2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup

The 2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup was the first edition of Europe's 3rd-tier level transnational competition for men's professional basketball clubs, the FIBA Europe Champions Cup, following the merger of the FIBA Korać Cup and FIBA Saporta Cup competitions into the new ULEB Cup competition.^[1] In this first edition of the competition, it was actually the 3rd-tier level on the European club basketball pyramid, featuring 15 domestic league champions. The season consisted of 64 teams. The Greek club Aris Thessaloniki won the title, after beating the Polish club Prokom Trefl Sopot in the Final, which was held at Alexandreio Melathron, in Thessaloniki, Greece.

2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup
Season	2002–03
Finals
Champions	Aris (1st title)
Runners-up	Prokom Trefl Sopot
Third place	Ventspils
Fourth place	Hemofarm
Final Four MVP	Will Solomon
Statistical leaders
Points Todor Stoykov 24.0 Rebounds Priest Lauderdale 12.0 Assists Kristaps Valters 7.3
← 2001–02 FKC 2003–04 EuroChallenge 2003–04 FIBA Europe Cup →

The competition, which was initially advertised as FIBA's attempt to revive the FIBA European Champions Cup (now known as the EuroLeague). The competition attracted 15 national domestic league champions, 5 runners-up, and teams from 30 European national leagues, which represented it as a truly pan-European event. Several teams like Split, Aris, PAOK, Lietuvos Rytas, Kalev, Fribourg , Planja, Academic, Levski, APOEL, Ventspils, Rabotnički, and Porto had played for years in FIBA's former Champions Cup (1958–2001).

The brand new competition was also joined by second division runners-up from Italy, Russia and Spain, and the newly promoted champion of the Israeli Second Division. The league was unable to make a good commercial impact, and was then dropped to being the European 4th-tier level in the following 2003–04 season, as FIBA launched the FIBA Europe League to replace it.

Teams

Country Teams Clubs Greece 5 Panionios Freddoccino (5th) Maroussi Telestet (6th) Peristeri (7th) PAOK (8th) Aris (10th) Portugal 5 Portugal Telecom (1st) Ovarense Aerosoles (2nd) Oliveirense (3rd) Porto Ferpinta (4th) CAB Madeira (13th) Poland 4 Prokom Trefl Sopot (2nd) Gipsar Stal Ostrów (3d) Anwil Włocławek (4th) Polonia Warszawa (5th) Russia 4 UNICS (2nd) Avtodor Saratov (4th) Khimki (8th) EvrAz (2nd, SL B) Belgium 3 Quatro Bree (3rd) Dexia Mons-Hainaut (4th) Euphony Liège (5th) Bulgaria 3 Yambolgaz-92 (1st) Lukoil Academic (2nd) Levski Sofia (3d) France 3 JDA Dijon (6th) SIG Strasbourg (9th) SLUC Nancy (8th) Israel 3 Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem (3d) Bnei HaSharon Hapoel Tel Aviv (1st, A2) Lithuania 3 Lietuvos rytas (1st) Alita (3d) Šiauliai (4th) Bosnia and Herzegovina 2 Feal Široki (1st) Sloboda Dita Tuzla (2nd) Croatia 2 Split CO (9th) Zagreb (3rd) Cyprus 2 APOEL (1st) Keravnos Keo (2nd) Czech Republic 2 Opava (1st) Mlékárna Kunín (2nd) Estonia 2 Kalev Tallinn (1st) Tartu ÜSK Rock (2nd) Latvia 2 Ventspils (1st) Skonto (2nd) Serbia and Montenegro 2 Hemofarm (4th) NIS Vojvodina (6th) Spain 2 Ourense (3d, A2) Tenerife (4th, A2) Turkey 2 Türk Telekom (5th) Pinar Karşıyaka (8th) Ukraine 2 Odesa (1st) Kyiv (2nd) Austria 1 Montan Bears Kapfenberg (1st) Belarus 1 Grodno-93 (1st) Denmark 1 BF Copenhagen (1st) England 1 Birmingham Bullets (9th) Macedonia 1 Feršped Rabotnički (1st) Hungary 1 Atomerőmű (1st) Italy 1 Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia (2nd, A2) Netherlands 1 EiffelTowers Nijmegen (2nd) Slovenia 1 Geoplin Slovan (4th) Sweden 1 Plannja Basket (1st) Switzerland 1 Benetton Fribourg (2nd)

Competition system

• 64 teams from countries affiliated to FIBA Europe enter a Regional Qualifying Round (RQR), distributed in three major conferences (North, South and West) according to their geographical location. Within each conference, the teams are further divided into groups and play a Round-robin. The final standing is based on individual wins and defeats. In case of a tie between two or more teams after this group stage, the following criteria are used to decide the final classification: 1) number of wins in one-to-one games between the teams; 2) basket average between the teams; 3) general basket average within the group.
• The RQR group winners and runners-up, together with the best third-placed teams, advance to Pan-European Phase (PEP). Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern and Southern conferences participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion- in the case of the Northern conference, the final four doubles as NEBL championship (North European Basketball League).
• The 24 teams qualified for the PEP are divided into six groups of four teams each playing a Round-robin. The group winners, together with the two best runners-up, qualify for a quarterfinal play-off (x-pairings, home and away games).
• The four winners of the quarterfinal play-off qualify for the final stage (Final Four), played at a predetermined venue. The winner gets a wild card to participate in 2003–04 FIBA Europe League.

