In a game for the ages, Olympiacos Piraeus came from 19 down in the third quarter to stun CSKA Moscow 61-62 and become the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague champion.
Georgios Printezis’s floater with 0.7 seconds left won it for the Reds,
who become European champions for the second time in competition
history. Olympiacos also won in 1997, also under head coach Dusko
Ivkovic. A brilliant game at both ends by Kostas Papanikolaou led the
new champs with 18 points. Vassilis Spanoulis added 15 points and
Printezis had 12. CSKA led 53-34 in the third quarter and seemed well
on its way to victory, but a 14-point run brought the Reds back and
they stayed close until the end. The turning point came when former MVP
Ramunas Siskauskas missed twice from the line with 9.7 seconds left and
his team up 1. Olympiacos came down at the other end, got the ball to
Printezis and the rest is history. Read more here.
May 13, 2012 - Spanoulis takes second Final Four MVP trophy!
In
an example of inspirational leadership that endured the entire season
and finished on the season's very last play, Vassilis Spanoulis was
voted MVP of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four after
willing Olympiacos Piraeus to the trophy on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey
in one of the most dramatic basketball finals ever played, anywhere.
Spanoulis came downcourt with 10 seconds left and dished to Georgios
Printezis for the game-winning shot to end a miracle season for
Olympiaocs. That play capped a rally from 19 points behind with 12
minutes to play that gave Olympiacos a 61-62 victory over CSKA Moscow
that now becomes part of world basketball history. Read more here.
May 13, 2012 - Third-place game
Panathinaikos 69 - 74 FC Barcelona Regal
FC Barcelona Regal finished the Turkish Airlines Euroleague season in third place after holding off outgoing champion Panathinaikos 69-74
in the third-place game on Sunday afternoon at Sinan Erdem Arena in
Istanbul. Marcelinho Huertas dominated early with 19 first-half points
and then netted a pair of free throws in the final minute to seal the
win. He finished with 21 – 2 points shy of his career high. The victory
gives Barcelona a 19-2 record for the season. Joe Ingles matched his
season high with 13 for the victors, and C.J. Wallace took advantage of
extended minutes to score 12 and block 2 shots. Dimitris Diamantidis
paced the Greens with 17 points, Aleks Maric was strong inside with 13
points and 11 rebounds and David Logan netted 11. Read more here.
May 12, 2012 - 2011-12 All-Euroleague Team, led by MVP Andrei Kirilenko
The
stars of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague were honored at a ceremony fit
for a king on Saturday night at the annual EFES Euroleague Awards
Ceremony held at Ciragan Palace in Istanbul. On the eve of the
coronation of a new champion, the best players from both finalists took
part in the celebrations together with the rest of the global
basketball elite attending the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four. CSKA Moscow’s Andrei Kirilenko walked away with the biggest haul.
The star forward was named the 2011-12 Euroleague MVP and also trotted
up to the podium to pick up his trophies as the Best Defender Award
winner and a member of the All-Euroleague First Team. In all the
championship game will feature three-fifth of the All-Euroleague First
Team with Kirilenko’s CSKA teammate Nenad Krstic and their opponent,
Vassilis Spanoulis of Olympiacos, also getting called up. Read more here.
May 12, 2012 - Efes Pilsener Euroleague Awards Ceremony tonight!
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.
Teams that qualified to the Final Four dominated the nominations, with
CSKA Moscow striking three nominees, while FC Barcelona Regal and
Panathinaikos each had two. Only two nominees came teams that did not
reach the Final Four, which highlights the importance playing
team-oriented, winning basketball has on being an All-Euroleague
nominee. Read more here.
May 12, 2012 - Title game preview: CSKA Moscow vs. Olympiacos Piraeus
Two
deserving teams will square off for the 2012 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague title in the championship game of the 2012 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul on Sunday. CSKA
came from 14 points down to win a thriller against Panathinaikos 66-64
in the first semifinal led by Andrei Kirilenko and Alexey Shved.
Olympiacos stunned Barcelona 68-64, staying in front for all but a few
seconds of the game. With Vassilis Spanoulis scoring 21 points and
dishing 6 assists, Olympiacos made it to its second final in the last
three years, and will try to win its second Euroleague title. Read more
here.
May 12, 2012 - Title game official press conference
Four
familiar faces to one another – all winners in Friday’s semifinals
games – gathered Saturday afternoon at Sinan Erdem Arena for the
official press conference to discuss the title game of the 2012 Turkish
Airlines Euroleague Final Four. Head coach Jonas Kazlauskas and star
guard Milos Teodosic represented CSKA Moscow, while Coach Dusan Ivkovic
and forward Georgios Printezis took part for Olympiacos. Since both
Kazlauskas and Teodosic have spent time with the Reds, Ivkovic coached
CSKA and Printezis played under Kazlauskas in Piraeus, everyone on the
dais was quite familiar with the rest. Here is what they had to say
about the game – and in some cases – each other. Read more here.
May 12, 2012 - The O2 in London to host the 2013 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four
Euroleague
Basketball and AEG will team together to bring the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four to a new home in 2013. After hosting the 2012
Olympic Games, London’s spectacular The O2 will remain the focus of
international sporting attention as it turns its eyes to Europe’s
premier basketball event. The O2’s 20,000-seat indoor arena is already
in a class by itself in terms of quality and visitors and crowning a
Euroleague champion will prove another historic event to take place at
the stunning locale. The agreement to bring the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four to London includes a mutual option to play the
2014 edition at The O2 as well. Read more here.
