hr
By Bojan Petrovic

In the Euroleague finals played in London's O2 arena in front of 15,000 spectators, Olympiacos showed once again its huge heart that completely won over all the fans in London. The Greek side defended its Euroleague title by beating Real Madrid 100-88, even though it trailed by 17 points after 10 minutes of play. Madrid did great to open the game, and led 27-10 after the first quarter. It leaked from everywhere, and Olympiacos could not organize anything nor hit any shots. Madrid players made 11 of 15 field goals, but with Vassilis Spanoulis going out in the second quarter, Olympiacos became more aggressive on defense. Led with Acie Law and Kyle Hines, it got back into the game and trailed by only 4 points at halftime… Spanoulis started the second half with 3 back-to-back triples that gave Olympiacos 48-45 lead. But that was only beginning of the end for Real Madrid, which did not have answers for a fanatic and devoted defense of a magnificent team of coach Georgios Bartzokas, a team every basketball fan should bow to…this is the third continental crown for Olympiacos, and they’ve become the first team after Maccabi in 2005 to defend its title.


Vecernji list
By Drazen Brajdic

http://www.vecernji.hr/sport/kosarka/europsku-kosarkasku-povijest-pise-cedevita-clanak-553258

Magnificent Olympiacos Euroleague title defense reminded us of the words of the NBA coach with Croatian roots Rudy Tomjanovich. “Never underestimate heart of the champions”, said Rudy [Tomjanovich] after his Rockets defended the NBA title with the sixth best regular season record. Something similar happened with the team from Piraeus. Barley anyone, except them, believed they could repeat their Istanbul miracle. Their opponents underestimated them, especially CSKA Moscow in the semifinals, and off such spring-board, the Reds jumped all the way up into the skies. On Sunday evening, after their 100-88 win over Real Madrid, 47-year old head coach Georgios Bartzokas will have a God-like status, even though at the beginning of November, Cedevita Zagreb almost cost him his job. And Bartozkas marked that exact game, and 79-77 victory, as a turning point. One made basket by Bracey Wright, and Bartzokas would not have had a chance to become the first Greek coach to win a Euroleague title with a Greek club, after clubs won eight titles with Serbian coaches - Obradovic 5 times, Ivkovic 2, and Maljkovic once…That was the time when Olympiacos got rid of American center Joey Dorsey, who said there was no chemistry, and that no one wanted to play defense because everyone only looks at their own stats. All that Dorsey said were exact virtues of Olympiacos at this Final Four.


SLOVENIA

Siol Sportal

http://www.siol.net/sportal/kosarka/evroliga/rezultati/2013/05/evroliga_zakljucni_turnir.aspx

The O2 in London was home to a spectacular Euroleague ending. Olympiacos defended its title, defeating Real Madrid 100-88 in a great title game. Madrid opened the game with a tough defense, and used all mistakes by the reigning champions to take 27-10 lead...In the second quarter we have seen a totally opposite picture. Greek players made an 8-0 run and the game was once again wide-open...In the second half, Olympiacos players started flying all over the court, and on top of it all, their leader Vassilis Spanoulis, who did not score in the first half, hit 3 consecutive three-pointers and Greek team took over the lead. Real Madrid got back, and before the decisive 10 minutes, score was tied 61-61. But Madrid's dominance from the first quarter was nowhere to be found. Olympiacos knew how to take over control of the game, and 4 minutes before the end raise its lead to 85-71. Madrid's game fell apart. For the winning side there were five double-digits scorers, but the hero was Spanoulis who scored all of his 22 points in the second half...It is the third Euroleague title in Olympiacos history, and it became only the fourth side in the last 24 years to defend its Euroleague title.


SERBIA

B92.net
By A. Gutovic

http://www.b92.net/sport/kosarka/vesti.php?yyyy=2013&mm=05&dd=12&nav_id=713193

The miracle has happened again. Olympiacos has defended its Euroleague trophy by beating Real Madrid 100-88 in The O2 in London. The title game irresistibly reminded us of the last year's final when Olympiacos came back from 19 points down to celebrate victory over CSKA Moscow. This time, Real Madrid led by 17 points after the first quarter, but Georgios Bartzokas team played a furious reminder of the game, scored 90 points in 30 minutes and completely deserved to win the third Euroleague title in club's history. Just like a year ago, Olympiacos arrived to the Final Four as an underdog but it played the best basketball in London, and it has become the first team since Maccabi in 2005 to defend the most prestigious European trophy. The Reds of Piraeus demonstrated that money definitely is not crucial in European basketball today, above all it was their team play, and the trophy is going back to Athens again.

Blic.rs
By B Vinulovic

http://sport.blic.rs/Kosarka/Evropska-kosarka/233015

The great European clubs still did not learn their lesson from Olympiacos at the Euroleague Final Four. This year again, despite continuous adjudications and underestimating, team from Piraeus won the Euroleague title by beating Real Madrid 100-88. They are only the second team to defend its title in this format of the competition after Maccabi did it in 2005. Besides that, Olympiacos head coach Georgios Bartzokas is the first Greek coach to lead a team to a continental title. It all looked a lot like last year's final against CSKA Moscow, when Olympiacos rallied from a 19-point deficit, but this time, the last-second drama was avoided. In the start of the game, Llull, Fernandez and Mirotic played like in trans, and Begic was blocking shots to stop the offense of the Greek team. But in the reminder of the game Olympiacos showed that we will be watching a replay of the Istanbul title game...As far as the fourth quarter, it is enough to say that the team from Piraues scored 39 points in that period. Spanoulis hit a triple to give notice of what's about to happen, and more shots behind 6.75 arc stopped every Madrid's flurry and ended their hope of a comeback.


TURKEY

Hurriyet Daily News
By Selim Akan

“Life makes beautiful stories, and I want to thank everybody that belongs to Olympiacos. We had a very difficult time throughout the year. It was a very difficult situation with injuries and people were talking against us. But we reached the summit again. Our character is of a team that never gives up.’ These are the words of coach Georgios Bartzokas, who succeeded in leading his team to seal back-to-back Euroleague titles, with a superb comeback from 17 points over Real Madrid on May 12, thanks to MVP Vassilis Spanoulis and passionate supporters. To be a champion is a hard thing, but to defend the title is much harder. It requires herculean effort. Few thought the beautiful story of Olympiacos would end like this, at least before the matches in London’s O2 Arena. And no one would have been surprised if CSKA Moscow, the team who had a 10-0 regular season, 5-1 Top 16 and 3-1 playoff record in the competition, had eliminated Olympiacos in the semifinals. But the Pireaus team gave the first signal, keeping them at 52 points, while they have an average of 78 in the regular season.”