Conference North

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002. The winner was also considered the champion of the 2002-03 North European Basketball League.

Key to colors

	Top two places in each group advance to PEP
	Eliminated

Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. UNICS 10 9 1 896 724 +172 2. Ventspils 10 7 3 914 797 +117 3. Šiauliai 10 4 6 821 886 −65 3–1 (+28) 4. Gipsar Stal Ostrów 10 4 6 805 837 −32 2–2 (+6) 5. Opava 10 4 6 829 874 −45 1–3 (+24) 6. Plannja Basket 10 2 8 767 914 −147

Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Anwil Włocławek 8 8 0 666 537 +129 2. Odesa 8 4 4 655 686 −31 3. Copenhagen 8 3 5 586 579 +7 1–1 (+8) 4. EvrAz 8 3 5 567 589 −22 1–1 (−8) 5. Tartu ÜSK Rock 8 2 6 589 672 −45

Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Prokom Trefl Sopot 10 10 0 951 718 +233 2. Skonto 10 7 3 975 882 +93 3. Avtodor Saratov 10 6 4 881 903 −22 4. Mlékárna Kunín 10 3 7 895 985 −90 5. Grodno-93 10 2 8 764 876 −112 1–1 (+5) 6. Alita 10 2 8 819 921 −102 1–1 (−5)

Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lietuvos rytas 10 10 0 938 670 +268 2. Khimki 10 6 4 875 830 +45 3. Polonia Warszawa 10 5 5 830 847 −17 4. Kyiv 10 4 6 859 901 −42 5. Atomerőmű 10 3 7 770 883 −113 6. Kalev 10 2 8 706 847 −141

Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Northern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion

Semifinals

January 14, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Prokom Trefl Sopot	80–114	UNICS
Lietuvos rytas	94–63	Anwil Włocławek

3rd place game

January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Anwil Włocławek	78–65	Prokom Trefl Sopot

Final

January 15, Vilnius Palace of Sports, Vilnius

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Lietuvos rytas	90–93	UNICS

Conference South

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002.

Key to colors

	Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP
	Eliminated

Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Peristeri 10 9 1 844 718 +126 2. Hapoel Migdal Jerusalem 10 7 3 878 826 +52 3. Yambolgaz-92 10 5 5 771 790 −19 4. NIS Vojvodina 10 4 6 850 862 −12 1–1 (+16) 5. Pinar Karşıyaka 10 4 6 792 815 −23 1–1 (−16) 6. Feršped Rabotnički 10 1 9 747 871 −147

Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Türk Telekom 10 8 2 801 749 +52 2. Hemofarm 10 7 3 825 726 +99 1–1 (+14) 3. Hapoel Tel Aviv 10 7 3 806 742 +64 1–1 (−14) 4. Panionios Freddoccino 10 6 4 820 799 +21 5. Levski Sofia 10 1 9 793 872 −79 1–1 (+1) 6. Sloboda Dita 10 1 9 684 841 −157 1–1 (−1)

Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Aris 8 6 2 701 633 +68 2. Bnei HaSharon 8 5 3 668 632 +36 1–1 (+12) 3. Maroussi Telestet 8 5 3 731 694 +37 1–1 (−12) 4. Split CO 8 2 6 679 752 −73 1–1 (+16) 5. Keravnos Keo 8 2 6 567 635 −68 1–1 (−16)

Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lukoil Academic 10 8 2 878 720 +158 2. PAOK 10 7 3 858 778 +80 3. Geoplin Slovan 10 6 4 753 705 +48 4. Zagreb 10 4 6 783 790 −7 1–1 (+9) 5. Feal Široki 10 4 6 772 848 −76 1–1 (−9) 6. APOEL 10 1 9 644 847 −203

Before the PEP phase, the group champions of the RQR Southern conference participate in a final round to contest for the symbolic title of Conference Champion

Semifinals

January 16, Universiada Hall, Sofia

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Peristeri	84–86	Aris
Lukoil Academic	99–83	Türk Telekom

3rd place game

January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Türk Telekom	86–70	Peristeri

Final

January 17, Universiada Hall, Sofia

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Lukoil Academic	81–80	Aris

Conference West

The season ran from October 1, 2002 to November 5, 2002.

