(19/1/99)
A1: Kalev Tallinn (EST) - BC Split (CRO) 62-69 (Kuusmaa 14, Daniels 12 – Tvrdic 25, Miller 15)
A2: Sony Milano (ITA) - Slovakofarma Pezinok (SVK) 75-72 (Johnson 21, Booker 19 – Ristanovic 24, Lukjanec 14)
A3: Turk Telecom PTT Ankara (TUR) - Savinjska Hopsi Polzela (SLO) 77-53 (Ozmen 13, Mc Cullough 12, Payne 12 – Stevic 22, Jagodnik 9)
Polzela is a team that is very dangerous, eliminating very strong teams before. When Telekom lost the first game, and after losing to Efes really bad, poeple were suspicious about the outcome of this game. But one thing that has been improving every year showed itseld, and Telekom won. Yes, this is defence. I believe the best defence is being performed by Turkish teams this year. The usual problem area is attack, and this game, Telekom manages to use all 10 players for scoring. Yigit Erdal and Ali wied the opponents forwards out. Ali was at his best form this year. Erdal Bibo probably broke the Steal record. He had 7!
Turk Telekom paired with Partizan. I guess this will be a really tough match-up with a mysterious outcome (Evrim Icoz and Erdal Ozbek)
A4: Cholet (FRA) - Estrelas Lisbon (POR) 84-55 (Jeanneau 13, Micoud 3, Akpomedah 5, Howell 2, Dubos 16, Gautier 12, Hayes 12, Villalobos 3, Miller 18 - Muse 8, Moore 13, Barros 2, Freitas 8, Arcega 14, Toledo 4, Gouveia 4, Brito 2). Attn: 3,000
A5: Pamesa Valencia (ESP) - Atomerömü Paks (HUN) 82-63 (Maluenda 25, Luengo 13 – Visockas 21, Gulyas 17)
A6: Buducnost Podgorica (YUG) - AEK Athens (GRE) 74-63, OT
Heart-breaking game. The 5-point handicup AEK had from the first game wasn't enough, as the Montenegrans, current leaders in their national league, had a very mature game, especially in overtime. The game was very close, with Buducnost scoring from outside (Radonic sunk 4 threes) and the Greek responding from inside (Danish Andersen scored all 15 points in second half). Buducnost international Bulatovic scored last 5 points of the games, as Radonic scored 9 points in overtime
A7: Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) - Zepter Slask Wroclaw (POL) 71-68 (Lisica 26 (2p 7/8, 3p 1/1, 10 rbs, 5 steals), Goljovic 15, Becirovic 11 (ft 8/8), Dragsic 8, Doncic 7, Jurak 2, Kunc 2 - McNaull 18 (2p 7/9), Zielinski 15, Wojcik 11, Zyskowski 9 (3p 3/4), Krzykala 7, Miglinieks 5, Wilczek 3. 2P: 13/22 - 19/32. 3P: 7/22 - 5/18. RBS: 22 (14+8) - 17 (13+4))
Slask was on the way for 1/8 finals when scored 13 points in row and after 23:23 lead 40:24. McNaull in first half-time scored 16 points nad he missed just one shots. Second half-time Pivovarna's captain Mileta Lisca started with 12 points in row and his team came to 39:42. In last minute was 66:68 and at 69:68 Slask had last attack. Zyskowski five seconds before the end of match lost the ball and Lisica scored both free-throws for victory. It's intersting that Pivovarna in whole match wasn't lead more than 4 points (4:0, 10:6, 65:61). (Zeljko)
A8: Partizan Belgrade (YUG) - ASK-Broceni Riga (LAT) 87-89 (Brkic 22, Pekovic 13, Radosevic 13, Lukovski 12, Cubrilo 8, Djokic 6, Varda 6, Ilievski 5, Tomasevic 2 – Knowles 26, Holden 18, Sneps 18, Purnis 7, Vcevargas 7, Helmanis 6, Valters 4, Sturm 3)
A9: Tofas Bursa (TUR) - TVG Trier (GER) 80-70 (Rogers 17, Konkut 12, Rivers 12 - Gray 24, Brown 19, Suhr 10). Attn: 4.000
A10: Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR) - Telindus Antwerpen (BEL) 94-66 (Hamilton 24, Williams 17, Curcic 16, Waldman 14, Baloul 8, Turgeman 7, Shefa 4, Tamir 2, Karver 2 - Huggins 23, Huger 20, Vanhaele 10, Laorigis 2, Van-Hauke 1)
