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By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
Every EuroBasket final has its own unique beauty and the interest is always great. Nevertheless, Eurohoops presents here, in chronological order, the six most thrilling EuroBasket finals, from 1951 and the eventful final between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia up to J. R. Holden’s big shot against Spain in 2007 in Madrid.
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[lptitle title=”6. 1951: Soviet Union – Czechoslovakia 45-44“]
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Was he on the line or not?
The two teams, that were both the big favorites for the gold medal, faced each other in the final for the second time in the tournament with the Soviets having won easily the first confrontation. This time, though, the Czechoslovaks, who as outsiders had the support of the Parisians (that EuroBasket was held in France), played a very close game.
A decision by the referees that the Czechoslovaks protested strongly, decided the winner in the end. Butautas won a free throw a second before the expiration. The top player for the Soviets in the final made the shot, the two referees of the game discussed for almost twenty minutes about whether or not the player was stepping on the line and whether the throw should be cancelled or not. In the end the throw was deemed good and the Soviets got their second gold medal in their history. However, during the award ceremony the national anthem of the USSR was played amid jeers.
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[lptitle title=”5. 1971: Soviet Union – Yugoslavia 69-64“]
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Once again the Soviets prevailed
Of the 8 consecutive gold medals that the Soviet Union won, the last one was the toughest. The final was close and Yugoslavia was seriously threatening to take the reigns having already lost three finals to the Soviets, who, with Belov, Zharmukhamedov and Paulauskas their top players, won it once again.
For the winners, Sergei Belov scored 14 points, but the MVP of the tournament turned out to be the defeated Cosic. The Croatian center, who a few years later emerged as the MVP of the tournament for the second time, finished the EuroBasket with 15 points per game.
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[lptitle title=”4. 1987: Greece – Soviet Union 103-101 in overtime (from 89-89)“]
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The awakening of Greece
The final was decided in the five minutes of overtime and this says it all in regards to the way the confrontation developed. The hosts Greece led by Nikos Galis managed to beat Tkachenko’s Soviet Union who were the big favorites for the gold medal despite Sabonis’s absence. The Greek scorer made another stunning appearance in the tournament and led his team to victory.
The Soviets had the chance to get the win during regular time but the three-pointer that they scored was deemed late from the two referees, while 2/2 free throws had preceded by Liveris Andritsos. The player that decided the confrontation in the 5 minutes of overtime was Argiris Kambouris, who, with two made free throws a few seconds before expiration, won it for the Greeks 103-101. Galis was the top scorer of the game (40 points), and also emerged as the top scorer and MVP of the tournament, while on the side of the defeated, Valters scored 21.
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