2008–09_FIBA_EuroChallenge
The 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge was the sixth edition of Europe's third-tier level transnational men's professional club basketball FIBA EuroChallenge Tournament, and the first under the FIBA EuroChallenge name, organized by FIBA Europe. It was also the first season that eliminated teams from the ULEB Cup would transfer to a FIBA competition after the 2000 conflict between ULEB and FIBA. Additionally the formerly known ULEB Cup would be now renamed to EuroCup from 2008 and onwards.
Quick Facts FIBA EuroChallenge, Season ...
| FIBA EuroChallenge | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | 2008–09 | |||||||||
| Duration | 25 November 2008 – 26 April 2009 | |||||||||
| Number of teams | 32 | |||||||||
| Finals | ||||||||||
| Champions |  Virtus Bologna (1st title) | |||||||||
| Runners-up |  Cholet | |||||||||
| Third place |  Triumph Lyubertsy | |||||||||
| Fourth place |  Proteas EKA AEL | |||||||||
| Final Four MVP |  Keith Langford | |||||||||
| Statistical leaders | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
← 2007–08 2009–10 → | ||||||||||
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A total number of 32 teams participated in the regular season and a total of 40 teams competed including the qualifying rounds. Virtus Bologna won its first EuroChallenge title after defeating Cholet in the Final of the Final Four, which was hosted in Bologna.
In all there are 40 teams from 21 countries, plus sixteen teams from the 2008–09 Eurocup Basketball first preliminary round and second preliminary round. The competition is jointly run by FIBA Europe.
The labels in the parentheses show how each team qualified for the place of its starting round (TH: title holders;):
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc.: League position after eventual Playoffs
- EC: Transferred from Eurocup
QR: Losers from qualifying rounds
- WC: Wild card
| Ural Great (EC QR2) |
 Base Oostende (EC QR2) |
 Cajasol (EC QR2) |
 Hapoel Migdal Jerusalim (EC QR2) |
| Triumph Lyubertsy (EC QR1) |
Dexia Mons-Hainaut (4th) |
Cholet (EC QR1) |
 Galatasaray (EC QR2) |
| Lokomotiv Rostov (7th) |
 Tartu Rock (EC QR1) |
 Benetton Olympic Fribourg (EC QR2) |
 Olympia Larissa (8th) |
 Kyiv (EC QR2) |
Kalev/Cramo (2nd) |
 Allianz Swans Gmunden (EC QR2) |
Keravnos (1st) |
| Khimik (3rd) |
 Šiauliai (EC QR1) |
 Telekom Bonn (EC QR1) |
Virtus Bologna (15th) |
 Energa Czarni Slupsk (EC QR1) |
 Ventspils (3rd) |
 EclipseJet MyGuide Amsterdam (EC QR1) |
| CSK VVS-Samara (9th) |
Hyeres-Toulon (6th) |
Antalya BB (6th) |
 Široki (3rd) |
| Spartak Saint Petersburg (11th) |
JA Vichy (7th) |
Banvit (8th) |
Borac Nektar (5th) |
| Sumykhimprom (5th) |
EWE Baskets Oldenburg (5th) |
APOEL (2nd) |
 Zagreb (4th) |
| MBC Mykolaiv (6th) |
Deutsche Bank Skyliners (6th) |
Proteas EKA AEL (3rd) |
Cedevita (5th) |
| Donetsk (WC) |
 Bakken Bears (1st) |
 Asesoft (1st) |
 Zlatorog Laško (4th) |
 Prostejov (3rd) |
Svendborg Rabbits (2nd) |
U Mobilteco Cluj (2nd) |
 AMAK SP (5th) |
 Spartak Pleven (4th) |
Eiffel Towers Den Bosch (2nd) |
CSU Sibiu (3rd) |
|
 Energy Invest Rustavi (1st) |
Belgacom Liege (5th) |
 Körmend (2nd) |
Thirty-two teams will participate in the first round and sixteen in the second.