Jerusalem wins match by 158-133 overall. Antwerpen didn't stand a chance, not without their foreigner, Louis Rowe. Without Rowe, Jerusalem cosntarated their defensive efforts on Huger. So Jerusalem wiped the 3 point advantage Antwerpen had from the 1st game after... 49 seconds. Derek Hamilton was great, on both sides of the court. Kenny Williams was superb in the 1st half, scoring his entire 17 points in that half. Radisav Curcic decided to pass the ball while rather than scoring, and he finished the game with 5 assits. H Waldman was 2 assits short from a triple-double. Antwerpen was saved from a totale collapse during the 2nd half, when young Erez Katz guarded Huger, and the latter penetrated on him. (Uri)
A11: CSP Limoges (FRA) - Charleroi (BEL) 69-76 (Markovic 14, Allen 16, Amaechi 6, Boyce 8, Weis 15, Frigout 5, Méthélie 5 - Marion 10, Stas 15, Morton 15, Cleymans 7, Ellis 21, Buja 8). Spectateurs: 3000
Surprising defeat of Limoges, at home, versus Charleroi. The French team had won the first game in Belgium and seems unable to compete without his former warrior Jean-Jacques Conceiçao. Because his English replacement, John Amaechi, was out of form in offense (6pts at 3/8FG in 30mn), Limoges has badly failed. French young center Frédéric Weis (10rbds) was too alone to win by himself the game (Vincent).
A12: Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) - Lietuvos rytas Vilnus (LTU) 85-72 (Liadelis 10, Chrisanthopoulos 18, Sigalas 8, Sioutis 2, Galakteros 7, Agelidis 7, Mikhailov 11, Grant 22 - Kazlauskas 4, Giedraitis 20, Siskaukas 13, Vizniauskas 5, Dimavicius 5, Jasikevicius 13)
It was a double-face game. Up to 24th minute the Lithuanians were dominating the game (37-47) with internationals Giedraitis and Jasikevicius scoring from... everywhere. Then Aris woke up, as point guard Gary Grant scored his total 22 points in last 15 minutes! He had much help from Chrysanthopoulos (an underestimated talent) who came off the bench to score 18 point with 4/4 3-pointers (Argyris).
Svi Sherf won his first game as coach of Aris. The team of Thessaloniki won the Saporta Cup game against Lietuvos Rytas by 85-72 (35-38). The Israeli coach has to choice between Mikhaylov and Stanley Roberts for the second foreigners place of the team, till 31st of Januar. "It's a difficult decision. Mikhaylov played well, but he is not in his best shape, after his injury and i have to see for a few days Roberts in the practices" he said. The Russian center has the best changes, because Roberts is in very bad physical condition (too fat!). For ARIS scored Grant 22 (all in the 2nd half), Hrisanthopoulos 18p and Mikhaylov 11p (+10reb). For Lietuvos Rytas, Jasikevicius was the best with 25p. Gedraitis scored 20p. (Giorgos)
ARIS PASSED IN THE '16' ELIMINATING STATYBA WITH 85-72. The final 85-72 does not mean that ARIS had an easy afternoon, as for about 32' minutes Lietuvos was ahead, and the 'yellows' found the strength to come back at the most decisive moment of the match. - Maybe they had believed that the game had ended even before it started, as they were ahead with 10-6 in the first five mins. Though the team from Lithuania, having an unexpected favour from the refs who kept on 'loading' the Greeks with fouls, took the advantage with 12-18 in the 10th minute. At that point ARIS tried to get closer and with a consecutive 10-4 score equalised 22-22 in 12'. However, Gary Grant seemed to be in a bad day and ARIS lacking of his ace's points could not pass ahead. Lietuvos was the one who didn't miss that chance and raised the score at 27-35, in the 16th. Hrysanthopoulos with 2/2 3point shots shortened the differential and the two teams went to the half-time with a 35-38 finding Vilnius once more ahead.
