For the 1991-92 season,
FIBA changed the competition system to allow up to three teams from
some countries into the top European competition. After two
eliminatory rounds, 16 teams were divided into two groups of 8 teams
each. Yugoslavia, at war with Croatia, was officially represented by
Partizan of Belgrade and, curiously enough, two Croatian teams:
Cibona of Zagreb and Slobodna Dalmacia of Split, the new name of
three-time defending champion Jugoplastika. Barred by FIBA from
playing at home, those three teams all chose Spain for their "home
games". Group A featured newcomers Knorr Bologna and Phonola Caserta
of Italy, Cibona, Olimpique Antibes of France and Kalev Talin of
Estonia. In group B, some familiar faces like those of Philips,
Partizan and Aris met newcomers Joventut and Estudiantes of Spain,
and Maes Pils Malinas of Belgium. The teams which advanced to the
quarterfinals were Knorr (10-4), Barcelona (10-4), Maccabi (10-4)
and Cibona (9-5) from Group A, Joventut (11-3), Estudiantes (10-4),
Philips (10-4) and Partizan (9-5) from Group B. Curiously, all the
quarterfinal winners came from Group B, Philips and Joventut taking
2-0 sweeps against Barcelona and Cibona, respectively, while
Partizan and Estudiantes needed three games to get rid of Knorr and
Maccabi. At the Final Four, played in Istanbul from April 14 to 16,
Partizan beat Philips for the third time in the season, while the
Spanish duel was solved in favur of Joventut against Estudiantes. In
the final, and against all odds, Partizan defeated the Catalan team
by 71-70 with a memorable three-pointer on the buzzer by Sasha
Djordjevic. The other heroe of the game was Predrag Danilovic, the
best scorer of the final with 25 points.
By Euroleague
FINAL FOUR: Istanbul, Turkey
FINAL: Partizan - Joventut Badalona 71-70
Partizan: Djordjevic 23, Danilovic 25, Stevanovic 6, Koprivica 4,
Nakic 5; Rebraca 0, Silobad 4, Loncar 2, Dragutinovic 2
Joventut: Pressley 20, Villacampa 13, R.Jofresa 8, Morales 6,
Thompson 5; T.Jofresa 18, Pardo 0, Ruf 0
Finals MVP: Predrag Danilovic
THIRD PLACE: Philips MIlan - Estudiantes Madrid 99-81
Philips: J. Rogers 20, D. Dawkins 18, A. Riva 18, P. Montecchi 11,
R. Pittis 10, Pessina 7, A. Blasi 6, F. Ambrassa 5, P. Alberti 2, M.
Baldi 2. Head coach: Mike D'Antoni
Estudiantes: R. Winslow 21, A. Herreros 16, A. Reyes 13, I. Azofra
11, J. Pinone 6, JA. Orenga 4, P. Martinez 3, J. Aisa 3, JA. Aguilar
2, P. RodrÃguez 2. Head coach: Miguel Angel Martin
SEMIFINALS
Partizan - Philips Milan 82-75
Partizan: P. Danilovic 22, A. Djordjevic 21, S. Koprivica 14, M.
Silobad 10, I. Nakic 5, Z. Rebraca 4, V. Dragutinovic 4, Z.
Stevanovic 2, D. Saric, N. Loncar. Head coach: Zelimir Obradovic
Philips: D. Dawkins 21, J. Rogers 19, A. Riva 14, R. Pittis 10, D.
Pessina 4, P. Montecchi 4, F. Ambrassa 3, P. Alberti, A. Blasi, M.
Baldi. Head coach: Mike D'Antoni
Joventut Badalona - Estudiantes 91-69
Joventut: J. Villacampa 28, R. Jofresa 16, H. Pressley 13, J. Pardo
11, T. Jofresa 10, C. Thompson 9, C. Ruf 4, JA. Morales, F.
Martinez, J. Llorens. Head coach: Lolo Sainz
Estudiantes: J. Pinone 18, R. Winslow 15, I. Azofra 14, A. Herreros
10, JA. Orenga 10, J. Aisa 2, P. Martinez, JA. Aguilar, A. Reyes, P.
RodrÃguez. Head coach: Miguel Angel Martin
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