POLAND

Dziennik.pl

In total, for the third time in a row and fifth in the last seven seasons, a Greek club won the most prestigious club basketball competition in Europe. The fate of the game was resolved in the fourth quarter; through three quarters it was tied at 61. Leading the winners with 22 points was Vassilis Spanoulis and with 20 Acie Law. The most successful for Madrid was Rudy Fernandez, who scored 21.]]> The toast of Piraeus! Thousands of Olympiacos fans waited for the back-to-back Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions upon their arrival to Eleftherios Venizelos airport on Monday afternoon. In front of a triumphant atmosphere, Olympiacos players, coaches, owners and staff members were welcomed back as heroes. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113719/180/the-toast-of-piraeus http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113719/180/the-toast-of-piraeus Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45634/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/29f/filename/players-olympiacos-piraeus-celebrates-piraeus-athens-final-four-london-2013-photo-eurohoops-net-and-newsports-eu.jpg 10271 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45634/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/0fe/filename/players-olympiacos-piraeus-celebrates-piraeus-athens-final-four-london-2013-photo-eurohoops-net-and-newsports-eu.jpg 48458 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45634/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/222/filename/players-olympiacos-piraeus-celebrates-piraeus-athens-final-four-london-2013-photo-eurohoops-net-and-newsports-eu.jpg 25494 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45634/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/144/filename/players-olympiacos-piraeus-celebrates-piraeus-athens-final-four-london-2013-photo-eurohoops-net-and-newsports-eu.jpg 11605 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45634/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/aad/filename/players-olympiacos-piraeus-celebrates-piraeus-athens-final-four-london-2013-photo-eurohoops-net-and-newsports-eu.jpg 77996 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Players Olympiacos Piraeus celebrates Piraeus, Athens - Final Four London 2013 (photo Eurohoops.net and Newsports.eu)
Thousands of Olympiacos fans waited for the back-to-back Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions upon their arrival to Eleftherios Venizelos airport on Monday afternoon. In front of a triumphant atmosphere, Olympiacos players, coaches, owners and staff members were welcomed back as heroes. Georgios Printezis and three-time Final Four MVP Vassilis Spanoulis had the honour to bring the trophy back to Greek soil off the plane. The entire Olympiacos family hopped on a bus and some players went up to its roof with the Euroleague trophy - Spanoulis, Acie Law, Kyle Hines, Printezis, Pero Antic and Kostas Papanikolao, along with his Aggelopoulos brothers - to celebrate with all fans surrounding it. "Here they are, here they are - the champions" was the most repeated slogan by Olympiacos fans. The bus slowly moved forward to get to Peace and Friendship stadium, where Olympiacos fans, despite the rain, remained until late at night, celebrating and singing. There will be little time for more celebrations, however, as Olympiacos must get back to work to face Apollon Patras in the Greek League.

Karolos Papoulias, president of the Greek republic, and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sent respective messages to congratulate the team. "Your success in a major European event for the second consecutive year, is an example for all of us - with your methodical work, a focus on the goal, and above all faith in our strengths, we can reach the top. On behalf of all Greeks, a big 'thank you'," he added. " Papoulias said. "From my heart, congratulations to Olympiacos for its second consecutive Euroleague title and the thrill that gave to everyone," Samaras said minutes after the game.]]> 'Basketball Capitals' premieres in London! One the eve of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four, the world premiere of ESPN’s brand new documentary series, Basketball Capitals, presented by Turkish Airlines, took place at a gala dinner in the fabulous Natural History Museum in London. The four-piece series portrays the passion for basketball in four of the world's and Euroleague's most iconic cities - Athens, Berlin, Istanbul and Madrid. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113721/180/basketball-capitals-premieres-in-london http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113721/180/basketball-capitals-premieres-in-london Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 14 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 xTurkish Airlines Basketball Capitals ESPN
One the eve of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four, the world premiere of ESPN’s brand new documentary series, Basketball Capitals, presented by Turkish Airlines, took place at a gala dinner in the fabulous Natural History Museum in London. The four-piece series portrays the passion for basketball in four of the world's and Euroleague's most iconic cities - Athens, Berlin, Istanbul and Madrid.

SEE TRAILER | AIRING TIMES

“There are three things in life that I adore. I love sports, I love to travel and I love great stories. These movies are the vehicle that combines all those elements and all those loves,” said Esteban Apraez, Senior Director of ESPN International. “Sport were the gateway for me to understand the culture and the history and the cities in a way I never thought possible. I began to see how these cities were shaped by sports, and I wanted to document it, I wanted to discover more cities and to share all these experiences with the world. I wanted to open the gateway to millions of people, for some to discover, for others to re-discover, four of the greatest cities on planet Earth, through the beautiful, wondrous, spectacular language of basketball.”

Dr. Temel Kotil, President and CEO of Turkish Airlines, welcomed the VIP guests at the premiere. “Turkish Airlines is committed to the Euroleague and the sport of basketball, and I believe it is coming that Euroleague will be sport number one in Europe. We learn that sportsmen have physical fitness, they have the mind, but they also have a heart. If you combine heart, mind and the physical capabilities, you have the art of sports. We are committed to sports, we love the sports like we love our passengers.”

President and CEO of Euroleague Basketball Jordi Bertomeu thanked Turkish Airlines for being the Euroleague’s title sponsor and for years supporting the launching of many projects, including the Basketball Capitals documentary series. “This is an innovative project that will help us to promote our sport,” Bertomeu said. “The series of documentaries brings people close to our clubs, to our fans, to the players and to the fans. How they live, their feelings, their devotion, people get to see the gameday experience. Also, the series gets people closer to our cities. So, it is a perfect project that links cities with our clubs.”

Among the many distinguished guests in attendance at the gala event was Turkey’s ambassador to London, Mr. Ahmet Unal Cevikoz. “Last year, Istanbul was the host city for the Final Four. This year, Turkish Airlines is sponsoring activities here in London. I would like to express my appreciation to the teams competing in the Final Four. It’s a pity there is not a Turkish team among those, but the presence and the sponsorship of Turkish Airlines is quite a big privilege for us.”

The documentary series is due to premier across ESPN networks in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa on Tuesday, May 14.]]> Spanoulis named bwin MVP of 2013 Final Four Vassilis Spanoulis was voted bwin MVP for the 2013 Final Four in a vote by accredited media members at the Final Four. Spanoulis received the Final Four MVP honor for the third time in his career after leading Olympiacos Piraeus to the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague title at The O2 in London. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113736/180/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113736/180/spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-2013-final-four Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45638/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/e35/filename/vassilis-spanoulis-final-four-mvp-olympiacos-piraeus-champ-final-four-london-2013.jpg 14469 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45638/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/b86/filename/vassilis-spanoulis-final-four-mvp-olympiacos-piraeus-champ-final-four-london-2013.jpg 94226 Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0

Vassilis Spanoulis was voted bwin MVP for the 2013 Final Four in a vote by accredited media members at the Final Four. Spanoulis received the Final Four MVP honor for the third time in his career after leading Olympiacos Piraeus to the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague title at The O2 in London. He joins the legendary Toni Kukoc as the only players to have been named Final Four MVP on three occasions.