May 11, 2012 - Olympiacos 68 - 64 FC Barcelona Regal
Olympiacos Piraeus will play for its second Euroleague crown on Sunday after outlasting FC Barcelona Regal 68-64
in another thrilling semifinal showdown at the 2012 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four at Istanbul’s Sinan Erdem Arena on Friday.
Vassilis Spanoulis starred for Coach Ivkovic’s squad with 21 points and
6 assists – the last of which to Joey Dorsey put the Reds up two
possessions with 16.1 seconds to go and paved the way to victory.
Olympiacos led for much of the contest, but Barcelona never fell too
far behind and was always in the thick of the hunt. But in the end
Olympiacos got the job done at both ends and pulled out a tough win to
get back to the title game for the second time in three years. Read
more here.
May 11, 2012 - CSKA Moscow 66 - 64 Panathinaikos
CSKA Moscow survived one of the greatest semifinal games in Euroleague history to edge mighty Panathinaikos 66-64
in the opener of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four at
Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul. The game went down to the wire and the
Greens had a chance to tie it – or win it – on the last possession, but
CSKA’s rock-solid defense denied the Greek champs even a shot. Now CSKA
will get a chance to play for its sixth Euroleague title in the final
game on Sunday against the winner of Friday’s second semifinal between
FC Barcelona Regal and Olympiacos Piraeus. Panathinaikos simply
dominated early and led by double figures for most of the first
quarter, which ended at 15-29. Read more here.
CSKA sets defensive mark
CSKA Moscow established a new Final Four era
defensive record in the second quarter of the first game at the 2012
Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four. The Russian champs limited
Panathinaikos to 5 points, which represents the fewest points ever
scored in a single quarter in a Final Four game. CSKA’s defensive
efforts not carried the team back from a double-digit deficit, but
eclipsed the previous mark of 6. That record was set in the semifinals
of the 2003 Final Four in Barcelona, where Montepaschi Siena held
Benetton Treviso to 6 points in the third quarter.
May 11, 2012 - One Team symposium in Istanbul, a success
The
partnership between basketball and business can go a long way in
helping communities in need. Euroleague’s One Team program is a great,
fresh example of such powerful synergy and was the central topic of
this season’s annual Euroleague Basketball Symposium held at Kadir Has
University in Istanbul. One Team turned to Founding Patron, Turkish
Airlines, and Founding Club Anadolu Efes to help prepare a series of
panels with some well-known speakers from the world of sports as well
as from Turkish and international business and academia. They shared
their ideas on the symposium topic, "Good business can be GOOD
business," which stressed the importance of dedication to social
responsibility, and discussed the role of sports in society,
responsible investing and challenges in business sponsorship. Read more
here.
May 11, 2012 - 2012 Turksih Airlines Euroleague Final Four predictions
There
are no better people to turn to for expert opinions on the biggest
games of the season than star players and big name coaches. So
Euroleague.net turned to some former All-Euroleague selection and
ex-champion coaches to get their feel for Friday’s semifinals:
Dusko Savanovic, 2010-11 All-Euroleague team selection
"I give CSKA a little edge against Panathinaikos due to its excellent
season and its good shape recently. CSKA has a lot of stars, but
Panathinaikos has accumulated more experience in these kinds of games
and that can give them the win. Personally, I am rooting for CSKA
because of my national team teammates playing for them, Nenad Krstic
and Milos Teodosic.
"As for the other semifinal, I think FC Barcelona Regal is the favorite
due to its playing style, surely the fastest in Europe, and the
individual talent of its players. On the other hand, Olympiacos is, in
my opinion, the most pleasant surprise of this Euroleague season. Its
biggest advantage is that Olympiacos has nothing to lose... and a lot
to win." Read more here.
May 11, 2012 - Final Four, Semifinals: in search of Euroleague glory!
After
a season long buildup, it's now money time for the players, coaches,
staffs and fans of the four teams battling for the title of 2012
Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions. The matchups are set and there
is no room for mistakes – two wins from two games will crown either
CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus or Panathinaikos as
champion. A packed house at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul awaits the
teams, which each will have their own dedicated fan sections cheering
for them hem in their chase for glory. The first semifinal on Friday,
May 11 features CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens at 17:00 CET. Read
more here.
Semifinals:
FRIDAY, MAY 11
CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos 66:64
Olympiacos vs. FC Barcelona Regal 68:64
May 10, 2012 - Semifinal official practice: Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona Regal
The
day before the 2012 Final Four tips off, the Official Practice for the
second semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona Regal, took place
at Sinan Erdem Arena as the players talked to the media.
Olympiacos Piraeus guard Martynas Gecevicius:
“Defense is the most important thing in this game. Barcelona has really
good players, a deep roster, every player is dangerous, so defense will
be most important for us. However, like they have good parts to their
game, they have weaknesses as well. So, that is what we are working on,
and we will try to use it.”
FC Barcelona Regal guard Juan Carlos Navarro:
"I feel better than I did yesterday and I believe I
will feel even better tomorrow. This is nothing new, but I hope to be
in better condition tomorrow. I am sure I will play. I have had
fasciitis problems throughout the week and had a lot of pain yesterday.
It felt a bit better today and I hope I feel better tomorrow. We are
working hard so that I can in the best condition tomorrow. Once I am on
the court, you have to forget about everything and help the team as
much as I can. I am optimistic about playing tomorrow. We are here, I
was able to take part in most of the practice and will try to give my
best tomorrow."