- Things got even harder in the start of the 2nd leg, as in 23' the team from Salonica was losing with 10 pts (37-47). The few fans (about 1,500) that were there encouraged ARIS, and suddenly everything changed. Grant woke up and started his own show against the opponents' basket, accompanied by the good defence of Sigalas on Jasikevicius, while Hrysanthopoulos kept on scoring from the 6,25m. Furthermore, Angelidis and Mikhailov took over the control of the rebounds, so ARIS seemed to do their game and with a 9-0 passed ahead with 61-57 in 30'. Four minutes before the end of the game the score was 74-68 for ARIS. From that point on, the Greeks were careful with the free throw procedure and raised the score in 39' up to 85-70, to end the match successfully with 85-72, moving to the next round of Saporta.
- Gary Grant, who hadn't scored A SINGLE POINT TILL 23', had a blasting 2nd half scoring 22 points, with 7/8 1p, 3/5 2p, 3/3 3p.
- Giorgos Hrysanthopoulos was an essential solution and had an excellent performance, with a Tendex of 1,196 (perfect=1), and scored 18 pts with 4/5 3p. Sigalas was very efficient in the defence especially in the 2^nd half, as he stopped Jasikevicious with success. Angelidis and Mikhailov fought in the front-line, with the Russian -even injured- grabbing 10 rebs and scoring 11 pts.
- From Lietuvos, Jasikevicious was their best performer who was excellent in the 3/4 of the match, but seased along the whole team's game in the last 10 mins.
- Svi Sherf, the new coach of ARIS said: "I know that the substitution of their coach affected my players, and such a pressure was the reason for the average performance of the first half. It was a very important victory and now we look ahead to our A1 League and Cup F-4 games against Paok".
- Mr. Sakalauskas, coach of Lietuvos, commented: "I would like to give my congratulations to ARIS for their victory, and wish them good luck. For the first time we showed two different faces in a game. We started well and hoped that we could achieve the surprise. Things changed in the last quarter of the match and we couldn't resist against ARIS' come-back. We stop here for this competition. I hope we do better next year".
- Stanley Roberts might not replace Mikhail Mikhailov, as he seems to have health problems and he's over weight. Moreover, the Russian center does not give up and even if he's under replacement, he keeps on performing his best despite he's injured. Svi Sherf will decide within the next 48 hours.
- Next opponent of ARIS is BK Ventspils from Latvia. The two teams had also played against each other last year, but for the Korac Cup. ARIS had won both games and had eliminated Ventspils. (Thrasos Tezapsidis)
A13: Stahlbau Oberwart (AUT) - Juventut Badalona (ESP) 95-64 (Middleton 18, Swinson 17 – Capers 22, Valera 12)
A14: SSV ratiopharm Ulm (GER) - Ovarense Ovar (POR) 79-63 (Nees 18, Svitek 18, Walker 16, Autry 12, Ast 9, Held 2, Birkenfeld 2, Konstantinidis 2 - Stringfellow 21, Sanders 11, Perich 9, Allen 8, Sousa 8, Sing 6)
Ulm is in the next round. The best players was Walker (9 rebound) and Svitek for ulm and the 37-your-old Lee Stringfellow of Ovarense. Sanders had anly two points in the first 20 minutes, because Walker works very hard against him. (Ute)
A15: Uniks Kazan (RUS) - BK Ventspils (LAT) 74-79 (Avleev 22, Sobstokov 14, Sevastianov 9, Samoilenko 8, Iankovski 8, Korobov 7, Kouriltchouk 6, Tatarovitch, Tchienko - Sims 24, Jeffries 18 (10 reb), J. Laksa 13 (4/5 2p, 9 reb), Vitols 8, Zeidaks 6, Valeiko 6, Buskevics 4, Muiznieks). Attendance: 1500
After losing by 15 in Latvia, Unics Kazan, the Russian team from the Republic of Tatarstan, in the first half managed to cut the overall gap to 10 points, with a pressing zone which forced Ventspils frontcourt to many turnovers. But in the second half the Latvians reacted immediately, Sims from the outside and veteran Janis Laksa from the inside closed the qualification door to the Tatars, and Ventspils won also the game with great precision from the free throws line from all the team (Saverio).