Key to colors

	Top two places (and the best 3rd) in each group advance to PEP
	Eliminated

Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Tenerife 10 9 1 804 732 +72 2. JDA Dijon 10 6 4 829 776 +53 2–0 (+14) 3. Birmingham Bullets 10 6 4 746 764 −18 0–2 (−14) 4. Dexia Mons-Hainaut 10 5 5 806 791 +15 5. Benetton Fribourg 10 2 8 690 776 −86 2–0 (+10) 6. Oliveirense 10 2 8 797 833 −36 0–2 (−10)

Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. SIG Strasbourg 10 7 3 865 818 +47 2. Ourense 10 6 4 910 861 +49 3. Ovarense Aerosoles 10 5 5 878 851 +27 1–1 (+13) 4. Portugal Telecom 10 5 5 819 827 −8 1–1 (−13) 5. Montan Bears Kapfenberg 10 4 6 871 906 −35 6. Euphony Liège 10 3 7 799 879 −80

Group C

	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	Diff	Tie-break
1.	EiffelTowers Nijmegen	10	8	2	856	794	+62
2.	Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia	10	7	3	858	838	+20
3.	Porto Ferpinta	10	5	5	858	830	−18	2–0 (+14)
4.	SLUC Nancy	10	5	5	814	764	+50	0–2 (−14)
5.	Quatro Bree	10	3	7	770	848	−78
6.	CAB Madeira	10	2	8	812	894	−82

Overall winners

• UNICS (North)
• PBC Academic (South)

Pan-European phase

The phase ran from February 2, 2003 to March 25, 2003.

Key to colors

	Advance to Quarterfinals
	Eliminated

Group A Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. UNICS 6 6 0 544 428 +116 2. Odesa 6 3 3 522 557 −35 3. Hapoel Jerusalem 6 2 4 511 525 −14 4. Türk Telekom 6 1 5 478 545 −67

Group B Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Hemofarm 6 5 1 533 457 +76 2. Lietuvos rytas 6 3 3 494 468 +26 3. Skonto 6 2 4 530 567 −37 1–1 (+25) 4. PAOK 6 2 4 470 535 −65 1–1 (−25)

Group C Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Prokom Trefl Sopot 6 5 1 499 463 +36 2. Ventspils 6 3 3 531 480 +51 3. EiffelTowers Nijmegen 6 2 4 527 544 −17 1–1 (0) 4. Ourense 6 2 4 450 520 −70 1–1 (0)

Group D Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. JDA Dijon 4 3 1 326 305 +21 2. Porto Ferpinta 4 2 2 300 317 −17 3. Anwil Włocławek 4 1 3 295 299 −4

Group E Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Aris 6 4 2 505 504 +1 1–1 (+8) 2. Hapoel Tel Aviv 6 4 2 439 429 +10 1–1 (−8) 3. Khimki 6 2 4 528 517 +11 1–1 (+14) 4. SIG Strasbourg 6 2 4 459 481 −22 1–1 (−14)

Group F Team Pld W L PF PA Diff Tie-break 1. Lukoil Academic 6 5 1 550 483 +67 2. Unelco Tenerife* 6 3 3 487 467 +20 3. Bipop Carire Reggio Emilia 6 2 4 391 445 −54 2–0 (+27) 4. Bnei HaSharon 6 2 4 418 451 −33 0–2 (−27) *In 2003, Tenerife CB signed a sponsorship contract with Unelco and adopted the commercial name "Unelco Tenerife CB".

Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals were two-legged ties determined on aggregate score. The first legs was played on April 8. All return legs were played on April 15.

Team 1	Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score	Team 2	1st leg	2nd leg
Aris	158–150	Lukoil Academic	91–73	67–77
Hapoel Tel Aviv	127–138	Hemofarm	52–56	75–82
JDA Dijon	157–177	Prokom Trefl Sopot	70–74	87–103
Ventspils	164–158	UNICS	88–79	76–79

Final Four

Semifinals

• May 2, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Ventspils	57–79	Prokom Trefl Sopot
Hemofarm	66–73	Aris

3rd place game

• May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Ventspils	91–90	Hemofarm

Final

• May 4, 2003 at Alexandreio Melathron in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Team 1	Score	Team 2
Aris	84–83	Prokom Trefl Sopot

2002–03 FIBA Europe Champions Cup
Aris 1st title

Final standings

	Team
	Aris
	Prokom Trefl Sopot
	Ventspils
4.	Hemofarm

See also

• 2002–03 Euroleague
• 2002–03 ULEB Cup
• 2002–03 FIBA Europe Regional Challenge Cup

References

1. ["FIBA Europe". Archived from the original on 2004-08-24.{5179A822-D4B1-4476-AD04-EDBC445D6DC6}&compID={0D93D753-CAD5-4604-A251-1402A6361BF3}]

Sources

• 2002–03 at Eurobasket.com
• Linguasport
• Statistics