May 10, 2012 - Semifinal official practice: CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens
The
day before the 2012 Final Four tips off, the Official Practice for the
first semifinal, CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens, took place at
Sinan Erdem Arena as the players talked to the media.
CSKA Moscow guard Milos Teodosic:
“For sure this semifinal will be a great game for all of us. We are
playing against a team that is still the European champion. Those games
don’t mean anything. We know that one shot can decide everything. We
need to play like a team for 40 minutes. And only that way can we win
this game.”
Panathinaikos guard Nick Calathes:
“The key will be the defense. But we have to make shots and try to get
them confused; we have to play our kind of basketball. We have lot of
guys that have been in these kinds of games. We have a strong defensive
team and a lot of good chemistry. Lot of guys who have been playing
together.”
May 10, 2012 - 2012 Final Four Official Press Conference
The
Euroleague Basketball family gathered together Thursday morning on the
shores of the Bosphorus for the first official act of the 2012 Turkish
Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, Turkey. The Mabeyn Ballroom
at the magnificent Ciragan Palace hosted the opening press conference
with Euroleague Basketball CEO and President, Mr. Jordi Bertomeu;
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board, Mr. Hamdi Topcu; President of
the Turkish Basketball Federation, Mr. Turgay Demirel; Mayor of
Istanbul, Mr. Kadir Topbas; Detur CEO and President, Mr.Firuz
Baglikaya; as well as the head coach and a player from each of the
participating teams – CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos
Piraeus and defending champion Panathinaikos. Read more here.
May 10, 2012 - Euroleague Trophy Tour heads to Istanbul during Final Four weekend
The
trophy that symbolizes everything the four teams will be fighting for
at the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will travel through
the host city of Istanbul during Final Four weekend to give fans a
chance to see it up close. As has become a tradition in recent years,
the Euroleague trophy will be on display at Intersport stores, where
players from the participating team will also visit, and at the
Devotion Fan Zone. Basketball fans that visit either of those sites
will have the chance to marvel at and photograph the brass and rhodium
covered trophy, which was redesigned for Euroleague Basketball in 2006.
Read more here.
May 10, 2012 - One Team event at Bahcelievler Social Services Campus is a great success
On
an uplifting spring morning in the city that hosts the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four this weekend, the family of Euroleague Basketball
clubs and sponsors registered another proud moment by making it a day
to remember for 60 underprivileged and special needs children on the
grounds of Istanbul Bahcelievler Social Services Campus. One day before
the tip-off of the season's pinnacle moment, some of Istanbul's least
fortunate kids got a chance to hang out and play with Turkish Airlines
Euroleague superstars dedicated to helping make basketball a positive
impact on their lives. Read more here.
May 9, 2012 - Final Four, Semifinals: in search of Euroleague glory!
After
a season long buildup, it's now money time for the players, coaches,
staffs and fans of the four teams battling for the title of 2012
Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions. The matchups are set and there
is no room for mistakes – two wins from two games will crown either
CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus or Panathinaikos as
champion. A packed house at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul awaits the
teams, which each will have their own dedicated fan sections cheering
for them hem in their chase for glory. The first semifinal on Friday,
May 11 features CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens at 17:00 CET. The
former started the season on a 13-0 run and has since been seen as one
of the natural favorites to win it all. CSKA's star-studded squad
features three All-Euroleague team candidates – including Best Defender
award winner Andrei Kirilenko – and five former Euroleague champs. Read
more here.
May 9, 2012 - Efes extends its Euroleague sponsorship for another three years
Efes'
global brand Efes Pilsener announced that it extended its Euroleague
sponsorship for another three years. Euroleague is a tournament that
brings the continent's most distinguished teams together. Euroleague
CEO and President Jordi Bertomeu and Anadolu Efes, Beer Group President
Alejandro Jimenez attended the press conference on May 9th at İstanbul
Cıragan Palace Kempinsky. Efes Pilsener is Euroleague Basketball’s
global sponsor. Supporting sports for years, starting with basketball,
Efes' global brand Efes Pilsener became Euroleague's official sponsor
within the scope of the sponsorship agreement signed with Euroleague
Basketball on May 9. Read more here.
May 8, 2012 - Final Four to be broadcast in 174 countries!
The
growth in popularity of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four
around the globe can be seen once again with a record 66 television
networks set to broadcast European basketball’s premier event this week
to 174 countries on six continents. Likewise, the number of networks
that will broadcast courtside from Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul on
Friday and Sunday has also grown to 14 in 13 different languages.
Euroleague Basketball wishes to highlight the outstanding work of the
host broadcaster, NTV Spor of Turkey, which has helped upgrade the
coverage of the Final Four games and the festivities surrounding them.
Through NTV Spor, the official press conferences, the EFES Pilsener
Awards Ceremony and the Nike International Junior Tournament will all
be broadcast live as well for the first time. Read more here.
May 8, 2012 - Devotion Fan Zone coming to the heart of Istanbul
The
Devotion Fan Zone returns for the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Final Four to bring some of the excitement from the games to fans in
the heart of Istanbul. Over Final Four weekend, from May 11 through 13,
basketball fans will have a meeting point at Taksim Gezi Park, which is
located next to the famed Taksim Square, where the Devotion Fan Zone
will be set up with all sorts of entertainment and interactive
features. Popular Deejay MC Ali Tinaz will help spice things up
throughout the weekend as the Devotion Fan Zone presents various
performances and hosts contests. Current stars and former Euroleague
legends are also scheduled to visit often too. Read more here.