A16: Benetton Treviso (ITA) - Pekaes Pruszkow (POL) 83-60 (Williams 22, Rebraca 16 – Szybilski 29, Walker 21)

1/8 Finals Leg One (9/2/99)
W1 Buducnost Podgorica (YUG) - Slovakofarma Pezinok (SVK) 86-68 (Bulatovic 24, Boskovic 19 – Ristanovic 19, Szabo 13, Zadravec 13)
W2 Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) - Cholet (FRA) 77:68 (Lisica 23 (2p 7/9, 9 rbs), Goljovic 23 (3p 5/10), Becirovic 9, Dragsic 9, Doncic 6, Jurak 4+9 rbs, Kunc 3 - Howell 27 (3p 3/5), Hayes 17, Miller 12+7 rbs, Micoud 7, Dubos 2, Villalobos 2, Jeanneau 1. 2P: 14/29 - 17/38. 3P: 11/32 - 5/11. FT: 16/21 - 19/24. RBS: 30 (23+7) - 20 (18+2))
Cholet lead just twice (12:10, 16:14) and Pivovarna had a good chance for a big victory. They started with 10:2 and in 25.minute lead 51:32. But some mistakes and hazard tactics with shoots for three points (32 attemps, for 2 points only 29 attemps) are reason that in 30.minute was just 54:48 (partial result 3:16). Four minutes before the end was 64:59 but Goljovic twice and Dragsic once scored for 3-points and Pivovarna won for nine. It was teenth victory for Slovenian team in Saporta's Cup 1998/99.
Ales Pipan, Lasko's head coach: "We so early lead for 19 points. However, 77:68 is still good result."
Eric Girard, Cholet's head coach: "French championship is more important for us. It seems that my team didn't want to win, beacuse they had 10 rebounds less than Lasko." (Zeljko)
W3: BC Split (CRO) - Pamesa Valencia (ESP) 76-79 (Miller 21, Vujcic 15 – Garcia 17, Hopkins 16)
W4 Turk Telecom PTT Ankara (TUR) - Partizan Belgrade (YUG) 70-85 (Bibo 17, Mc Cullough 16 – Lukovski 21, Brkic 20)
W5 SSV ratiopharm Ulm (GER) - Tofas Bursa (TUR) 65:74 (Walker 22, Ast 1, Svitek 7, Autry 15, Kemna 1, Nees 12, Lommerse 7 - Rivers 24,Rimac 11, Bas 2, Rogers 19, Konuk 7, Okur 2, Griffith 9)
Ulm lost after a great game against Bursa. 38. minute: Ulm is in the lead with 63:60, then Ulms playmaker Adrian Autry gets out with the 5. foul. This was the end for Ulm. Jarvis Walker made a good game against David Rivers in defense. Dirk Lommerse (11) was best rebounder, Murat Konuk gets 10. (Ute)
W6 BK Ventspils (LAT) - Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) 73-65 (Sims 18, Jeffries 16 (8/11 20, 15 reb), Buskevics 15 (3/4 3p), Laksa 10, Valeiko 6, Vitols 4, Zeidaks 4, Muiznieks, Bernats - Liadellis 19 (6/8 2p), Mikhaylov 18, Galakteros 10, Sioutis 7, Sigalas 6, Angelidis 5, Kuhl, Chrysantopoulos). Attendance: 3200
Very good game from Ventspils, also after considering playing almost without their main playmaker Valeiko (injured leg). Aris was leading by 12 points in the first half, but then collapsed, after Latvian strong defensive pressure. Aris closed the first half still leading by 5, but after the break had a complete blackout, when they didn`t get any of their 10 free shots at the beggining of the second half!!! (Saverio)
W7 Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR) - Juventut Badalona (ESP) 81-73 (Williams 25, Curcic 24 – Swinson 19, Middleton 17)
Jerusalem came back from a 12-point lead of Badalona at the begining of the 2nd half to an 8-point victory. But the differential might not be enough for the 2nd game. (Uri)