"This is exciting, I feel great! This is unbelievable; I cannot describe to you how I feel,” Spanoulis said. “This is something I never even imagined in my life. I have to thank my teammates, coaches and all those unbelievable fans. It is something amazing. One game lasts for 40 minutes and it took me a little while to figure out how they were playing me. Fortunately, we found answers. What we did is truly unbelievable and I cannot describe how big this is for us. Winning a third Final Four MVP and tying Toni Kukoc is something amazing. I worked very hard and again, I want to thank the Euroleague, teammates, coaches, fans... everybody who supported us and believed in me."

Spanoulis had a rough start to the championship game and at halftime was scoreless with a minus-10 performance index rating and 3 turnovers in 14 minutes and 25 seconds of playing time. Madrid trailed by 4 at halftime and was outscored by 12 in his time on the floor. But in the second half, his greatness shined through. He started the second half with back-to-back-to-back three-pointers and never looked back. Spanoulis went on to record 22 points over the last 20 minutes on 5-of-7 three-point shooting. His performance index rating in the second half was 23 as the Reds pulled away and claimed their third Euroleague crown.

Spanoulis becomes the second player in competition history to become Final Four MVP in the same season he was named Euroleague MVP. His former teammate Dimitris Diamantidis did the same in 2011.]]> Barca's Nate Jawai to miss rest of season FC Barcelona Regal big man Nate Jawai will miss the rest of the season due to his foot injury, the club announced in a press release Sunday morning. Accordingly, Jawai will not dress for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four third place game nor will he be available for the Spanish League playoffs. Jawai was first injured in a Spanish League game against Joventut Badalona just before the Final Four. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113541/180/barca-s-nate-jawai-to-miss-rest-of-season http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113541/180/barca-s-nate-jawai-to-miss-rest-of-season Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/806/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 10599 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/02d/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 53030 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/6f8/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 22875 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/208/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 10398 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/3a4/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 71112 Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 FC Barcelona Regal big man Nate Jawai will miss the rest of the season due to his foot injury, the club announced in a press release Sunday morning. Accordingly, Jawai will not dress for the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four third place game nor will he be available for the Spanish League playoffs. Jawai was first injured in a Spanish League game against Joventut Badalona just before the Final Four. He tried to play injured in the semifinal against Real Madrid on Saturday, but could only last one minute on the floor. Jawai ranked first in the Top 16 in true shooting percentage (70.5%) and second in field goal percentage (70.2%) among other accomplishments in his first year with Barcelona and third overall in the Euroleague. He averaged 7.1 points and 4.7 boards in 30 Euroleague games.]]> OLYMPIACOS PIRAEUS: FACTS OF THE CHAMPIONS! http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113630/180/olympiacos-piraeus-facts-of-the-champions http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113630/180/olympiacos-piraeus-facts-of-the-champions Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Olympiacos Basketball
...Olympiacos has just won its third Euroleague title! Olympiacos won its first Euroleague title in 1997 and did the same last season.

...Olympiacos has successfully defended the Euroleague title! Olimpia Milano (1987, 1988), KK Split (1989, 1990, 1991) and Maccabi Tel Aviv (2004, 2005) were the only teams to win consecutive titles in the Final Four era – but Olympiacos just joined them!

...Vassilis Spanoulis and Stratos Perperoglou have won their third Euroleague title! Both players won it together with Panathinaikos in 2009 and with Olympiacos tonight! Spanoulis lifted the trophy with Olympiacos in 2012 and Perperoglou did it with Panathinaikos in 2011.

...Perperoglou and Giorgi Shermadini have joined a select list of players to win the Euroleague with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos? Shermadini won it with Panathinaikos in 2009. Only three other players won the Euroleague with both teams - Lazaros Papadopoulos, Dimitris Papanikolaou and, of course, Spanoulis.

...as many as 10 Olympiacos players won the Euroleague together last season – and have repeated as Euroleague champion! Spanoulis, Kyle Hines, Georgios Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou, Pero Antic, Kostas Sloukas, Martynas Gecevicius, Acie Law, Dimitrios Katsivelis and Vangelis Mantzaris won the competition in 2012.

...Pero Antic and Giorgi Shermadini are the only players from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Georgia, respectively, to win the Euroleague title – and are not two-time Euroleague champions!

…Georgios Bartzokas is the first Greek coach to win the Euroleague title! Even when Greek teams combined for 9 Euroleague titles, this is the first-ever win for a Greek coach.]]> Vassilis Spanoulis, named bwin MVP of the 2012-13 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos Piraeus was named 2012-13 bwin Euroleague MVP at the EFES Euroleague Awards Ceremony held at the City Hall in London, England on Thursday. The day before the semifinals tip-off at The O2, the best players from the Final Four teams gathered with the rest of the global basketball elite attending the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113134/180/vassilis-spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-the-2012-13-turkish-airlines-euroleague http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113134/180/vassilis-spanoulis-named-bwin-mvp-of-the-2012-13-turkish-airlines-euroleague Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44721/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/8cd/filename/vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-piraeus-sasha-vujacic-anadolu-efes-istanbul.jpg 13337 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44721/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/265/filename/vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-piraeus-sasha-vujacic-anadolu-efes-istanbul.jpg 69148 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44721/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/0c2/filename/vassilis-spanoulis-olympiacos-piraeus-sasha-vujacic-anadolu-efes-istanbul.jpg 31299 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45276/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/4d0/filename/family.jpg 14322 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45276/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/36c/filename/family.jpg 90944 Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0
Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos Piraeus was named 2012-13 bwin Euroleague MVP at the EFES Euroleague Awards Ceremony held at the City Hall in London, England on Thursday. The day before the semifinals tip-off at The O2, the best players from the Final Four teams gathered with the rest of the global basketball elite attending the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. The attending members of the All-Euroleague First Team received their awards too, but it was Spanoulis who walked away with the biggest of them all. Spanoulis joined Nenad Krstic of CSKA Moscow, Ante Tomic of FC Barcelona Regal and Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid plus former Euroleague MVP Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos Athens on the All-Euroleague First Team. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos received the Rising Star award and Bobby Brown of Montepaschi Siena was on hand to pick up the Alphonso Ford Top Scoring trophy. Tomic and Fernandez were each named to the All-Euroleague team for the first time in their respective careers. Diamantidis claimed First Team honors for the fourth time, while Spanoulis and Krstic each received First Team trophies for the second time. Spanoulis, a two-time Final Four MVP in as many appearances in the event, was chosen as the Euroleague MVP for the first time.

Vassilis Spanoulis - Olympiacos - EB12Impressive as they are, statistics only tell part of the story for Spanoulis, who is the unquestionable leader of defending Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos Piraeus. Spanoulis, 30, is the ultimate combo-guard, who can lift his team with his scoring and passing, which go hand in hand to plague opposing defenses. He ranked among the league leaders in both categories, placing fourth in scoring (14.7 ppg.) and third in assists (5.59 apg.). The inability to guard Spanoulis is well represented by the fact that he led the league in fouls drawn (5.41 per game). All told, he is ninth in the league in average performance index rating (15.4). Spanoulis got the Reds rolling early this season and was duly rewarded as bwin MVP for November. He scored at least 9 points in every game before the playoffs, and when his shooting slumped in the series against Anadolu Efes, Spanoulis took over to lead the playoffs in assists (6.6 apg.). Now in his third season with Olympiacos, Spanoulis is also a two-time Euroleague champ, two-time Final Four MVP. This marks his fifth All-Euroleague selection.