May 8, 2012 - Turkish Airlines Euroleague trophy lands in Istanbul!
The
shining trophy that will be awarded to the Turkish Airlines Euroleague
champion at the end of this week's 2012 Final Four arrived in
ceremonial fashion to Istanbul on Monday afternoon. Mr. Jordi Bertomeu,
Euroleague Basketball president and CEO, handed over the trophy to Mr.
Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, upon landing this afternoon at
Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. The arrival marked the symbolic start to a
week's worth of exciting basketball, charity and social events as the
two executives welcomed each other on behalf of their respective
organizations, which have been working together for two years and
throughout the current one toward the 2011-12 season's crowning moment
on Sunday at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul. Read more here.
May 6, 2012 - Final Four week begins with Istanbul ready!
The
countdown to a champion is underway at the start of the week that will
see the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four bring basketball at
its finest to beautiful Istanbul, Turkey! Already, the venue for the
biggest weekend in the world of basketball, state-of-the-art Sinan
Erdem Arena, is decked out in Turkish Airlines Euroleague colors and
ready to receive the Final Four teams: CSKA Moscow, F.C. Barcelona
Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus and defending champion Panathinaikos Athens.
Turkish Airlines Euroleague planes are scheduled to pick up all four
teams - in Moscow, Barcelona and Athens - on Wednesday to carry them to
Istanbul in time for official charity events, press conferences and
practices on Thursday. Then, of course, unparalleled basketball action
begins with the semifinals on Friday. Read more here.
May 3, 2012 - Euroleague.TV introduces the Final Four Pass
If you can’t be in Istanbul when the sporting world comes together for the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four, Euroleague.TV offers you the next best thing – the Final Four Pass.
For the first time, Euroleague.TV’s coverage of the Final Four has been
expanded into a special package that will not only feature all four
games of European basketball’s showcase event, but much of the
excitement that makes the Final Four a must-see event. The Final Four Pass
broadcasts the two semifinals on Friday, May 11 and the third-place
game and Turkish Airlines Euroleague title game on Sunday, May 13 live
and on-demand in HQ streaming. The Euroleague.TV interface features new
DVR controls with real-time stats and multi-language options. Read more
here.
May 3, 2012 - 2012 Final Four Entertainment
Turkey’s famed Fire of Anatolia dance troupe will
take in the spotlight of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final
Four as a central piece of the non-basketball entertainment. The Fire
of Anatolia dance show blends ballet, modern and traditional folk dance
in a beautifully choreographed show that is aimed at reflecting the
multiculturalism of Istanbul and paying tribute to Anatolia’s ancient
mythological and cultural history. Originally called “Sultans of the
Dance” when Mustafa Erdogan formed the group in 1999, Fire of Anatolia
has grown to have more than 100 dancers and has performed in front of
more than 20 million people in dozens of countries on four continents.
Fire of Anatolia is scheduled to appear on court at Sinan Erdem Arena
in both game days of the 2012 Final Four as well as at the Devotion Fan
Zone several times over Final Four weekend. Read more here.
May 2, 2012 - Final Four symposium to spotlight social responsibility partnerships
A dedication to social responsibility that joins
basketball and business in the pursuit of helping communities in need
is the subject of the annual symposium at the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four 2012 Istanbul next Friday, May 11. The symposium,
hosted by Kadir Has University in Istanbul, will feature well known
speakers from the world of sports as well as from Turkish and
international business and academia. This year’s topic, "Good business
can be GOOD business", coincides synergistically with the arrival of
One Team, Euroleague Basketball’s new Corporate Social Responsibility
and Marketing partnership program supported by Turkish Airlines. The
symposium will be held during the Final Four on the morning of
semifinals Friday, starting at 10:30 a.m. local time. Read more here.
April 23, 2012 - Final four Teams presentation
FC Barcelona Regal
By
reaching its third Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four since 2009,
F.C. Barcelona Regal this season has already been able to live up to
its incredibly high standards. With its 12th Final Four appearance
overall since the first one, back in 1989, Barcelona continues showing
great consistency and readiness to challenge for the Euroleague trophy.
The 2012 Final Four gives Barcelona a chance to keep adding to its
stuffed trophy case, which now boasts nearly 40 domestic honors and six
European trophies, including two as continental champion. Read more here.
CSKA Moscow
Seeing
its record for consecutive Final Four qualifications halted one year
ago proved more than enough motivation for CSKA Moscow to return as a
favorite this season to an event that has become like its second home.
CSKA's absence from the 2011 edition ended its remarkable run of eight
consecutive Final Four appearances, a record that's likely to stand the
test of time, considering that no other team has managed to qualify for
more than four in a row. Having returned to its comfort zone, CSKA can
now focus on expanding its collection of six previous Euroleague
trophies to move within one of the all-time leader, Real Madrid. Read
more here.
Olympiacos Piraeus
By
reaching the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four for the third time
in four years, Olympiacos has proven once again how much it deserves a
hard-earned place among the very elite of European basketball clubs.
Olympiacos has been a member of that select circle for the better part
of the last two decades. With six previous Final Four appearances,
Olympiacos already boasted a total that only four other clubs have
exceeded. This, its seventh Final Four qualification, however, was
perhaps the club's least predictable. Several months ago, few expected
the Reds to reach this deep into the competition. But Olympiacos played
its best basketball at the right time, winning six of its last eight
games to crash the Final Four. Read more here.