W8 Charleroi (BEL) - Benetton Treviso (ITA) 66-70 (Ellis 4, Morton 17, Cleymans 15, Marion 6, Stas 15, Weatherspoon 2 - Pittis 8, Marconato 13, Rebraca 2, Jofresa 12, Williams 12, Bonora 3, Sekunda 0, Schmidt 9, Di Spalatro 2)

1/8 Finals Leg Two (16/2/99)
W1 Slovakofarma Pezinok (SVK) - Buducnost Podgorica (YUG) 81-85 (Szabo 20, Lukjanec 17 – Bulatovic 21, Radonjic 16, Scepanovic 16)
W2 Cholet (FRA) - Pivovarna Lasko (SLO) 86-82
W3 Pamesa Valencia (ESP) - BC Split (CRO) 84-75 (Hopkins 17, Luengo 16 – Tvrdic 18, N.Vujcic 13)
W4 Partizan Belgrade (YUG) - Turk Telecom PTT Ankara (TUR) 76-43 (Cubrilo 19, Brkic 15 – Koul 13, Berezhnoi 8)
W5 Tofas Bursa (TUR) - SSV ratiopharm Ulm (GER) 79-70 (Griffith 17, Rogers 13 – Nees 20, Walker 19)
W6 Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) - BK Ventspils (LAT) 79-64 (Mikhaylov 21+11reb, Liadellis 16, Sioutis 15+8ast, Galakteros 13 (3/4 3p), Sigalas 8, Chrysantopoulos 4, Angelidis 2 - Sims 20, Jeffries 14, Vitols 12, Muiznieks 10, Zeidaks 3, J. Laksa 3, Buskevics 2, Valeiko, M. Laksa)
W7 Juventut Badalona (ESP) - Hapoel Jerusalem (ISR) 93-74 (Swinson 37, Murcia 16, Biota 11, Lopez 10, Corrales 9, Midelton 6, Garcia 4 - Curcic 24, Hamilton 21, Williams 21, Williams 9, Turgeman 9, Karver 9, Katz 2)
Badalona easily erased the 8 points differential Jerusalem had from the 1^st game. Jerusalem just couldn't stop the super-fast Badalona. (Uri)
W8 Benetton Treviso (ITA) - Charleroi (BEL) 75-61

Semifinals
Leg One (23/3/99)
Benetton Treviso (ITA) - Buducnost Podgorica (YUG) 76-60 (Bonora 8, Williams 21, Pittis 4, Nicola 7, Rebraca 18, Jofresa 0, Sekunda 9, Marconato 0, Schmidt 9 - Pajovic 6, Scepanovic 7, Boskovic 2, Topalovic 2, Bulatovic 15, Radonjic 2, Ostojic 0, Vukcevic 19, Radunovic 7)
13 points were OK to go to Beograd, 16 could be OK to go to Titograd, even if "Moraca" arena is known for his "heat athmosphere". But, after last news about the NATO probable bombing on Kosovo and Serbia, maybe that today FIBA will decide to relocate the retour match to a neutral site, along from Yugoslavian Federation. However, Benetton won the game both on the technical and physical side, Williams and Rebraca were the two players more effective, and Pittis the tougher defender, as usual. The veterans are ready to go to the Final of Saporta. (John Smith)
Pamesa Valencia (ESP) - Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) 70-64 (Hopkins 21, Sellers 20 – Mikhailov 19, Liadelis 16)
Aris lost to BC Pamesa in Spain but is still the favorite for the Saporta cup final. The 6 point deficit will be diminished in Thessaloniki's rematch. Mikhailon had 19 points and 12 boards for Aris while Liadelis added 16 but the team had an overall 31.3% behind the arc. From the spanish team Hopkins scored 21 and Sellers 20. (Thrasos Axiotis)

Leg Two (30/3/99)
Buducnost Podgorica (YUG) - Benetton Treviso (ITA)
About the FIBA decision to promote Benetton directly to Saporta Cup, GM of Treviso Maurizio Gherardini declared: "We are all very sad, if we consider our friendship with all the players and club officials of Buducnost. We don' t like to be promoted without earning promotion on the court, due to this terrible circumstance. However, we are ready to play in Final Game, we won important games all season in Saporta, and we believe to have yet demonstrated to have the rights to play The Final Game."