"It is nice to win the MVP because the team made it to the Final Four and this is most important." Spanoulis said. "Winning an individual award is good but if your team also succeeds, it is a double pleasre. The team made it to the Final Four and we have the chance to do something good this year. You have work hard and be emotionally balanced with my feeling, not be too much up and down and every harder and harder, see your mistakes and improve every day."]]> 2012-13 All-Euroleague First and Second Teams announced Less than a week before a new Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion is crowned at the O2 in London, England, Euroleague Basketball is pleased to release the 2012-13 All-Euroleague First and Second Teams. Tens of thousands of fans from around the globe were able to cast votes for their favorite players, as did media members from each of the countries with Euroleague teams this season to choose the 10 nominees for the All-Euroleague teams, which were announced late last week. The All-Euroleague First Team features five superstars from as many different teams - Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos Athens, Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos Piraeus, Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid, Ante Tomic of FC Barcelona Regal and Nenad Krstic of CSKA Moscow. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113030/180/2012-13-all-euroleague-first-and-second-teams-announced http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113030/180/2012-13-all-euroleague-first-and-second-teams-announced Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45191/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/ef0/filename/allelteam-portada.jpg 14771 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45191/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/2f7/filename/allelteam-portada.jpg 92419 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0
EFES Euroleague Awards 2012-13
Less than a week before a new Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion is crowned at the O2 in London, England, Euroleague Basketball is pleased to release the 2012-13 All-Euroleague First and Second Teams. Tens of thousands of fans from around the globe were able to cast votes for their favorite players, as did media members from each of the countries with Euroleague teams this season to choose the 10 nominees for the All-Euroleague teams, which were announced late last week. The All-Euroleague First Team features five superstars from as many different teams - Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos Athens, Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos Piraeus, Rudy Fernandez of Real Madrid, Ante Tomic of FC Barcelona Regal and Nenad Krstic of CSKA Moscow. Diamantidis, Spanoulis and Krstic were First Team choices last season. Tomic and Fernandez have reached the All-Euroleague teams for the first time in their respective careers. Diamantidis has been named to the First Team for the fourth time, while Spanoulis and Krstic each received First Team honors for the second time. Spanoulis, however, had three previous Second Team selections. The All-Euroleague Second Team includes former Euroleague MVPs Milos Teodosic of CSKA and Juan Carlos Navarro of Barcelona, Viktor Khryapa also of CSKA, Nikola Mirotic of Madrid and Shawn James of Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv. Navarro is a member of the All-Euroleague teams for a record seventh time. Teodosic is in his third All-Euroleague appearance, Khryapa received his second nomination while Mirotic and James are All-Euroleague newcomers. The 2012-13 Euroleague MVP will be announced at the Efes Pilsener Euroleague Awards Ceremony on Thursday - a part of the #EUROLEAGUEisON event which also includes the official Opening Press Coneference, the Innovation in Sports Business Summit and a “One Team Arrives to London” CSR event.
Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
 Dimitris Diamantidis refused to allow what was supposed to be a rebuilding season for Panathinaikos Athens be anything short of a quest for the title. Although the Greens fell short of the Final Four by one game in an incredible playoffs series against Barcelona Regal, Diamantidis has plenty to be proud of as the leader of a remarkable squad. Diamantidis, 32, was the motor that fueled Panathinaikos. He continued to climb the all-time lists in the classic point guard categories by dishing the second-most assists in the league (5.78 apg.) and ranking fifth in steals (1.41 spg.). Even those numbers were stunted by an injury- abbreviated four-minute appearance in the Top 16 opener. Diamantidis remained a nuisance on defense too and received several votes for the Best Defender Trophy, which he has previously won six times. Since joining Panathinaikos in 2004, Diamantidis has won three Euroleague titles, two Final Four MVPs and the 2011 Euroleague MVP award. This is his fourth time appearing on the All-Euroleague Team.
Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Impressive as they are, statistics only tell part of the story for Vassilis Spanoulis, who is the unquestionable leader of defending Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos Piraeus. Spanoulis, 30, is the ultimate combo-guard, who can lift his team with his scoring and passing, which go hand in hand to plague opposing defenses. He ranked among the league leaders in both categories, placing fourth in scoring (14.7 ppg.) and third in assists (5.59 apg.). The inability to guard Spanoulis is well represented by the fact that he led the league in fouls drawn (5.41 per game). All told, he is ninth in the league in average performance index rating (15.4). Spanoulis got the Reds rolling early this season and was duly rewarded as bwin MVP for November. He scored at least 9 points in every game before the playoffs, and when his shooting slumped in the series against Anadolu Efes, Spanoulis took over to lead the playoffs in assists (6.6 apg.). Now in his third season with Olympiacos, Spanoulis is also a two-time Euroleague champ, two-time Final Four MVP. This marks his fifth All-Euroleague selection.
Rudy Fernandez celebrates - Real Madrid
Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid
 Rudy Fernandez’s first full Euroleague campaign in six years has been one to remember. Truly an all-around force, Fernandez, 28, recorded five games of at least 20 points this season, twice had double figures in rebounds, dished at least 4 assists on 10 occasions and collected at least 3 steals eight times – in just 25 games! He ranked among the league leaders in both scoring (13.6 ppg., 10th) and performance index rating (16.3, sixth). Fernandez also led the team and was sixth in the league in steals (1.4 spg.) and was third for Los Blancos in both rebounds (3.84 rpg.) and assists (3.08 apg.). Always primed to lead his team to big wins, Fernandez claimed the weekly bwin MVP title four times, which was the most in the league this season. Fernandez started his career with DKV Joventut Badalona, with whom he won the 2008 ULEB Cup, one season after he made his Euroleague debut and claimed the Euroleague Rising Star award. He spent half a season with Madrid last year before signing a multi-year deal with the club in the summer of 2012.
Ante Tomic, F.C. Barcelona Regal
Ante Tomic, F.C. Barcelona Regal
 In a breakthrough season with F.C. Barcelona Regal, Ante Tomic displayed all the promise that had long been seen in him to emerge as a dominant force in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. Tomic, 26, not only posted career-high numbers across the board, but ranked among the Euroleague leaders in all traditional big man statistics. Tomic was fifth in the league in average performance index rating (16.32 per game), third in rebounding (6.32 rpg.), tied for fourth in blocks (1.14 bpg.) and sixth in field goal shooting (63.06 %). His 1.71 assists per game were also most in the league among centers. Tomic’s prowess was noted throughout the season as he twice claimed the bwin weekly MVP title and was named bwin MVP for February. He was at his best in the Top 16, when Tomic scored in double figures in every game. Tomic is a product of KK Zagreb, where he also played the five and a half seasons with the senior club before joining Real Madrid in January 2010. This is Tomic’s first season with Barcelona.
Nenad Krstic - CSKA Moscow
Nenad Krstic, CSKA Moscow