Panathinaikos Athens
The
club that has won the most Euroleague titles over the last 44 years,
Panathinaikos Athens, has its sights set on some even bigger goals as
it arrives at the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in
Istanbul. The Greens have piled up their six Euroleague titles so far
since 1996, the second-fastest trophy-collecting pace in competition
history. The next title would break a tie with their semifinals
opponent this season, CSKA Moscow, and put Panathinaikos within one
more trophy of tying European basketball’s most successful club ever,
Real Madrid. What's more, victory in Istanbul would make Panathinaikos
just the second team to seize back-to-back continental crowns over the
last two decades, the golden era of European basketball. Read more here.
April 23, 2012 - 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four game officials announced
Euroleague
Basketball has announced today the names of the eight referees who will
work the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul,
Turkey. The referees selected come from seven different countries and
boast a wealth of experience. Seven of the referees chosen have
previously officiated at Final Fours, three of those having worked
Euroleague title games. The full list of referees includes: Recep
Ankalari of Turkey, Carl Jungebrand of Finland, Luigi Lamonica of
Italy, Olegs Latisevs of Latvia, Robert Lottermoser of Germany, Jose
Martin of Spain, Sreten Radovic of Croatia and Tolga Sahin of Turkey.
Jungebrand will be working at his seventh Final Four. Read more here.
April 20, 2012 - 2011-12 All-Euroleague team 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.
Teams that qualified to the Final Four dominated the nominations, with
CSKA Moscow striking three nominees, while FC Barcelona Regal and
Panathinaikos each had two. Only two nominees came teams that did not
reach the Final Four, which highlights the importance playing
team-oriented, winning basketball has on being an All-Euroleague
nominee. Read more here.
April 20, 2012 - Turkish Airlines supplies private charter flights for Final Four teams
The
big stars of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will
arrive to Istanbul, Turkey next month in unprecedented fashion.
Euroleague Basketball’s title sponsor, Turkish Airlines, has arranged
for private charter flights to bring the participating teams to the
Final Four in style. CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos
Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens will all arrive within a few hours of
each other on their charter flights to Istanbul Atatürk International
Airport on Wednesday, May 9. At each team’s disposal will be a Boeing
737-800 from the Turkish Airlines fleet with a seating capacity of 149.
These flights will be used – at each team’s discretion – to accommodate
players, club staff, families, VIP guests and select media. All four
teams will also return to their home cities on May 14 via Turkish
Airlines chartered flights.
April 19, 2012 - Head coaches vote CSKA's Kirilenko best defender!
After
a season of watching him block shots left and right, clean up on the
defensive glass and invade passing lanes for steals, Turkish Airlines
Euroleague head coaches have made CSKA Moscow forward Andrei Kirilenko
this season's Best Defender Trophy winner! Kirilenko, who turned 31
during the season, made life difficult for any opposing player trying
to score this season. He led the competition in three key components of
defense with his 7.2 rebounds per game, including 5.5 on defense, and
1.9 blocked shots on average. Moreover, he ranked second with 1.53
steals per game. His single-game highs of 6 steals and 5 blocks – both
in the first five games of the season – matched the most seen in the
competition all season. Read more here.
April 18, 2012 - Real Madrid's Mirotic becomes first two-time Rising Star winner
The
Euroleague Rising Star Trophy has a repeat winner for the first time!
Real Madrid forward Nikola Mirotic, whose breakout a year ago earned
him the vote of Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches, is the Rising
Star Trophy winner once again after dramatically improving his output
this season. If last season Mirotic rose from a prospect to an
important contributor for Los Blancos, this season he took the next
step as a full-time starter and bona fide star. It was a season full of
firsts for the 21-year-old forward. After just 10 weeks, Mirotic had
notched his first Euroleague double-double, his first weekly bwin MVP
honor and his first bwin MVP of the month award, for December. Read
more here.
April 17, 2012 - Montepaschi Siena's Bo McCalebb wins Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy
The
2012 Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy has been won by Bo McCalebb of
Montepaschi Siena, the first point guard to win the award. The Top
Scorer Trophy is the first Turkish Airlines Euroleague post-season
award, given annually to the Euroleague player with the most points
averaged over a minimum number of games. This season, McCalebb earned
what is the Euroleague's only post-season award based solely on
statistics thanks to his scoring average of 16.88 points over a total
of 17 games. He scored in double digits in all of his 17 Euroleague
games this season and went beyond the 20-point mark four times. Read
more here.
In
what is already being called one of the greatest playoff series in
basketball history, there was no doubt what player proved the
difference for the winners. Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos made
a mission of keeping alive his team's Turkish Airlines Euroleague title
defense, and at the very end of five incredible games, he succeeded.
For his outstanding effort in five games over 17 nights, Euroleague
Basketball has chosen Diamantidis of as the March/April bwin MVP of the
month. This season's playoffs represented the biggest opportunity
after three failed attempts over the last decade for Panathinaikos to
reach a Final Four as the defending champion. Read more here.
April 7, 2012 - Road to the Final Four!
At
the end of six months' worth of thrills, a quartet of giants is headed
to the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, Turkey.
Each has arrived to the biggest weekend in the sport of basketball in
its own deserving fashion. F.C. Barcelona Regal had the Euroleague's
best record, the only playoffs sweep and the best defense all century.
CSKA Moscow dominated all season and finished with the second-best
record in the competition. Olympiacos got better with each passing
phase and was the only underdog to win its playoff series. And
defending champion Panathinaikos survived a classic five-game series to
keep alive its dream of a title repeat. Read more here.