   FIBA Officially announced that Saporta Cup retour game between Buducnost Podgorica and Benetton Treviso would be played in Greece, istead of in Montenegro, due to NATO bombing in Kosovo. Thessaloniki was ready to host the semifinal game between Buducnost Podgorica - Benneton Treviso, but Buducnost players cannot leave Yugoslavia, because of the NATO attacks and FIBA decided to cancel the game. So Treviso is in the final of Saporta Cup (13/3 in Saragossa, Spain). The second semifinal game is on Tuesday in Thessaloniki between Aris and Valencia (spanish team won at home by 6 points). Aris will play again without Garry Grant, who decided to leave the team, because he is injured and cannot play. Olympiakos Pireus has different problems, a few hours before the critical local derby against Panathinaikos (Sun, 19.00' CET). The team has a lot of Serbians, who care more about the situation in their country. Head coach, Dusan Ivkovic, his assistant, Milan Minic and the players (Tarlac, Tomic, Vukcevic) slept only a few hours before the Euroleague game in Lyon agaist Villeurbanne, while trying to come in contact with their families in Belgrade. The same problem has Panathinaiko's Dejan Bodiroga and a lot of Serbian players, who play in the Greek A1 league. "They want to press our country to sign a "blanc paper" " said Dusan Ivkovic, about the NATO attacks. "We will not aloow anybody to destroy our country" added Iraklis Serbian coach, Dragan Sakota.
Aris Thessaloniki (GRE) - Pamesa Valencia (ESP) 50-58 (Liadellis 25, Sigalas 9 – Bernardo 24, Sellers 13)

FINAL (13/4/99), Zagaroza (ESP)
Pamesa Valencia (ESP) - Benetton Treviso (ITA) 60-64 (Sellers 17, Rodilla 14, Hopkins 13, Maluenda 10, Bernardo 3, Luengo 3, Albert - Williams 17, Nicola 14, Jofresa 10, Marconato 7, Pittis 6, Rebraca 6, Bonora 4, Sekunda)
The game Benetton - Pamesa was very thrilling in last five minutes, when Pamesa come back from a -18 difference to -2 (!!.) Spanish team has been fantastic in its effort, showing a great "heart" and determination, and three great players, Nacho Rodilla, Rod Sellers, Anthony Hopkins. But Benetton' s coach Obradovic prepared very well the game, and his defense was a great starting point for the victory. More, Henry Williams and Marcelo Nicola, the two main offensive weapons of the green-whites, produced 20 and 14 points, and were very effective in last minutes, when the American players scored 4 free throws without fear, and Nicola made a decisive steal. But Marconato, Rebraca and Pittis played very good too, and Bonora and Jofresa were great in defending on opposite guards. Aftre the game, Henry Williams declared: "Now, we will try to win Italian League too". Teamsystem is forewarned. (John Smith)