Nenad Krstic cemented his status as one of the best big men in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with a second-straight brilliant season in the paint for CSKA Moscow. Krstic, 29, was the Euroleague leader in performance index rating with an average of 17.9 per game. He ranked ninth in the league in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and second on the CSKA roster in both scoring and rebounding (4.6 rpg.). His numbers went up in the playoffs, when Krstic was second in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg.) and best in the competition in index ( 20 pg). Moreover, Krstic’s ability to score with his back to the basket as well as in face-up situations allowed Coach Ettore Messina to use him at both power forward and center, which strengthened the team overall. He claimed the Top 16 Game 9 bwin MVP award after leading his team to victory over Alba Berlin. An All-Euroleague First Team selection also last season, Krstic first played in the Euroleague as a teenager for Partizan Belgrade.
Milos Teodosic, CSKA Moscow
Milos Teodosic, CSKA Moscow
The ever-creative force that is Milos Teodosic enjoyed a second straight brilliant campaign with CSKA Moscow. Teodosic, 26, ran the point for the league’s second-ranked attack and placed fifth in assists per game with 5.04. He was the only player in the Euroleague this season with two games with more than 10 assists. Teodosic remained a true danger with the ball in his hands by shooting a remarkable-for-a-guard 60% on two-point shots, while leading the league in three-pointers through the end of the playoffs with 59. Teodosic’s 13.2 points per game are his most since his MVP campaign in 2009-10. Teodosic was the regular season Game 8 bwin MVP after leading his team past Brose Baskets Bamberg with 19 points and 9 assists. London represents the fourth Final Four for Teodosic, who played four straight seasons with Olympiacos before moving to Moscow in 2011. This is his third All-Euroleague selection after taking First Team honors in 2010 and the Second Team last season.
Juan Carlos Navarro, F.C. Barcelona Regal
Juan Carlos Navarro, F.C. Barcelona Regal
The Euroleague’s career scoring king shook off injuries that limited him during the season to become the top scorer on this season’s winningest team. Juan Carlos Navarro provided his team and Barcelona fans with everything they’ve come to expect from his storied career. Navarro, 32, averaged more three-pointers per game (2.42) than any player in the league and led Barcelona in scoring with 13.2 points per game despite playing his fewest minutes (25 mpg.) in a decade. As always, Navarro could be counted on to step up in the biggest games. He averaged 19 points in a pair of regular season tilts with fellow Final Four side CSKA Moscow and was the leading scorer in the playoffs (16.6 ppg.) against Panathinaikos Athens when he made at least 3 three-pointers in every game. This marks a record seventh All-Euroleague selection for Navarro, who has been appointed to the First Team on five occasions. He is a two-time Euroleague champion, the 2008-09 Euroleague MVP and the 2010 Euroleague Final Four MVP. London will be his seventh Final Four.
Victor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow
Victor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow
The very definition of versatility in a basketball player is Victor Khryapa. The CSKA Moscow forward was once again a dominant force, even though he didn’t need to score much to do so. Khryapa, 30,led the league in rebounding with 7.54 per game. He also ranked third in steals (1.63 spg.) and 11th in assists (3.79 apg.). Khryapa was the only player in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague to rank in the top 20 this season in rebounding, assists, steals and blocks (13th, 0.88 bpg.). Khryapa earned bwin weekly MVP honors twice in the playoffs and reached double figures in performance index rating in all but three games. On the strength of those numbers, it’s no surprise that Khryapa was also third in the league in average index (17.1). Khryapa, who won the Euroleague title in 2008 with CSKA, will mark the seventh Final Four of his career in London. He was previously a 2009-10 All-Euroleague First Team selection and also won the Best Defender Award that season.
Nikola Mirotic, Real Madrid
Nikola Mirotic, Real Madrid
For the third season in a row, Nikola Mirotic has seen his role grow for Real Madrid as he developed from promising role player into a prime-time player for a championship-caliber club. Mirotic, 21, becomes the youngest player over a decade, selected to an All-Euroleague team. The do-it all forward flashed his brilliant combination of outside shooting with low-post moves and rebounding skills all season long. Mirotic was among the team leaders in multiple categories. He led Madrid and was among the league’s top 10 in rebounding (5.48 rpg.). Mirotic also led the team in blocks (0.85 bpg.), was second in average performance index rating (14.1) and third in scoring (11.7 ppg.). He was the Top 16 Game 10 bwin MVP after torching Zalgiris for 31 points and 11 rebounds in one of the best individual performances of the season. Mirotic set the Euroleague free-throw record that night by sinking 18 shots from the stripe without a miss. Mirotic joined the Madrid youth program in his early teens and made his first-team debut in the Euroleague in March 2009 at age 18.
Shawn James, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Shawn James, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
 Shawn James burst onto the scene in his second Turkish Airlines Euroleague season to emerge as one of the best centers in the league. James, 29, was a finalist for the Best Defender Award in addition to being an aggressive rebounder and an amazingly efficient scorer. He did not miss a game as he led the Euroleague with 1.93 blocks over 27 games. James ranked second in the league in rebounding (6.48 per game), fourth in performance index rating (16.6 per game) and eighth in two-point shooting (63.7%). James was third on his team in scoring with 11.5 points per game. In his best game of the season, James racked up 22 points on perfect shooting plus 12 rebounds for an index rating of 39 at Montepaschi, which was the third-best individual performance by any player this season. James starred in college for two schools and set the NCAA single-season shot-blocking record with 6.53 per game for Northeastern University in 2005-06. As a professional, he played three years for Bnei Hasharon in Israel before joining Maccabi in 2011.
]]> Barcelona announces Jawai injury FC Barcelona Regal announced on Monday evening that center Nathan Jawai, who was one of Turkish Airlines Euroleague's top per-minute performers this season, has an injury that puts into question his status for Friday's semifinal showdown against Real Madrid at the 2013 Final Four in London. Jawai has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the peroneal tendon in his right foot, an injury he suffered in a Spanish League game on Sunday. "His progress will decide his availability for Friday's game," the club said in a statement. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113054/180/barcelona-announces-jawai-injury http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/113054/180/barcelona-announces-jawai-injury Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45195/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/8bf/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal-eb12.jpg 12187 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45195/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/52b/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal-eb12.jpg 71520 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45195/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/f69/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal-eb12.jpg 33833 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/208/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 10398 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45205/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/3a4/filename/nathan-jawai-fc-barcelona-regal.jpg 71024 Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Nathan Jawai - FC Barcelona Regal - EB12FC Barcelona Regal announced on Monday evening that center Nathan Jawai, who was one of Turkish Airlines Euroleague's top per-minute performers this season, has an injury that puts into question his status for Friday's semifinal showdown against Real Madrid at the 2013 Final Four in London. Jawai has been diagnosed with a partial tear of the peroneal tendon in his right foot, an injury he suffered in a Spanish League game on Sunday. "His progress will decide his availability for Friday's game," the club said in a statement.