In
an example of inspirational leadership that endured the entire season
and finished on the season's very last play, Vassilis Spanoulis was
voted MVP of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four after
willing Olympiacos Piraeus to the trophy on Sunday in Istanbul, Turkey
in one of the most dramatic basketball finals ever played, anywhere.
Spanoulis came downcourt with 10 seconds left and dished to Georgios
Printezis for the game-winning shot to end a miracle season for
Olympiaocs. That play capped a rally from 19 points behind with 12
minutes to play that gave Olympiacos a 61-62 victory over CSKA Moscow
that now becomes part of world basketball history. Read more 
FC Barcelona Regal finished the Turkish Airlines Euroleague season in third place after 
The
stars of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague 
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.
Teams that qualified to the Final Four dominated the nominations, with
CSKA Moscow striking three nominees, while FC Barcelona Regal and
Panathinaikos each had two. Only two nominees came teams that did not
reach the Final Four, which highlights the importance playing
team-oriented, winning basketball has on being an All-Euroleague
nominee. Read more 
Two
deserving teams will square off for the 2012 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague title in the championship game of the 2012 Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul on Sunday. CSKA
came from 14 points down to win a thriller against Panathinaikos 66-64
in the first semifinal led by Andrei Kirilenko and Alexey Shved.
Olympiacos stunned Barcelona 68-64, staying in front for all but a few
seconds of the game. With Vassilis Spanoulis scoring 21 points and
dishing 6 assists, Olympiacos made it to its second final in the last
three years, and will try to win its second Euroleague title. Read more
Four
familiar faces to one another – all winners in Friday’s semifinals
games – gathered Saturday afternoon at Sinan Erdem Arena for the
official press conference to discuss the title game of the 2012 Turkish
Airlines Euroleague Final Four. Head coach Jonas Kazlauskas and star
guard Milos Teodosic represented CSKA Moscow, while Coach Dusan Ivkovic
and forward Georgios Printezis took part for Olympiacos. Since both
Kazlauskas and Teodosic have spent time with the Reds, Ivkovic coached
CSKA and Printezis played under Kazlauskas in Piraeus, everyone on the
dais was quite familiar with the rest. Here is what they had to say
about the game – and in some cases – each other. Read more 
Euroleague
Basketball and AEG will team together to bring the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four to a new home in 2013. After hosting the 2012
Olympic Games, London’s spectacular The O2 will remain the focus of
international sporting attention as it turns its eyes to Europe’s
premier basketball event. The O2’s 20,000-seat indoor arena is already
in a class by itself in terms of quality and visitors and crowning a
Euroleague champion will prove another historic event to take place at
the stunning locale. The agreement to bring the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four to London includes a mutual option to play the
2014 edition at The O2 as well. Read more 
Olympiacos Piraeus will play for its second Euroleague crown on Sunday after 
CSKA Moscow survived one of the greatest semifinal games in Euroleague history to 
The
partnership between basketball and business can go a long way in
helping communities in need. Euroleague’s One Team program is a great,
fresh example of such powerful synergy and was the central topic of
this season’s annual Euroleague Basketball Symposium held at Kadir Has
University in Istanbul. One Team turned to Founding Patron, Turkish
Airlines, and Founding Club Anadolu Efes to help prepare a series of
panels with some well-known speakers from the world of sports as well
as from Turkish and international business and academia. They shared
their ideas on the symposium topic, "Good business can be GOOD
business," which stressed the importance of dedication to social
responsibility, and discussed the role of sports in society,
responsible investing and challenges in business sponsorship. Read more
There
are no better people to turn to for expert opinions on the biggest
games of the season than star players and big name coaches. So
Euroleague.net turned to some former All-Euroleague selection and
ex-champion coaches to get their feel for Friday’s semifinals: 
After
a season long buildup, it's now money time for the players, coaches,
staffs and fans of the four teams battling for the title of 2012
Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions. The matchups are set and there
is no room for mistakes – two wins from two games will crown either
CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus or Panathinaikos as
champion. A packed house at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul awaits the
teams, which each will have their own dedicated fan sections cheering
for them hem in their chase for glory. The first semifinal on Friday,
May 11 features CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens at 17:00 CET. Read
more 
The
day before the 2012 Final Four tips off, the Official Practice for the
second semifinal, Olympiacos Piraeus vs. FC Barcelona Regal, took place
at Sinan Erdem Arena as the players talked to the media.
The
day before the 2012 Final Four tips off, the Official Practice for the
first semifinal, CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens, took place at
Sinan Erdem Arena as the players talked to the media. 
The
Euroleague Basketball family gathered together Thursday morning on the
shores of the Bosphorus for the first official act of the 2012 Turkish
Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, Turkey. The Mabeyn Ballroom
at the magnificent Ciragan Palace hosted the opening press conference
with Euroleague Basketball CEO and President, Mr. Jordi Bertomeu;
Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board, Mr. Hamdi Topcu; President of
the Turkish Basketball Federation, Mr. Turgay Demirel; Mayor of
Istanbul, Mr. Kadir Topbas; Detur CEO and President, Mr.Firuz
Baglikaya; as well as the head coach and a player from each of the
participating teams – CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos
Piraeus and defending champion Panathinaikos. Read more 
The
trophy that symbolizes everything the four teams will be fighting for
at the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will travel through
the host city of Istanbul during Final Four weekend to give fans a
chance to see it up close. As has become a tradition in recent years,
the Euroleague trophy will be on display at Intersport stores, where
players from the participating team will also visit, and at the
Devotion Fan Zone. Basketball fans that visit either of those sites
will have the chance to marvel at and photograph the brass and rhodium
covered trophy, which was redesigned for Euroleague Basketball in 2006.
