English
From May6 to May 8 the Final Four will take place at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona. With a capacity of more than 16 000 people this is one of the greatest venues where this fierce competition already took place in 1998 and 2003.
The way to the final 4 is long and hard, it begins in the fall at the beginning of the season and goes through different phases where the less strong teams are being eliminated quickly.
After the initial league phase where the first four teams of each group qualifies, it goes on to another league of four more reduced groups where the first two qualify. The last 8 make up the quarter finals in which a system of “best of 5” play begins. From there the last 4 result, that will compete for the European cup in the semifinals and finals on one intense weekend.
The big surprise this year is that although the competition is held in their city and they were one of the favorites to go all the way, Regal Barcelona, the reigning champion from last year didn’t make it to the Final Four. The got eliminated in the previous round by the Greeks of Panathinaikos.
But this was not the only surprise. After having lost by an embarrassing 48 points (89 – 41) in the first game, Montepaschi de Siena ended up winning the next 3 eliminating the mighty Olympiakos.
Maccabi Tel Aviv did the same. After starting of 0:1 against Caja Laboral Vitoria, they were able to avoid elimination. However, the Israeli holiday Yom Hazikaron on May 8 (Day to remember fallen Israeli soldiers) could keep them from their theoretical participation in the final because according to law Israeli players are not allowed to play after 7.30
From the 4 Spanish teams that made it to the quarter finals (which is a record in the history of this tournament) only one made it to the Final Four in Barcelona. Real Madrid won the series against Power Electronics Valencia. It will be the first time for Madrid, the team with the highest number of European titles, to participate since 1996.
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Paul Oilzum
The Final Four is a big basketball celebration in Europe and everything can happen. But see for yourself when you rent Barcelona accommodation during these dates.