Jawai came off the bench to average 7.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in just 16 minutes over 29 games for Barcelona this season. Despite playing the ninth-most minutes on the team in Euroleague games, he ranks second on the team in total rebounds (140) and in blocked shots (23). He ranks first in the entire Euroleague in rebounds per minute, the equivalent of 12.1 over 40 minutes, and eight in per-minute performance rating index (23.8).]]> 2012-13 All-Euroleague nominees After counting the votes from fans and media members far and wide, Euroleague Basketball is pleased to release the names of the 10 nominees for the All-Euroleague teams. Tens of thousands of fans from around the globe were able to cast votes for their favorite players, as did media members from each of the countries with Euroleague teams this season. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112969/180/2012-13-all-euroleague-nominees http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112969/180/2012-13-all-euroleague-nominees Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45162/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/89c/filename/efes-awards-12-13.jpg 11683 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45162/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/b2c/filename/efes-awards-12-13.jpg 79537 Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0
Efes awards 12-13 After counting the votes of fans and media members from far and wide, Euroleague Basketball is pleased to release the names of the 10 nominees for the All-Euroleague teams. Tens of thousands of fans from around the globe were able to cast votes for their favorite players, as did media members from each of the countries with Euroleague teams this season. Teams that qualified to the Final Four dominated the nominations, with CSKA Moscow striking three nominees, while FC Barcelona Regal and Real Madrid each had two and Olympiacos Piraeus one. Only two nominees came from teams that did not reach the Final Four, which highlights the importance playing team-oriented, winning basketball has on being an All-Euroleague nominee. The All-Euroleague first and second teams will be made public shortly. The 2012-13 Euroleague MVP will be revealed at the Efes Pilsener Euroleague Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 9 in London during the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. Check out the 2012-13 All-Euroleague nominees video!
Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
Dimitris Diamantidis, Panathinaikos Athens
 Dimitris Diamantidis refused to allow what was supposed to be a rebuilding season for Panathinaikos Athens be anything short of a quest for the title. Although the Greens fell short of the Final Four by one game in an incredible playoffs series against Barcelona Regal, Diamantidis has plenty to be proud of as the leader of a remarkable squad. Diamantidis, 32, was the motor that fueled Panathinaikos. He continued to climb the all-time lists in the classic point guard categories by dishing the second-most assists in the league (5.78 apg.) and ranking fifth in steals (1.41 spg.). Even those numbers were stunted by an injury- abbreviated four-minute appearance in the Top 16 opener. Diamantidis remained a nuisance on defense too and received several votes for the Best Defender Trophy, which he has previously won six times. Since joining Panathinaikos in 2004, Diamantidis has won three Euroleague titles, two Final Four MVPs and the 2011 Euroleague MVP award. This will be his fourth time appearing on the All-Euroleague Team.
Rudy Fernandez celebrates - Real Madrid
Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid
 Rudy Fernandez’s first full Euroleague campaign in six years has been one to remember. Truly an all-around force, Fernandez, 28, recorded five games of at least 20 points this season, twice had double figures in rebounds, dished at least 4 assists on 10 occasions and collected at least 3 steals eight times – in just 25 games! He ranked among the league leaders in both scoring (13.6 ppg., 10th) and performance index rating (16.3, sixth). Fernandez also led the team and was sixth in the league in steals (1.4 spg.) and was third for Los Blancos in both rebounds (3.84 rpg.) and assists (3.08 apg.). Always primed to lead his team to big wins, Fernandez claimed the weekly bwin MVP title four times, which was the most in the league this season. Fernandez started his career with DKV Joventut Badalona, with whom he won the 2008 ULEB Cup, one season after he made his Euroleague debut and claimed the Euroleague Rising Star award. He spent half a season with Madrid last year before signing a multi-year deal with the club in the summer of 2012.
Shawn James, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
Shawn James, Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv
 Shawn James burst onto the scene in his second Turkish Airlines Euroleague season to emerge as one of the best centers in the league. James, 29, was a finalist for the Best Defender Award in addition to being an aggressive rebounder and an amazingly efficient scorer. He did not miss a game as he led the Euroleague with 1.93 blocks over 27 games. James ranked second in the league in rebounding (6.48 per game), fourth in performance index rating (16.6 per game) and eighth in two-point shooting (63.7%). James was third on his team in scoring with 11.5 points per game. In his best game of the season, James racked up 22 points on perfect shooting plus 12 rebounds for an index rating of 39 at Montepaschi, which was the third-best individual performance by any player this season. James starred in college for two schools and set the NCAA single-season shot-blocking record with 6.53 per game for Northeastern University in 2005-06. As a professional, he played three years for Bnei Hasharon in Israel before joining Maccabi in 2011.
Victor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow
Victor Khryapa, CSKA Moscow
The very definition of versatility in a basketball player is Victor Khryapa. The CSKA Moscow forward was once again a dominant force, even though he didn’t need to score much to do so. Khryapa, 30,led the league in rebounding with 7.54 per game. He also ranked third in steals (1.63 spg.) and 11th in assists (3.79 apg.). Khryapa was the only player in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague to rank in the top 20 this season in rebounding, assists, steals and blocks (13th, 0.88 bpg.). Khryapa earned bwin weekly MVP honors twice in the playoffs and reached double figures in performance index rating in all but three games. On the strength of those numbers, it’s no surprise that Khryapa was also third in the league in average index (17.1). Khryapa, who won the Euroleague title in 2008 with CSKA, will mark the seventh Final Four of his career in London. He was previously a 2009-10 All-Euroleague First Team selection and also won the Best Defender Award that season.
Nenad Krstic - CSKA Moscow
Nenad Krstic, CSKA Moscow
Nenad Krstic cemented his status as one of the best big men in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague with a second-straight brilliant season in the paint for CSKA Moscow. Krstic, 29, was the Euroleague leader in performance index rating with an average of 17.9 per game. He ranked ninth in the league in scoring (13.6 ppg.) and second on the CSKA roster in both scoring and rebounding (4.6 rpg.). His numbers went up in the playoffs, when Krstic was second in the league in scoring (15.8 ppg.) and best in the competition in index ( 20 pg). Moreover, Krstic’s ability to score with his back to the basket as well as in face-up situations allowed Coach Ettore Messina to use him at both power forward and center, which strengthened the team overall. He claimed the Top 16 Game 9 bwin MVP award after leading his team to victory over Alba Berlin. An All-Euroleague First Team selection last season, Krstic first played in the Euroleague as a teenager for Partizan Belgrade.
Nikola Mirotic, Real Madrid
Nikola Mirotic, Real Madrid
For the third season in a row, Nikola Mirotic has seen his role grow for Real Madrid as he developed from promising role player into a prime-time player for a championship-caliber club. Mirotic, 21, becomes the youngest player over a decade selected to an All-Euroleague team. The do-it all forward flashed his brilliant combination of outside shooting with low-post moves and rebounding skills all season long. Mirotic was among the team leaders in multiple categories. He led Madrid and was among the league’s top 10 in rebounding (5.48 rpg.). Mirotic also led the team in blocks (0.85 bpg.), was second in average performance index rating (14.1) and third in scoring (11.7 ppg.). He was the Top 16 Game 10 bwin MVP after torching Zalgiris for 31 points and 11 rebounds in one of the best individual performances of the season. Mirotic set the Euroleague free-throw record that night by sinking 18 shots from the stripe without a miss. Mirotic joined the Madrid youth program in his early teens and made his first-team debut in the Euroleague in March 2009 at age 18.
Juan Carlos Navarro, F.C. Barcelona Regal
Juan Carlos Navarro, F.C. Barcelona Regal
The Euroleague’s career scoring king shook off injuries that limited him during the season to become the top scorer on this season’s winningest team. Juan Carlos Navarro provided his team and Barcelona fans with everything they’ve come to expect from his storied career. Navarro, 32, averaged more three-pointers per game (2.42) than any player in the league and led Barcelona in scoring with 13.2 points per game despite playing his fewest minutes (25 mpg.) in a decade. As always, Navarro could be counted on to step up in the biggest games. He averaged 19 points in a pair of regular season tilts with fellow Final Four side CSKA Moscow and was the leading scorer in the playoffs (16.6 ppg.) against Panathinaikos Athens when he made at least 3 three-pointers in every game. This marks a record seventh All-Euroleague selection for Navarro, who has been appointed to the First Team on five occasions. He is a two-time Euroleague champion, the 2008-09 Euroleague MVP and the 2010 Euroleague Final Four MVP. London will be his seventh Final Four.
Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Vassilis Spanoulis, Olympiacos Piraeus
Impressive as they are, statistics only tell part of the story for Vassilis Spanoulis, who is the unquestionable leader of defending Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion Olympiacos Piraeus. Spanoulis, 30, is the ultimate combo-guard, who can lift his team with his scoring and passing, which go hand in hand to plague opposing defenses. He ranked among the league leaders in both categories, placing fourth in scoring (14.7 ppg.) and third in assists (5.59 apg.). The inability to guard Spanoulis is well represented by the fact that he led the league in fouls drawn (5.41 per game). All told, he is ninth in the league in average performance index rating (15.4). Spanoulis got the Reds rolling early this season and was duly rewarded as bwin MVP for November. He scored at least 9 points in every game before the playoffs, and when his shooting slumped in the series against Anadolu Efes, Spanoulis took over to lead the playoffs in assists (6.6 apg.). Now in his third season with Olympiacos, Spanoulis is also a two-time Euroleague champ, two-time Final Four MVP. This marks his fifth All-Euroleague selection.
Milos Teodosic, CSKA Moscow
Milos Teodosic, CSKA Moscow
The ever-creative force that is Milos Teodosic enjoyed a second straight brilliant campaign with CSKA Moscow. Teodosic, 26, ran the point for the league’s second-ranked attack and placed fifth in assists per game with 5.04. He was the only player in the Euroleague this season with two games with more than 10 assists. Teodosic remained a true danger with the ball in his hands by shooting a remarkable-for-a-guard 60% on two-point shots, while leading the league in three-pointers through the end of the playoffs with 59. Teodosic’s 13.2 points per game are his most since his MVP campaign in 2009-10. Teodosic was the regular season Game 8 bwin MVP after leading his team past Brose Baskets Bamberg with 19 points and 9 assists. London represents the fourth Final Four for Teodosic, who played four straight seasons with Olympiacos before moving to Moscow in 2011. This is his third All-Euroleague selection after taking First Team honors in 2010 and the Second Team last season.
Ante Tomic, F.C. Barcelona Regal
Ante Tomic, F.C. Barcelona Regal
 In a breakthrough season with F.C. Barcelona Regal, Ante Tomic displayed all the promise that had long been seen in him to emerge as a dominant force in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague. Tomic, 26, not only posted career-high numbers across the board, but ranked among the Euroleague leaders in all traditional big man statistics. Tomic was fifth in the league in average performance index rating (16.32 per game), third in rebounding (6.32 rpg.), tied for fourth in blocks (1.14 bpg.) and sixth in field goal shooting (63.06 %). His 1.71 assists per game were also most in the league among centers. Tomic’s prowess was noted throughout the season as he twice claimed the bwin weekly MVP title and was named bwin MVP for February. He was at his best in the Top 16, when Tomic scored in double figures in every game. Tomic is a product of KK Zagreb, where he also played the five and a half seasons with the senior club before joining Real Madrid in January 2010. This is Tomic’s first season with Barcelona.
]]> Best Defender Trophy winner: Stephane Lasme, Panathinaikos Athens Stephane Lasme has always been known as disruptive defensive force. Now he is also a Euroleague Best Defender Trophy winner! The Panathinaikos Athens forward returned to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague this season and anchored his team's frontline as the Greens came within one game of a trip to the Final Four. Lasme was voted 2013 Best Defender by Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches in one of the closest races in competition history. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112932/180/best-defender-trophy-winner-stephane-lasme-panathinaikos-athens http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112932/180/best-defender-trophy-winner-stephane-lasme-panathinaikos-athens Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44973/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/525/filename/stephane-lasme.jpg 10482 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44973/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/da8/filename/stephane-lasme.jpg 47992 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44973/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/fc5/filename/stephane-lasme.jpg 23908 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44973/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/a43/filename/stephane-lasme.jpg 10714 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/44973/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/c27/filename/stephane-lasme.jpg 72355 Thu, 02 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Best Defender trophyStephane Lasme has always been known as disruptive defensive force. Now he is also a Euroleague Best Defender Trophy winner! The Panathinaikos Athens forward returned to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague this season and anchored his team's frontline as the Greens came within one game of a trip to the Final Four. Lasme was voted 2013 Best Defender by Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches in one of the closest races in competition history. The forward from Gabon did plenty to deserve the distinction. His 1.76 blocks per game were second in the league and he was tied for fourth in rebounding, averaging 6.14 per contest. Moreover, Lasme was the final line of defense for a rebuilt Panathinaikos squad, which finished the Turkish Airlines Euroleague season with the second-fewest points allowed, 69.8 per game. He joins teammate and six-time Best Defender Dimitris Diamantidis to become the second Panathinaikos player to win the award. Last season's winner, Andrei Kirilenko, and another CSKA Moscow player, Victor Khryapa, are the only other players to be awarded the honor. Diamantidis and Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv center Shawn James tied for second place in the voting and Montepaschi Siena forward David Moss was not far behind.