Read more 
On
an uplifting spring morning in the city that hosts the Turkish Airlines
Euroleague Final Four this weekend, the family of Euroleague Basketball
clubs and sponsors registered another proud moment by making it a day
to remember for 60 underprivileged and special needs children on the
grounds of Istanbul Bahcelievler Social Services Campus. One day before
the tip-off of the season's pinnacle moment, some of Istanbul's least
fortunate kids got a chance to hang out and play with Turkish Airlines
Euroleague superstars dedicated to helping make basketball a positive
impact on their lives. Read more 
After
a season long buildup, it's now money time for the players, coaches,
staffs and fans of the four teams battling for the title of 2012
Turkish Airlines Euroleague champions. The matchups are set and there
is no room for mistakes – two wins from two games will crown either
CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus or Panathinaikos as
champion. A packed house at Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul awaits the
teams, which each will have their own dedicated fan sections cheering
for them hem in their chase for glory. The first semifinal on Friday,
May 11 features CSKA Moscow vs. Panathinaikos Athens at 17:00 CET. The
former started the season on a 13-0 run and has since been seen as one
of the natural favorites to win it all. CSKA's star-studded squad
features three All-Euroleague team candidates – including Best Defender
award winner Andrei Kirilenko – and five former Euroleague champs. Read
more 
Efes'
global brand Efes Pilsener announced that it extended its Euroleague
sponsorship for another three years. Euroleague is a tournament that
brings the continent's most distinguished teams together. Euroleague
CEO and President Jordi Bertomeu and Anadolu Efes, Beer Group President
Alejandro Jimenez attended the press conference on May 9th at İstanbul
Cıragan Palace Kempinsky. Efes Pilsener is Euroleague Basketball’s
global sponsor. Supporting sports for years, starting with basketball,
Efes' global brand Efes Pilsener became Euroleague's official sponsor
within the scope of the sponsorship agreement signed with Euroleague
Basketball on May 9. Read more 
The
growth in popularity of the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four
around the globe can be seen once again with a record 66 television
networks set to broadcast European basketball’s premier event this week
to 174 countries on six continents. Likewise, the number of networks
that will broadcast courtside from Sinan Erdem Arena in Istanbul on
Friday and Sunday has also grown to 14 in 13 different languages.
Euroleague Basketball wishes to highlight the outstanding work of the
host broadcaster, NTV Spor of Turkey, which has helped upgrade the
coverage of the Final Four games and the festivities surrounding them.
Through NTV Spor, the official press conferences, the EFES Pilsener
Awards Ceremony and the Nike International Junior Tournament will all
be broadcast live as well for the first time. Read more 
The
Devotion Fan Zone returns for the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague
Final Four to bring some of the excitement from the games to fans in
the heart of Istanbul. Over Final Four weekend, from May 11 through 13,
basketball fans will have a meeting point at Taksim Gezi Park, which is
located next to the famed Taksim Square, where the Devotion Fan Zone
will be set up with all sorts of entertainment and interactive
features. Popular Deejay MC Ali Tinaz will help spice things up
throughout the weekend as the Devotion Fan Zone presents various
performances and hosts contests. Current stars and former Euroleague
legends are also scheduled to visit often too. Read more 
The
countdown to a champion is underway at the start of the week that will
see the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four bring basketball at
its finest to beautiful Istanbul, Turkey! Already, the venue for the
biggest weekend in the world of basketball, state-of-the-art Sinan
Erdem Arena, is decked out in Turkish Airlines Euroleague colors and
ready to receive the Final Four teams: CSKA Moscow, F.C. Barcelona
Regal, Olympiacos Piraeus and defending champion Panathinaikos Athens.
Turkish Airlines Euroleague planes are scheduled to pick up all four
teams - in Moscow, Barcelona and Athens - on Wednesday to carry them to
Istanbul in time for official charity events, press conferences and
practices on Thursday. Then, of course, unparalleled basketball action
begins with the semifinals on Friday. Read more 
By
reaching its third Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four since 2009,
F.C. Barcelona Regal this season has already been able to live up to
its incredibly high standards. With its 12th Final Four appearance
overall since the first one, back in 1989, Barcelona continues showing
great consistency and readiness to challenge for the Euroleague trophy.
The 2012 Final Four gives Barcelona a chance to keep adding to its
stuffed trophy case, which now boasts nearly 40 domestic honors and six
European trophies, including two as continental champion. Read more 
Seeing
its record for consecutive Final Four qualifications halted one year
ago proved more than enough motivation for CSKA Moscow to return as a
favorite this season to an event that has become like its second home.
CSKA's absence from the 2011 edition ended its remarkable run of eight
consecutive Final Four appearances, a record that's likely to stand the
test of time, considering that no other team has managed to qualify for
more than four in a row. Having returned to its comfort zone, CSKA can
now focus on expanding its collection of six previous Euroleague
trophies to move within one of the all-time leader, Real Madrid. Read
more 
By
reaching the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four for the third time
in four years, Olympiacos has proven once again how much it deserves a
hard-earned place among the very elite of European basketball clubs.
