Who
have been some of EuroCup’s most impressive winners?
Who have been some of EuroCup’s most impressive winners?
May 18, 2022
While a lot of attention can be focused on the NBA when it comes to
basketball, this is not the only pro league in town. Europe is also a
real hotbed for this sport and has its own competitions to enjoy. While
the EuroLeague is the most well-known for many, the EuroCup also has a
loyal following for the drama and high-scoring thrills it offers.
Betting on EuroCup games is something that many fans love to do and
also helps explain its popularity. If you like to wager on games in
this league, just remember to do your research first on which platform
to use. This will help keep you safe and also mean you get the most
from betting on this competition. As this bet365 app and
sportsbook review shows, doing this throws up lots of useful
information to consider and makes it simple to find top places to bet.
Whether you like to bet on EuroCup games or simply tune in to watch the
action unfold, looking back into this tournament’s history is always
worthwhile. It not only gives an insight into which sides usually do
well but also some of the biggest winners it has featured.
But who have been some of the most inspiring EuroCup winners?
Virtus Bologna win
first title
We don’t actually have to go back too far in time to find one of the
most refreshing winning stories in this tournament’s history. Virtus
Bologna's EuroCup win in 2022 saw them clinch their first-ever
title and provide something of an upset. This was especially true after
a tough regular season saw them finish fourth in the Group B rankings
and not be on many people’s radar to take home the crown.
As the best teams do, though, they came alive when it really mattered.
Their 83-73 win over Valencia Basket in the semifinals was particularly
stunning, due to the pedigree of the Spanish side. The final saw them
take on an impressive Bursapor team but manage to triumph 80-67. Miloš
Teodosić was the hero and scored 21 points on his way to being that
game’s MVP. This huge title win also saw the Italian side qualify for
the Euroleague after 14 years of trying!
AS Monaco win 2021
edition
Although Virtus Bologna’s win in 2022 was somewhat unexpected, even
they cannot match the fairytale success AS Monaco tasted in 2020/21.
This saw coach Zvezdan Mitrović lead his unheralded side from one of
Europe’s smallest principalities all the way to the title. Due to his
side’s success, Mitrović was awarded the Coach of the Year title for
2020/21.
But why were AS Monaco so amazing that year? Although they did well in
regular season, their most impressive run of form came in the later
rounds. This saw the team finish first in its Top 16 group and then go
on a six-game winning streak to take the trophy after that.
This included a semifinals sweep of Herbalife Gran Canaria, and victory
in the last two quarterfinal games against Budućnost VOLI Podgorica.
Add in a superb 2020/21
EuroCup finals performance which saw them get past UNICS Kazan 2-0
and you can see why they were such impressive winners. Standout players
for them in 2020/21 included Rob Gray and J.J. O’Brien.
Valencia Basket still
lead the way overall
When looking at this league’s biggest winners, it pays to get an
overall perspective. In this regard, Valencia Basket from Spain still
stand out as one of the competition’s most iconic sides. This is
because they have won a record four titles, which is more than any
other team. With the backing of billionaire Juan Roig and the skills of
some very talented players in their ranks, you would not bet against
them adding more to this number soon!
To date, though, this side have won the EuroLeague in 2003, 2010, 2014
and 2019. Their most recent victory in 2019 is particularly impressive,
due to the form of Bojan Dubljević in the top 16 round, and their 89-63
demolition of Alba Berlin in Game 3 of the finals to take the title
home. With two runner-up spots in 2012 and 2017, this team is easily
the biggest overall winner in EuroLeague.
EuroLeague premier
competition to enjoy
European basketball has really come on in leaps and bounds over recent
years. While the EuroLeague might take most of the headlines, the
EuroCup tournament is also worth keeping tabs on. There is no doubt
that it has its own share of top teams, thrilling action and star
players. If you need a quick rundown on some of the league’s most
impressive winners, those discussed here should help get you started.