The Best Defender Trophy is the third of several end-of-season honors awarded by Euroleague Basketball. Already announced was the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy, which was won by Montepaschi Siena guard Bo McCalebb, and the Euroleague Rising Star Trophy, for players under 22, which went to Olympiacos Piraeus forward Kostas Papanikolaou. To be announced shortly are the All-Euroleague nominees and the first- and second-team honorees. The bwin MVP award will be revealed at the Efes Pilsener Euroleague Awards Ceremony on May 9. Two other awards, the Alexander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year Trophy and the Euroleague Club Executive of the Year, are given after the season ends.

This season was the third in the Euroleague with as many different clubs for Lasme, 30. This also marked the third season in which he garnered votes for the Best Defender Award; but this time Lasme had the most. He joined Panathinaikos late, sat out the Euroleague opener and played only 3 minutes in the second game of the regular season; if not for those empty minutes, Lasme would have ranked significantly higher in several 2012-13 statistical categories. From his first full game, a road win at Union Olimpija, Lasme sparkled. He led the team with 8 rebounds and rejected 5 shots. Lasme proceeded to block multiple shots in six of the next seven games to help lead the Greens into the Top 16. He added additional four- and five-block games in the Top 16, while fouling out just three times all season. Though Lasme is best known for his shot-blocking prowess – he rejected his 100th career Euroleague shot during the Top 16 – his complete package of speed, athleticism and timing separates him from the rest in many areas. In fact, he was among the big heroes in a 65-66 victory over Barcelona Regal in Game 2 of the playoffs when he switched on the final play to guard shooting guard and scoring king Juan Carlos Navarro. Lasme blocked Navarro's floater to snatch the victory.