First qualifying round
Main article: 2008–09 FIBA EuroChallenge First qualifying round
More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prostějov |
134–148 | Zagreb |
61–69 | 73–79 |
| AMAK SP |
148–145 | Zlatorog Laško |
70–76 | 78–69 |
| CSU Asesoft |
147–145 | Spartak Saint Petersburg |
79–76 | 68–69 |
| U Mobitelco Cluj |
132–163 | EWE Baskets Oldenburg |
60–86 | 72–77 |
| Svendborg Rabbits |
168–180 | Široki |
92–100 | 76–80 |
| MBC Mykolaiv |
138–151 | Deutsche Bank Skyliners |
68–75 | 70–76 |
| Energy Invest Rustavi |
160–200 | Sumykhimprom |
81–110 | 79–90 |
| Spartak Pleven |
153–176 | Antalya BB |
83–87 | 70–89 |
| APOEL |
113–135 | JA Vichy |
52–66 | 61–69 |
| Sibiu |
144–186 | Banvit |
67–74 | 77–112 |
| Cedevita |
150–157 | Hyères-Toulon |
92–82 | 58–75 |
| Körmend |
171–201 | EiffelTowers Den Bosch |
71–88 | 100–113 |
| Donetsk |
120–134 | Proteas EKA AEL |
65–65 | 55–79 |
| Bakken Bears |
119–164 | Belgacom Liège |
55–67 | 64–97 |
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Second qualifying round
More information Team 1, Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score ...
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EiffelTowers Den Bosch |
166–130 | AMAK SP |
94–66 | 72–64 |
| Široki |
155–164 | Sumykhimprom |
73–73 | 82–91 |
| CSK VSS-Samara |
149–136 | Zagreb |
80–60 | 69–76 |
| Deutsche Bank Skyliners |
127–125 | Antalya BB |
60–60 | 67–65 |
| Hyères-Toulon |
170–154 | CSU Asesoft |
103–77 | 67–77 |
| EWE Baskets Oldenburg |
150–120 | Borac Nektar |
76–46 | 74–74 |
| Belgacom Liège |
154–137 | JA Vichy |
74–67 | 80–70 |
| Banvit |
165–189 | Proteas EKA AEL |
93–100 | 72–89 |
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Group A
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgacom Liège |
6 | 6 | 0 | 492 | 433 | +59 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | Cajasol |
6 | 3 | 3 | 480 | 405 | +75 | |
| 3 | Ventspils |
6 | 2 | 4 | 436 | 209 | +227 | |
| 4 | Energa Czarni Słupsk |
6 | 1 | 5 | 462 | 523 | −61 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group B
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ural Great |
6 | 5 | 1 | 498 | 433 | +65 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | Telekom Baskets Bonn |
6 | 3 | 3 | 417 | 413 | +4 | |
| 3 | Hyères-Toulon |
6 | 3 | 3 | 478 | 485 | −7 | |
| 4 | Keravnos |
6 | 1 | 5 | 434 | 496 | −62 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group C
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cholet |
6 | 6 | 0 | 485 | 410 | +75 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | Lokomotiv Rostov |
6 | 4 | 2 | 460 | 424 | +36 | |
| 3 | Sumykhimprom |
6 | 1 | 5 | 471 | 513 | −42 | |
| 4 | Benetton Olympic |
6 | 1 | 5 | 384 | 453 | −69 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group D
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proteas EKA AEL |
6 | 4 | 2 | 519 | 456 | +63 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | EiffelTowers Den Bosch |
6 | 4 | 2 | 501 | 480 | +21 | |
| 3 | Šiauliai |
6 | 4 | 2 | 484 | 497 | −13 | |
| 4 | Allianz Swans Gmunden |
6 | 0 | 6 | 428 | 499 | −71 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group E
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | EWE Baskets Oldenburg |
6 | 4 | 2 | 469 | 451 | +18 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | EclipseJet MyGuide Amsterdam |
6 | 3 | 3 | 435 | 447 | −12 | |
| 3 | Hapoel Jerusalem |
6 | 3 | 3 | 397 | 377 | +20 | |
| 4 | Olympia Larissa |
6 | 2 | 4 | 357 | 383 | −26 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
More information OLD, AMS ...