Olympiacos has been a member of that select circle for the better part
of the last two decades. With six previous Final Four appearances,
Olympiacos already boasted a total that only four other clubs have
exceeded. This, its seventh Final Four qualification, however, was
perhaps the club's least predictable. Several months ago, few expected
the Reds to reach this deep into the competition. But Olympiacos played
its best basketball at the right time, winning six of its last eight
games to crash the Final Four. Read more 
The
club that has won the most Euroleague titles over the last 44 years,
Panathinaikos Athens, has its sights set on some even bigger goals as
it arrives at the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in
Istanbul. The Greens have piled up their six Euroleague titles so far
since 1996, the second-fastest trophy-collecting pace in competition
history. The next title would break a tie with their semifinals
opponent this season, CSKA Moscow, and put Panathinaikos within one
more trophy of tying European basketball’s most successful club ever,
Real Madrid. What's more, victory in Istanbul would make Panathinaikos
just the second team to seize back-to-back continental crowns over the
last two decades, the golden era of European basketball. Read more 
Euroleague
Basketball has announced today the names of the eight referees who will
work the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul,
Turkey. The referees selected come from seven different countries and
boast a wealth of experience. Seven of the referees chosen have
previously officiated at Final Fours, three of those having worked
Euroleague title games. The full list of referees includes: Recep
Ankalari of Turkey, Carl Jungebrand of Finland, Luigi Lamonica of
Italy, Olegs Latisevs of Latvia, Robert Lottermoser of Germany, Jose
Martin of Spain, Sreten Radovic of Croatia and Tolga Sahin of Turkey.
Jungebrand will be working at his seventh Final Four. Read more 
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.
Teams that qualified to the Final Four dominated the nominations, with
CSKA Moscow striking three nominees, while FC Barcelona Regal and
Panathinaikos each had two. Only two nominees came teams that did not
reach the Final Four, which highlights the importance playing
team-oriented, winning basketball has on being an All-Euroleague
nominee. Read more 
The
big stars of the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four will
arrive to Istanbul, Turkey next month in unprecedented fashion.
Euroleague Basketball’s title sponsor, Turkish Airlines, has arranged
for private charter flights to bring the participating teams to the
Final Four in style. CSKA Moscow, FC Barcelona Regal, Olympiacos
Piraeus and Panathinaikos Athens will all arrive within a few hours of
each other on their charter flights to Istanbul Atatürk International
Airport on Wednesday, May 9. At each team’s disposal will be a Boeing
737-800 from the Turkish Airlines fleet with a seating capacity of 149.
These flights will be used – at each team’s discretion – to accommodate
players, club staff, families, VIP guests and select media. All four
teams will also return to their home cities on May 14 via Turkish
Airlines chartered flights.
After
a season of watching him block shots left and right, clean up on the
defensive glass and invade passing lanes for steals, Turkish Airlines
Euroleague head coaches have made CSKA Moscow forward Andrei Kirilenko
this season's Best Defender Trophy winner! Kirilenko, who turned 31
during the season, made life difficult for any opposing player trying
to score this season. He led the competition in three key components of
defense with his 7.2 rebounds per game, including 5.5 on defense, and
1.9 blocked shots on average. Moreover, he ranked second with 1.53
steals per game. His single-game highs of 6 steals and 5 blocks – both
in the first five games of the season – matched the most seen in the
competition all season. Read more 
The
Euroleague Rising Star Trophy has a repeat winner for the first time!
Real Madrid forward Nikola Mirotic, whose breakout a year ago earned
him the vote of Turkish Airlines Euroleague head coaches, is the Rising
Star Trophy winner once again after dramatically improving his output
this season. If last season Mirotic rose from a prospect to an
important contributor for Los Blancos, this season he took the next
step as a full-time starter and bona fide star. It was a season full of
firsts for the 21-year-old forward. After just 10 weeks, Mirotic had
notched his first Euroleague double-double, his first weekly bwin MVP
honor and his first bwin MVP of the month award, for December. Read
more 
The
2012 Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy has been won by Bo McCalebb of
Montepaschi Siena, the first point guard to win the award. The Top
Scorer Trophy is the first Turkish Airlines Euroleague post-season
award, given annually to the Euroleague player with the most points
averaged over a minimum number of games. This season, McCalebb earned
what is the Euroleague's only post-season award based solely on
statistics thanks to his scoring average of 16.88 points over a total
of 17 games. He scored in double digits in all of his 17 Euroleague
games this season and went beyond the 20-point mark four times. Read
more 
In
what is already being called one of the greatest playoff series in
basketball history, there was no doubt what player proved the
difference for the winners. Dimitris Diamantidis of Panathinaikos made
a mission of keeping alive his team's Turkish Airlines Euroleague title
defense, and at the very end of five incredible games, he succeeded.
For his outstanding effort in five games over 17 nights, Euroleague
Basketball has chosen Diamantidis of as the March/April bwin MVP of the
month. This season's playoffs represented the biggest opportunity
after three failed attempts over the last decade for Panathinaikos to
reach a Final Four as the defending champion. Read more 
At
the end of six months' worth of thrills, a quartet of giants is headed
to the 2012 Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four in Istanbul, Turkey.
Each has arrived to the biggest weekend in the sport of basketball in
its own deserving fashion. F.C. Barcelona Regal had the Euroleague's
best record, the only playoffs sweep and the best defense all century.
CSKA Moscow dominated all season and finished with the second-best
record in the competition. Olympiacos got better with each passing
phase and was the only underdog to win its playoff series. And
defending champion Panathinaikos survived a classic five-game series to
keep alive its dream of a title repeat. Read more 