After showing great promise as a teenager in Gabon, Lasme chose to play college basketball at the University of Massachusetts, where he was twice named the Atlantic 10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Lasme played for different clubs in the United States, both in the NBA and the NBA D-League, during the 2007-08 season. He first came to Europe to play for Partizan Belgrade the following season and then spent his second Euroleague campaign with Maccabi Electra in Israel. In both seasons he led his club to double titles in the domestic leagues and national cups. Last season Lasme played for Obradoiro CAB in Spain before moving to Athens this season, fitting in right away and adding another impressive award in his outstanding career.]]> Rising Star Trophy winner: Kostas Papanikolaou, Olympiacos Piraeus In one of the closest races in the history of the award, Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus has been voted the Euroleague Rising Star Trophy winner for the 2012-13 season. The Rising Star Trophy recognizes Euroleague players who were under the age of 22 on July 1 of the summer before the season started. http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112909/180/rising-star-trophy-winner-kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/112909/180/rising-star-trophy-winner-kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45139/cfecfe47-de21-4258-9218-a44fd0a5647b/053/filename/kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus-eb12.jpg 8801 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45139/2e901457-cc65-4a5f-8d15-da9440dc8a03/203/filename/kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus-eb12.jpg 40010 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45139/c0b3b50d-66b5-4a70-9d3b-0cc444335636/77f/filename/kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus-eb12.jpg 21367 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45139/2ca47095-e9a5-402a-a0dd-0db3981bcbdf/da0/filename/kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus-eb12.jpg 10051 http://www.euroleague.net/rs/45139/a93101ac-cbb6-42e0-a183-29262825ccd7/92b/filename/kostas-papanikolaou-olympiacos-piraeus-eb12.jpg 61065 Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT 0 Rising Star trophyIn one of the closest races in the history of the award, Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos Piraeus has been voted the Euroleague Rising Star Trophy winner for the 2012-13 season. The Rising Star Trophy recognizes Euroleague players who were under the age of 22 on July 1 of the summer before the season started. One of the heroes for Olympiacos as it became champion in breathtaking fashion a year ago, Papanikolaou improved his reputation for great performances in big games this season. He also made a smooth transition for promising young talent to a pillar in the Reds' drive to repeat as Euroleague title-holders. During this 2012-13 season, Papanikolaou boosted his production in every major statistical category, led the Euroleague in three-point accuracy and collected his first bwin MVP of the Week honor. His never-ending hustle, feel for the game at both ends of the court, and tremendous confidence have helped Papanikolaou develop into an exciting force to watch. By the slimmest of margins in voting conducted by Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches, Papanikolaou edged the Rising Star winner of the last two seasons, Nikola Mirotic of Real Madrid. As with Mirotic and previous award winners, fans can expect Kostas Papanikolaou, the 2013 Rising Star, to keep shining for years to come.

The Rising Star Trophy is one of several end-of-season honors awarded by Euroleague Basketball. Earlier in the week, the Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy was credited to Montepaschi Siena guard Bobby Brown. Other to be announced shortly include: the Euroleague Best Defender Trophy, the Euroleague Rising Star Trophy, and the All-Euroleague nominees and the first- and second-team honorees. The bwin MVP award will be revealed at the Efes Pilsener Euroleague Awards Ceremony on May 9. Two other awards, the Alexander Gomelskiy Coach of the Year Trophy and the Euroleague Club Executive of the Year, are given after the season ends.

Kostas Papanikolaou - Olympiacos PiraeusThe impact of Papanikolaou, 22, can be seen from the fact that he was among the Reds' leaders across every statistical category. He was second on the team in rebounding ( 4.5 rpg.) and steals (0.9 spg.), third in performance index rating (12.2 per game) and blocks (0.7 bpg.), and fourth in both scoring (9 ppg.) and assists ( 1.4 apg.). It took Papanikolaou time to get going this season, but after three games passed, he rocked into form and led Olympiacos on a seven-game winning streak during which he averaged 13.1 points and an index rating of 15.3. His 59.4% three-point shooting was tied for the fifth-best regular season percentage in competition history among players with at least 30 attempts from the arc. He saved the best game of his career to date for a little later, with Olympiacos facing elimination in the Top 16 finale. Papanikolaou left no doubts about his star status by posting career-highs of 21 points, 12 rebounds and a 37 index rating to lead his team over BC Khimki Moscow Region 79-70 and into the playoffs with home-court advantage. His 6-of-6 three-point shooting that night matched the best perfect shooting from behind the arc in Top 16 history. Even in the playoffs, with points harder to come by, Papanikolaou doubled his assists average to that point (from 1.2 apg. to 2.8 apg.) by creating the best shots for others, while simultaneously cutting his turnovers As he has all season, Papanikolaou will look to take responsibility well beyond what his age would suggest as Olympiacos heads to London chasing history in the form of a title repeat.

Papanikolaou's selection ensures that half of the first eight Rising Star Award winners will be competing at the London Final Four. Barcelona Regal big man Erazem Lorbek, then of Climamio Bologna, was the recipient of the inaugural Rising Star Award in 2005 and Mirotic's Madrid teammate Rudy Fernandez collected the trophy with DKV Joventut in 2007. The list of other past Rising Star Award winners includes Andrea Bargnani with Benetton Treviso in 2006, Danilo Gallinari of Armani Jeans Milano in 2008, Novica Velickovic of Partizan in 2009, Ricky Rubio of Barcelona Regal in 2010, and Mirotic, the first two-time winner, in 2011 and 2012. Papanikolaou will be honored as the Rising Star Trophy winner at the Euroleague Awards Ceremony during the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.]]>