| OLD |
AMS |
JER |
LAR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OLD |
78-62 | 79-70 | 76-73 | |
| AMS |
76-73 | 73-74 | 68-64 | |
| JER |
81-88 | 81-83 | 20-0* | |
| LAR |
89-75 | 77-73 | 54-71 |
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*Due to the war situation in Gaza Strip, Olympia refused to travel to Israel and Hapoel Jerusalim were declared winners by forfeit (20-0)
Group F
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dexia Mons-Hainaut |
6 | 4 | 2 | 514 | 451 | +63 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | Galatasaray Cafe Crown |
6 | 4 | 2 | 483 | 447 | +36 | |
| 3 | Zagreb |
6 | 2 | 4 | 443 | 492 | −49 | |
| 4 | Khimik |
6 | 2 | 4 | 449 | 499 | −50 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group G
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virtus Bologna |
6 | 5 | 1 | 472 | 444 | +28 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | CSK VSS-Samara |
6 | 3 | 3 | 440 | 439 | +1 | |
| 3 | Base Oostende |
6 | 2 | 4 | 490 | 487 | +3 | |
| 4 | Tartu Rock |
6 | 2 | 4 | 451 | 483 | −32 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group H
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triumph Lyubertsy |
6 | 4 | 2 | 441 | 405 | +36 | Advance to top 16 |
| 2 | Kyiv |
6 | 4 | 2 | 440 | 393 | +47 | |
| 3 | Deutsche Bank Skyliners |
6 | 2 | 4 | 375 | 425 | −50 | |
| 4 | Kalev/Cramo |
6 | 2 | 4 | 431 | 464 | −33 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group I
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cholet |
6 | 5 | 1 | 450 | 408 | +42 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 2 | Telekom Baskets Bonn |
6 | 3 | 3 | 415 | 425 | −10 | |
| 3 | Belgacom Liège |
6 | 2 | 4 | 410 | 432 | −22 | |
| 4 | EiffelTowers Den Bosch |
6 | 2 | 4 | 433 | 443 | −10 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group J
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virtus Bologna |
6 | 4 | 2 | 479 | 444 | +35 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 2 | Kyiv |
6 | 4 | 2 | 446 | 399 | +47 | |
| 3 | EWE Baskets Oldenburg |
6 | 3 | 3 | 456 | 470 | −14 | |
| 4 | Galatasaray Cafe Crown |
6 | 1 | 5 | 478 | 546 | −68 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group K
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proteas EKA AEL |
6 | 5 | 1 | 472 | 421 | +51 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 2 | Ural Great |
6 | 3 | 3 | 453 | 453 | 0 | |
| 3 | Cajasol |
6 | 2 | 4 | 417 | 418 | −1 | |
| 4 | Lokomotiv Rostov |
6 | 2 | 4 | 399 | 449 | −50 |
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Source: FIBA Europe
Group L
More information Pos, Team ...
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | PF | PA | PD | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Triumph Lyubertsy |
6 | 5 | 1 | 472 | 431 | +41 | Advance to quarterfinals |
| 2 | EclipseJet MyGuide Amsterdam |
6 | 4 | 2 | 481 | 461 | +20 | |
| 3 | Dexia Mons-Hainaut |
6 | 3 | 3 | 495 | 482 | +13 | |
| 4 | CSK VSS-Samara |
6 | 0 | 6 | 429 | 503 | −74 |
Close
Source: FIBA Europe
More information Team 1, Agg. ...
| Team 1 | Agg. | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg | 3rd leg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholet | 2–1 | Kyiv | 68–52 | 72–77 | 80–74 |
| Virtus Bologna | 2–0 | Telekom Baskets Bonn | 86–76 | 106–91 | |
| Proteas EKA AEL | 2–0 | EclipseJet MyGuide Amsterdam | 82–72 | 83–72 | |
| Triumph Lyubertsy | 2–1 | Ural Great | 100–102 | 91–65 | 78–63 |
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Main article: 2009 FIBA EuroChallenge Final Four
The Final Four will be the last stage of EuroChallenge 2008–09. The event will take place at the Futurshow Station, in Bologna.
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| Cholet | 81 | |||||
| Triumph Lyubertsy | 78 | |||||
| Cholet | 75 | |||||
| Virtus Bologna | 77 | |||||
| Virtus Bologna | 83 | |||||
| Proteas EKA AEL | 69 | |||||
| Third place | ||||||
| Triumph Lyubertsy | 94 | |||||
| Proteas EKA AEL | 82 | |||||